Patent ID: 7276888

Claim:
An integrated circuit comprising a DC/DC boost converter with a precharge circuit comprising: an inductor (L 1 ) and a power MOSFET transistor (MP 5 ) connected in series with the inductor (L 1 ) between a supply terminal (Vbat) and a first end of a load (Rload, Cload) that has a second end connected to ground, and further includes a reference current circuit with a MOSFET transistor (MP 4 ) that has a gate connected with the gate of the power MOSFET transistor (MP 5 ) and a source connected to the supply terminal to form a current mirror, wherein a regulation circuit is provided for adjusting the gate potential (n 1 ) at the power MOSFET transistor (MP 5 ) and at the MOSFET transistor (MP 4 ) in the reference current circuit in response to a reduction of the drain-source voltage of the power MOSFET transistor (MP 5 ), in a sense to keep the precharge current through the power MOSFET transistor (MP 5 ) substantially constant or to increase the current.