Semiconductor protection circuit

Abstract

In a semiconductor protection circuit comprising a low speed protection circuit having an overcurrent detector for detecting an overcurrent of a predetermined switching element and turning off the semiconductor switching element following detection of the overcurrent, and a high speed protection circuit turning off the semiconductor switching element based on a voltage signal proportional to an output voltage of the semiconductor switching element, the high speed protection circuit includes a MOSFET having a drain connected to a gate of the semiconductor switching element, a diode having a cathode which is connected to a gate of the MOSFET, and a anode through which the voltage signal proportional to the output current from the semiconductor switching element is inputted to the diode, and a capacitor having one end connected to a cathode of the diode and a gate of the MOSFET. The semiconductor protection circuit is capable of promptly shutting off current to a semiconductor switching element and ensuring preventing the breaking of the semiconductor switching element.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.