Patent ID: 7635998

Claim:
A pre-driver for connection to a bridge driver that generates a bridge driver output voltage at an output node between a first drive transistor connected to a first high-voltage power supply and a second drive transistor connected between the first drive transistor and ground, the pre-driver comprising: a reference circuit, connected between the output node and a second high-voltage power supply, for generating a reference voltage that varies depending on the bridge driver output voltage; a regulator circuit, connected to the reference circuit and receiving the reference voltage therefrom, for generating, in response to the reference voltage, an internal power supply voltage that is substantially higher than the bridge driver output voltage by a constant voltage; and a buffer circuit, connected between the regulator circuit and the output node, and to the first drive transistor, for generating a drive voltage that drives the first drive transistor based on the internal power supply voltage and the bridge driver output voltage.