Patent ID: 8169765
Filing Date: 2012-05-01
Classification: H01F,H03K,H04L

Abstract:
1. A high-side driver having a semiconductor element that is connected in series in a power supply path extending from a DC power source to a load and is turned on/off to control a current passing through the load, the high-side driver comprising: a current detector detecting a current passing through the load; a controller configured to control ON/OFF of the semiconductor element based on the current detected by the current detector; a state detector configured to detect a state of the high-side driver or a state of the load and output a state signal; a first transmit buffer configured to latch and output the state signal of the state detector; a second transmit buffer configured to output the state signal of the state detector without latching the same; and a transmit shift register configured to convert the state signal of the first or second transmit buffer into serial data and transmit the serial data to an external device at predetermined timing, wherein the state detector selects, based on the detected state, at least one of the first and second transmit buffers and outputs the state signal to the selected one.