Temperature-based control of inductor demagnetization

A discharge circuit for an inductive load, comprising:

• a clamp circuit connected between a first reference potential and an output node, wherein the inductive load is connected to the output node;
• a temperature sensing circuit to generate a sensed temperature signal based on a temperature of the clamp circuit;
• and
• a first circuit including:
• a first switch connected between the output node and a second reference potential;
• and
• a comparing circuit to selectively open and close the first switch based on the sensed temperature signal;
• wherein the comparing circuit turns on the first switch when the sensed temperature signal is greater than a reference temperature signal by a predetermined amount to cause power to be dissipated from the inductive load by the first switch at a first rate and turns off the first switch when the sensed temperature signal falls below the reference temperature signal by the predetermined amount;
• wherein the first switch dissipates power at the first rate until the sensed temperature signal falls below the reference temperature signal by the predetermined amount;
• and
• wherein the clamp circuit dissipates power at a second rate greater than the first rate after the sensed temperature signal falls below the reference temperature signal by the predetermined amount.