Patent ID: 7425848

Claim:
An integrated driver circuit structure that is digitally configurable to operate in a current output mode or in a voltage output mode, with its output level controlled by an external voltage applied to a control terminal, wherein: the external control voltage determines the current available at an output terminal in the current output mode and the external control voltage determines the voltage available at the output terminal in the voltage output mode; the integrated circuit comprises an operational amplifier, a voltage-to-current converter and a current mirror; a first input of the operational amplifier is coupled to the control terminal; the voltage-to-current converter has voltage sense inputs coupled to respective terminals across which an external load is connected; in the current output mode, a second input of the operational amplifier is coupled to a reference current source of the current mirror and to a terminal to which an external set resistor is connected, the output of the operational amplifier supplying a gate bias to the current mirror and the current mirror mirroring the reference current to the output terminal; and in the voltage output mode, the second input of the operational amplifier is coupled to the output of the voltage-to-current converter and the output of the operational amplifier drives the output terminal to set the voltage across the load.