A method and a charging circuit are provided for flexible bootstrapping in power electronics circuits. The charging circuit includes a blocking diode, at least one bootstrap transistor, at least one resistor and at least one electrical component that is designed to conduct a current flow when a predetermined potential difference is exceeded. An energy storage device used for controlling a power semiconductor switch and a source/emitter potential of the power semiconductor switch are at the same potential. Charging of the energy storage device is effected as soon as the potential of a supply voltage is above a potential of the energy storage device. Overcharging is prevented as soon as the predetermined potential difference in the electrical component is exceeded, and discharging of the energy storage device is prevented by the blocking diode.

The invention relates to a method and to a charging circuit (800) for flexible bootstrapping in power electronics circuits, comprising a blocking diode (112), at least one bootstrap transistor (804), at least one resistor (812, 822) and at least one electrical component (802), which is designed to conduct a current flow when a predetermined potential difference is exceeded. An energy storage device (102) used for controlling a power semiconductor switch (100) and a source/emitter potential of the power semiconductor switch (100) are at the same potential, charging of the energy storage device (102) being effected as soon as the potential of a supply voltage (106) is above a potential of the energy storage device (102). Overcharging is prevented as soon as the predetermined potential difference in the electrical component (802) is exceeded, and discharging of the energy storage device (102) is prevented by the blocking diode (112).

A transmitter controls the fall time on an open-drain link including multiple components. The transmitter includes an input driver to receive data and transmit the data on the open-drain link, thereby activating the open-drain link. The transmitter also includes a feedback mechanism to keep track of a pad when the open-drain link is activated and to determine when the pad reaches a predetermined amount of a supply voltage. When the pad reaches the predetermined amount of a supply voltage, the feedback mechanism triggers an appropriate main pull-down driver to control the fall time.