Patent ID: 7924064

Claim:
An inverter circuit, comprising: a high-voltage switching element and a low-voltage switching element connected in series between a power supply potential and a GND potential; a high-voltage drive circuit including a first terminal coupled to a control terminal of the high-voltage switching element, a second terminal connected to said GND potential, and a low-potential inner circuit including a one-shot circuit coupled between the first and second terminals and configured for controlling actuation of the high-voltage switching element through the first terminal, the second terminal connected to said GND potential supplying a reference potential to the low-potential inner circuit; and a diode connected between said second terminal and said GND potential, with such a polarity that a forward current flows from said second terminal to said GND potential, wherein the control terminal of the high-voltage switching element, the first terminal, the low-potential inner circuit, the second terminal, and the diode are electronically and serially coupled in that order.