Patent ID: 8467157

Claim:
A controller for regulating a power converter, the controller comprising: a first terminal operable to receive a feedback signal, wherein the first terminal is adjacent to a second terminal and a third terminal; feedback circuitry coupled to the first terminal and operable to receive the feedback signal; driver circuitry operable to generate a drive signal configured to switch a power switch between an ON state and an OFF state to regulate the output of the power converter, wherein the drive signal is generated based at least in part on the feedback signal; fault detection circuitry coupled to the first terminal, the fault detection circuitry operable to detect a fault condition in response to a fault detection current flowing in the first terminal being greater than an upper threshold current or less than a lower threshold current; and offset and clamp circuitry coupled to the second terminal and to the third terminal, wherein the offset and clamp circuitry is operable to: supply a clamping current to the second terminal and to the third terminal; and offset a voltage on the second terminal and a voltage on the third terminal by an offset voltage, wherein the offset voltage and clamping current cause the fault detection current flowing in the first terminal to be greater than the upper threshold current or less than the lower threshold current when the first terminal is coupled to the second terminal or to the third terminal.