Multi-function control circuit and pre-circuit configuration

An apparatus comprising:

• an input pin operative to receive an input control signal:
• an output pin operative to output an output control signal based on the received input control signal;
• and
• timing control circuitry coupled to the input pin, the timing control circuitry operative to selectively apply one or more timing control functions associated with conversion of the input control signal into the output control signal based on a setting of one or more hardware components disposed in a pre-circuit coupled to the input pin, the one or more hardware components in the pre-circuit being disposed external to the apparatus;
• wherein the timing control circuitry includes:
• a capacitor that is charged via current received through the input pin, the capacitor storing a voltage;
• and
• a comparator operative to compare a magnitude of the voltage stored in the capacitor to a threshold value, the output of the comparator operative to control at least one of the timing control functions.

An apparatus comprising:

• an input pin operative to receive an input control signal;
• an output pin operative to output an output control signal based on the received input control signal;
• and
• timing control circuitry coupled to the input pin, the timing control circuitry operative to selectively apply one or more timing control functions associated with conversion of the input control signal into the output control signal based on a setting of one or more hardware components disposed in a pre-circuit coupled to the input pin, the one or more hardware components in the pre-circuit being disposed external to the apparatus;
• wherein a first timing control function of the one or more timing control functions monitors a magnitude of voltage of the input control signal received from the setting of one or more hardware components at the input pin, the first timing control function operative to:
• i) enable operation of controlling a switch via the output control signal in response to detecting a first condition in which a magnitude of the input control signal crosses a first threshold value;
• and
• ii) disable activation of an over-current protection circuit in the apparatus between a first instance of detecting the first condition and detecting that the magnitude of the input control signal crosses a second threshold value.

A switch control assembly comprising:

• a pre-circuit operative to convert a first input control signal into a second input control signal, the pre-circuit including a first circuit component;
• a switch driver circuit including:
• i) an input pin to receive the second input control signal from the pre-circuit, ii) an output pin to drive a switch with an output control signal based on the second input control signal, and iii) timing control circuitry supporting timing control functions, the timing control circuitry operative to selectively apply at least one of the timing control functions associated with generation of the output control signal based on a respective setting of the first circuit component in the pre-circuit, the pre-circuit directly coupled to the input pin;
• and
• wherein the pre-circuit includes a diode in parallel with the first circuit component, the diode operative to discharge the input pin.

A method comprising:

• receiving an input control signal at an input pin of a semiconductor chip, the semiconductor chip including timing control circuitry coupled to the input pin, the timing control circuitry configured to support multiple timing functions depending upon selection of a resistance of a first resistor disposed in a pre-circuit directly coupled to the input pin of the semiconductor chip;
• based on the input control signal:
• i) selectively executing at least one of the multiple timing control functions of the timing control circuitry based on the resistance of the first resistor in the pre-circuit supplying the input control signal to the input pin, and ii) producing an output control signal outputted from the semiconductor chip to control a state of a switch;
• wherein the input control signal is a second input control signal;
• wherein the pre-circuit including the first resistor is operative to receive a first input control signal from a controller;
• and
• wherein the pre-circuit is operative to convert the first input control signal into the second input control signal supplied to the input pin of the semiconductor chip.

An apparatus comprising:

• an input pin operative to receive an input control signal;
• an output pin operative to output an output control signal based on the received input control signal;
• and
• timing control circuitry coupled to the input pin, the timing control circuitry operative to selectively apply one or more timing control functions associated with conversion of the input control signal into the output control signal based on a setting of one or more hardware components disposed in a pre-circuit coupled to the input pin, the one or more hardware components in the pre-circuit being disposed external to the apparatus;
• wherein the one or more timing control functions include a first over-current protection timing control function and a second over-current protection timing control function;
• wherein the first over-current protection timing control function is operative to control a first time delay of triggering a first overcurrent condition associated with producing the output control signal;
• and
• wherein the second over-current protection timing control function is operative to control a second time delay of triggering a second overcurrent condition associated with producing the output control signal.