Patent ID: 7457089
Filing Date: 2008-11-25
Classification: G01R,H02H,H02M,H03K

Abstract:
1. A load driving device for controlling a driving and a stop of a load through on/off switching of a semiconductor device under the control of a driving circuit, comprising: an overcurrent detecting unit that compares, with a prescribed judgment voltage, an inter-electrode voltage which is generated when a current flows between a first electrode and a second electrode of the semiconductor device, and judges that an overcurrent is flowing through the semiconductor device when the inter-electrode voltage is higher than the judgment voltage; and a diagnosing unit that performs a diagnosis as to whether the overcurrent detecting unit is operating normally in a state that the semiconductor device is in an on-state, wherein when the diagnosing unit judges that the overcurrent detecting unit is not operating normally, the diagnosing unit outputs an instruction signal for turning off the semiconductor device, to the driving circuit.