Patent ID: 6348820
Filing Date: 2002-02-19
Classification: H03K

Abstract:
A driver for controlling current conducted in an inductive load and having a high-side configuration and a flow-side configuration, comprising:a power transistor having a gate, a source and a drain; a gate drive circuit coupled to the gate for turning the power transistor on and off; a positive clamp circuit coupled between the drain of the power transistor and a first power conductor that provides a recirculation path for inductive energy stored in the inductive load when the driver is in the low-side configuration, wherein the positive clamp circuit comprises: a first transistor; a zener diode having an anode coupled to a control terminal of the first transistor and a cathode coupled to a first current carrying terminal of the first transistor; and a resistor coupled between the control terminal of the first transistor and a second current carrying terminal of the first transistor; and a negative clamp circuit coupled between the source of the power transistor and a second power conductor that provides a recirculation path for inductive energy stored in the inductive load when the driver is in the high-side configuration.