Patent ID: 6191625
Filing Date: 2001-02-20
Classification: B60R,H03K

Abstract:
A driver circuit, comprising:a high-side MOS switch having a high-side MOS transistor with a gate for driving a load;a first temperature limiting circuit connected to said high-side MOS transistor;a low-side MOS switch having a low-side MOS transistor connected in series with said high-side MOS transistor for driving the load;a second temperature-limiting circuit connected to said low-side MOS transistor;a current-limiting circuit connected to said low-side transistor; anda Zener diode having a first side connected to said gate of said high-side MOS transistor and a second side connected to ground, said Zener diode outputting a voltage U.sub.Z corresponding to a maximum drive voltage for said high-side MOS transistor, said voltage U.sub.Z defined, at least approximately, as follows: ##EQU4##where U.sub.DD2 is a drive voltage of said high-side MOS transistor connected to said Zener diode, I.sub.D is a drain current of said high-side MOS transistor, R.sub.L is a resistance of the load to be driven, U.sub.Tn is a threshold voltage of said high-side MOS transistor, and .beta..sub.n is a gain of said high-side MOS transistor.