Patent ID: 8390974

Claim:
A method for protecting a transistor against overload, the method comprising: providing an input signal to a base terminal of a transistor for a first amount of time; determining whether a system voltage of a system that includes the transistor is above a threshold operating voltage level, wherein when the system voltage is above the threshold operating voltage level, the first amount of time comprises a first predetermined amount of time, and wherein when the system voltage is below the threshold operating voltage level, the first amount of time comprises a second predetermined amount of time; upon expiration of the first amount of time, making a determination of whether an overload condition exists at the transistor, wherein making a determination of whether an overload condition exists at the transistor comprises making a determination of whether a voltage level at a collector terminal of the transistor exceeds a threshold collector voltage level; disabling the transistor for a second amount of time when the determination is that an overload condition exists at the transistor; and providing the input signal to the base terminal upon expiration of the second amount of time.