Patent ID: 8410826

Claim:
A load drive circuit with a current bidirectional detecting function, the load drive circuit comprising: a current bidirectional switch connected between a first wire and a second wire, the first wire being connected to one of a power supply and a load, the second wire being connected to the other one of the power supply and the load, the current bidirectional switch being configured to carry out switching to allow a first forward current or a first backward current to flow therethrough, the first forward current flowing in a forward direction from the first wire to the second wire, the first backward current flowing in a backward direction from the second wire to the first wire; a forward current detecting switch which is connected to the first wire and through which a second forward current flows, the second forward current being correlated to the first forward current flowing through the current bidirectional switch; a backward current detecting switch which is connected to the second wire and through which a second backward current flows, the second backward current being correlated to the first backward current flowing through the current bidirectional switch; a forward current detecting circuit which is connected to the forward current detecting switch and through which the second forward current flowing through the forward current detecting switch flows, the forward current detecting circuit being configured to detect the second forward current; a backward current detecting circuit which is connected to the backward current detecting switch and through which the second backward current flowing through the backward current detecting switch flows, the backward current detecting circuit being configured to detect the second backward current; and a switch control circuit configured to control the switching of the current bidirectional switch, switching of the forward current detecting switch, and switching of the backward current detecting switch such that the first forward current flowing through the current bidirectional switch and the second forward current flowing through the forward current detecting switch flow at the same time, and the first backward current flowing through the current bidirectional switch and the second backward current flowing through the backward current detecting switch flow at the same time.