Patent ID: 7362147
Filing Date: 2008-04-22
Classification: H03K

Abstract:
1. An integrated circuit comprising: an output stage transistor having a gate electrode; a gate terminal for applying a drive signal to control a turning on and off of the output stage transistor; a charge transistor, which, when the output stage transistor is turned on, supplies the gate electrode of the output stage transistor with a charging current; a discharge transistor, which, when the output stage transistor is turned off, supplies the gate electrode of the output stage transistor with a discharge current; and a turn-off control unit, which, when the output stage transistor is turned off, supplies the gate electrode with an additional discharge current during a first time interval and turns off the additional discharge current after the first time interval, the turn-off control unit comprising: a voltage determination unit for determining a voltage at the drain electrode of the output stage transistor, the voltage determination unit emitting a drain voltage signal on the basis of the voltage present at the drain electrode of the output stage transistor; a turn-off control logic unit, which receives the drive signal and the drain voltage signal and on the basis thereof generates a discharge current control signal; a transmission gate that is driven by the discharge current control signal; and a bipolar fast-discharge transistor, whereby the transmission gate is looped in series with the collector-emitter section of the fast-discharge transistor between the gate electrode of the output stage transistor and a reference potential or ground.