Patent ID: 8207760

Claim:
An apparatus, comprising: a semiconductor switch having a drive terminal, a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein the drive terminal is coupled to switch the semiconductor switch between on and off states; a first drive circuit coupled to provide a first drive signal to the drive terminal of the semiconductor switch; a second drive circuit coupled to provide a second drive signal to the drive terminal of the semiconductor switch; and a selector circuit coupled to turn on the first and second drive circuits to provide the first and second drive signals, respectively, wherein a voltage at the drive terminal of the semiconductor switch temporarily clamps at a first voltage level during a time that the first drive circuit is providing the first drive signal and wherein the selector circuit turns on the second drive circuit after the voltage at the drive terminal unclamps and rises and responsive to a voltage between the first and second terminals of the semiconductor switch falling to a threshold value indicating a time at which the voltage at the drive terminal unclamps to a second voltage level, wherein the voltage between the first and second terminals has a fast changing time period transition and a subsequent slower changing time period transition, wherein the selector circuit turns on the second drive circuit after the fast changing time period transition is finished.