Patent ID: 7046073
Filing Date: 2006-05-16
Classification: H03K

Abstract:
1. A load drive circuit, comprising: a drive switching element for switching ON and OFF a load current that is provided between a load and a power source; a gate drive circuit for driving ON and OFF the drive switching element; an input circuit for detecting an operation state of an external switch; a protection circuit for switching, in response to the input circuit detecting the operation state of the external switch as being ON, the gate drive circuit to be in an ON state, and for controlling, in accordance with at least one of an overcurrent status and an overheat status, the gate drive circuit to protect the load drive circuit; and a first current blocking switching element for blocking, in response to the input circuit detecting the operation state of the external switch as being OFF, a first current flowing to the gate drive circuit, the first current blocking switching element being provided in at least one of a path between the gate drive circuit and the power source and a path between the gate drive circuit and a ground.