Patent ID: 8981820
Filing Date: 2015-03-17
Classification: H03K

Abstract:
1. A circuit, comprising: a driver having an input, an output, a first supply terminal and a second supply terminal; a first current path, comprising a further switching element, between a first supply voltage potential and the first supply terminal of the driver; a second current path between the first supply terminal of the driver and the first supply voltage potential, wherein the second current path comprises a switching element configured to selectively activate and deactivate the second current path, and wherein the second supply terminal of the driver is coupled to a second supply voltage potential; and a controller, comprising a series circuit formed by a resistor and a scaled switching element, configured to drive the switching element to activate the second current path in response to a current through the driver reaching a predefined threshold value; wherein the series circuit is connected in parallel with the second current path, and the scaled switching element is a scaled version of the further switching element, and wherein a control terminal of the switching element is coupled to a node between the resistor and the scaled switching element.