Current threshold circuit

A current threshold circuit comprises:

• a current mirroring transistor operably coupled to a output transistor of a current source;
• a cascode transistor operably coupled in series with the current mirroring transistor;
• a feedback module operably coupled to generate a gate voltage for the cascode transistor such that a drain voltage of the current mirroring transistor substantially equals a drain voltage of the output transistor;
• and
• a sensing module operably coupled to compare a representation of a current of the current mirroring transistor with a representation of a reference current level, wherein the sensing module generates an excessive current indication of the output transistor when the representation of the current of the current mirroring transistor compares unfavorably with the representation of the reference current level.

A high current output circuit of an integrated circuit (IC), wherein the high circuit output circuit comprises:

• an amplifier circuit that includes an output current source;
• and
• a current threshold circuit that includes:
• a series impedance coupling an output of the output current source to a load, wherein impedance of the series impedance is substantially less than impedance of the load;
• a reference voltage source operably coupled to produce a reference voltage differential;
• and
• a comparison module operably coupled to compare the reference voltage differential with a differential voltage of the series impedance, wherein the comparison module generates an excessive current indication when the differential voltage of the series impedance compares unfavorably to the reference voltage differential.

A high current output circuit of an integrated circuit (IC), wherein the high circuit output circuit comprises:

• an amplifier circuit that includes an output current source;
• and
• a current threshold circuit that includes:
• a current mirroring transistor operably coupled to a output transistor of the output current source;
• a cascode transistor operably coupled in series with the current mirroring transistor;
• a feedback module operably coupled to generate a gate voltage for the cascode transistor such that a drain voltage of the current mirroring transistor substantially equals a drain voltage of the output transistor;
• and
• a sensing module operably coupled to compare a representation of a current of the current mirroring transistor with a representation of a reference current level, wherein the sensing module generates an excessive current indication of the output transistor when the representation of the current of the current mirroring transistor compares unfavorably with the representation of the reference current level.