Patent ID: 8217686

Claim:
A driver chip for driving an inductive load, the driver chip comprising: a first driver chip output connected to the inductive load; a first transistor for coupling a first potential to said first driver chip output; a second transistor for coupling a second potential to said first driver chip output; a first protection circuit for reducing an increased voltage between a load junction terminal of said first transistor and a control terminal of said first transistor; said driver chip configured to be placed in a first state having said second transistor turned off and said first transistor set up to switch the inductive load; said driver chip configured to be placed in a second state having said first transistor and said second transistor set up to switch an external power transistor connected to said first driver chip output; a second driver chip output for connection to a load junction terminal of the connected external power transistor; and a second protection circuit for reducing an increased voltage between said first driver chip output and said second driver chip output.