Patent ID: 8283963

Claim:
A switching output circuit for switching inductive or ohmic inductive loads, comprising: a plurality of output stages connected in parallel, each output stage having at least one Zener diode having a Zener voltage, and a switching transistor, wherein the at least one Zener diode in a first output stage is situated in or at such a proximity to the switching transistor of the first output stage that heat generated by a current going through the switching transistor of the first output stage increases the Zener voltage of the at least one Zener diode in the first output stage, and wherein the Zener voltage of the at least one Zener diode in the first output stage is increased to a same level of the Zener voltage of the at least one Zener diode in a second output stage to cause the at least one Zener diode in the second output stage to conduct a current.