Gate drive pin of all PWM controller ICs needs protection diode.

[treez]

Page 10 of the LT1243 datasheet says that the gate drive pin needs a Schottky protection diode to be connected to it (cathode to gate pin, anode to ground).
http://cds.linear.com/docs/en/datasheet/1241fa.pdf

Does the same apply for the gate pin of the LM3421 PWM controller IC?
http://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/lm3421.pdf

 

[FvM]

datasheet says that the gate drive pin needs a Schottky protection diode

No. The datasheet says it can be necessary in some applications.

Whether this happens often or rarely with LT1243, it's unlikely to happen on controllers made in CMOS technology and generally it won't be observed with well designed chips. LT1243 apparently isn't.

 

[treez]

I agree, its only when the layout is bad, then again, sometimes its not so easy to get a good layout. The thing is, you say it doesn't happen with the CMOS drives, but nowhere in LM3421 datasheet does it say that it has a cmos drive, so how do you know that?

Also, aren't CMOS IC's more susceptible to static electricity damage?....maybe its worth using LT1243 type controllers and a diode for the better static electricity withstand.?