Patent ID: 7812647

Claim:
A combination comprising a power MOSFET and a gate driver, the power MOSFET being connected with a load in a power circuit, an output terminal of the gate driver being connected to a gate terminal of the power MOSFET, the gate driver further comprising: a first input terminal and a second input terminal, the first input terminal being connected to a first voltage source, the second input terminal being connected to a second variable voltage source; a switching element for switching the output terminal between the first input terminal and second input terminal; wherein a first voltage provided by the first voltage source causes the power MOSFET to be in a fully on condition when delivered to the gate terminal and a second voltage provided by the second variable voltage source causes the power MOSFET to be in a low-current condition when delivered to the gate terminal; the combination further comprising a feedback circuit connected between the power circuit and the second input terminal of the gate driver, the feedback circuit being for generating an error signal which maintains the current in the low-current condition of the power MOSFET at a target value; the feedback circuit comprising a current sensor connected in the power circuit and an amplifier, the current sensor being connected to a first input terminal of the amplifier, a second input terminal of the amplifier being connected to a reference voltage, an output of the amplifier being connected to the variable voltage source.