Patent ID: 7888976

Claim:
The load-driving circuit formed as an integrated circuit, comprising: a high side driving transistor connected between a high potential terminal and a load; a low side driving transistor connected between the load and a low potential terminal; first means for controlling current supplied to the load via the high side driving transistor; second means for controlling current supplied to the load via the low side driving transistor, wherein elements constituting the first and the second means are positioned in the load-driving circuit so that temperature gradients are formed among the elements due to heat generated in a heat source composed of the high side and/or the low side driving transistors; and means for switching the high side driving transistor to constant current control from full-on control based on the temperature gradients of the low side transistor and the low side driving transistor to the full-on control from the constant current control based on the temperature gradients of the high side transistor, the switching being performed one time or more than one time.