Patent ID: 6727745
Filing Date: 2004-04-27
Classification: G01R,H03F,H03K

Abstract:
An integrated circuit comprising:a power driving device having a control terminal, and having a current flow path therethrough coupled between a first voltage terminal and an output terminal; a pilot circuit for sensing current through said power driving device and comprising a composite pilot circuit including a plurality of transistors having control terminals, and current flow paths therethrough connected in series between said first voltage terminal and a second voltage terminal, and a secondary pilot transistor having a control terminal, and having a current flow path therethrough coupled between first voltage terminal and said second voltage terminal; and a control circuit, coupled to the control terminal of said power driving device, to control terminals of said plurality of transistors, and to the control terminal of said secondary pilot transistor, and being operative to render said power driving device operative, and being also operative to render said plurality of transistors of said composite pilot circuit operative while said power driving device is in a linear mode of operation, and to render said secondary pilot transistor operative while said power driving device is in a saturation mode of operation.