An electronic control unit ECU for a high-side driver comprising: an amplifier circuit comprising a first switching transistor (Msr) coupled in series with a second switching transistor (Msn) between a first voltage rail (VDD_HV) that carries a first voltage and a second voltage rail (VDD_MV) that carries a second voltage that is less than the first voltage, the amplifier circuit being coupled to control respective gates of the first and second switching transistors; and a single current sense circuit coupled to protect a bus pin (OUTx) on the high-side driver from both a short to ground and a short to battery, the single current sense circuit comprising: an input node located between the first switching transistor and the second switching transistor; a switch circuit coupled to pass a current from the input node to the bus pin during normal operation; a forward current sensing circuit coupled to the input node and to the first voltage rail, the forward current sensing circuit being coupled to provide a first current on a first output node and a second current on a second output node, each of the first and second currents being proportional to an output current at the bus pin, wherein the first and second currents are substantially zero when a bus voltage on the bus pin is above a given value; a reverse current switching circuit coupled to receive the second current and further coupled to the gate of the second switching transistor, the reverse current switching circuit being coupled to turn the second switching transistor OFF when the second current output is zero; and a forward current protection circuit coupled to the forward current sensing circuit, to the first voltage rail and to a third voltage rail (VDD_LV) that provides a third voltage that is less than the second voltage, the forward current protection circuit being further coupled to turn OFF the switch circuit responsive to a short to ground. an amplifier circuit comprising a first switching transistor (Msr) coupled in series with a second switching transistor (Msn) between a first voltage rail (VDD_HV) that carries a first voltage and a second voltage rail (VDD_MV) that carries a second voltage that is less than the first voltage, the amplifier circuit being coupled to control respective gates of the first and second switching transistors; and a single current sense circuit coupled to protect a bus pin (OUTx) on the high-side driver from both a short to ground and a short to battery, the single current sense circuit comprising: an input node located between the first switching transistor and the second switching transistor; a switch circuit coupled to pass a current from the input node to the bus pin during normal operation; a forward current sensing circuit coupled to the input node and to the first voltage rail, the forward current sensing circuit being coupled to provide a first current on a first output node and a second current on a second output node, each of the first and second currents being proportional to an output current at the bus pin, wherein the first and second currents are substantially zero when a bus voltage on the bus pin is above a given value; a reverse current switching circuit coupled to receive the second current and further coupled to the gate of the second switching transistor, the reverse current switching circuit being coupled to turn the second switching transistor OFF when the second current output is zero; and a forward current protection circuit coupled to the forward current sensing circuit, to the first voltage rail and to a third voltage rail (VDD_LV) that provides a third voltage that is less than the second voltage, the forward current protection circuit being further coupled to turn OFF the switch circuit responsive to a short to ground. an input node located between the first switching transistor and the second switching transistor; a switch circuit coupled to pass a current from the input node to the bus pin during normal operation; a forward current sensing circuit coupled to the input node and to the first voltage rail, the forward current sensing circuit being coupled to provide a first current on a first output node and a second current on a second output node, each of the first and second currents being proportional to an output current at the bus pin, wherein the first and second currents are substantially zero when a bus voltage on the bus pin is above a given value; a reverse current switching circuit coupled to receive the second current and further coupled to the gate of the second switching transistor, the reverse current switching circuit being coupled to turn the second switching transistor OFF when the second current output is zero; and a forward current protection circuit coupled to the forward current sensing circuit, to the first voltage rail and to a third voltage rail (VDD_LV) that provides a third voltage that is less than the second voltage, the forward current protection circuit being further coupled to turn OFF the switch circuit responsive to a short to ground.