Patent ID: 8259427

Claim:
A circuit, comprising: a power transistor having a first current electrode coupled to a first power supply terminal, a second current electrode as an output of the circuit, and a control electrode; a driver control circuit coupled between a first internal power supply node and a second internal power supply node and having an output coupled to the control electrode of the power transistor, wherein the driver control circuit, when enabled, controls the power transistor; a first switch having a first current terminal coupled to the first power supply terminal and a second current terminal coupled to the first internal power supply node, wherein the first switch selectively couples the first power supply terminal to the first internal power supply node; a second power supply terminal coupled to the second internal power supply node; a diode having an anode coupled to the second internal power supply node and a cathode; and a second switch having a first current terminal coupled to the cathode of the diode and a second current terminal coupled to the output of the circuit, wherein, when the circuit is in an active mode, the second switch selectively couples the cathode of the diode to the output of the circuit based on whether or not the second power supply terminal is coupled to an external ground.