Patent ID: 7135845
Filing Date: 2006-11-14
Classification: H02H,H02M,H03K,Y02B,Y02P,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A drive circuit for a switch of a switching converter which generates an output voltage from an input voltage, the drive circuit comprising: a first input terminal configured to receive an output voltage signal, the output voltage signal representative of the output voltage of the switching converter, a controller arrangement having at least one control amplifier and at least one energy storage element coupled to the at least one control amplifier, the controller arrangement operable to receive the output voltage signal and generate a control signal based at least in part on the output voltage signal, a protection circuit operable to detect at least one critical state of the switching converter, the protection circuit further operable to generate a protection signal dependent on the detection of at least one critical state, the protection circuit further comprising a discharge circuit coupled to the at least one storage element, a signal generating circuit operably coupled to receive the control signal and the protection signal, the signal generating circuit operable to generate a drive signal based at least in part on the control signal, the signal generating circuit operable to provide the drive signal as an output dependent on the protection signal.