Patent ID: 7579880

Claim:
A drive circuit for driving a voltage-driven semiconductor element having a conduction control terminal depending upon an input signal, the drive circuit comprising: a constant current source for supplying a constant current; a resistor supplied with the constant current depending upon the input signal; an output mirror pair including a first input transistor and a first output transistor connected to the conduction control terminal for determining a current flowing through the conduction control terminal of the semiconductor element; and an intermediate mirror pair including a second input transistor and a second output transistor; a constant voltage element connected between the conduction control terminal and a potential point that becomes equal to a terminal voltage of the resistor on a current path of the first input transistor, the constant voltage element forming a negative feedback path for a current that flows through the conduction control terminal, wherein the intermediate mirror pair is connected to the constant voltage element, and wherein the potential point is disposed between the first input transistor and the second output transistor for determining a current that flows through the second input transistor based on the constant current source.