Over-Current Protection Circuit And Method

An apparatus that is configured to prevent current overload at a transistor that is used in a DC-DC converter circuit, the apparatus comprising:

• a protection circuit that determines when the current flowing through the transistor exceeds a predetermined threshold and when the current exceeds the predetermined threshold, functions to deactivate the transistor, the deactivating of the transistor being effective to significantly reduce the frequency of operation and/or D.C. of the DC-DC converter circuit, the deactivating of the transistor limiting the current that flows through the transistor, the limiting of the current being effective to prevent damage to the transistor in an over-current condition;
• such that the transistor is maintained in a deactivated state by the protection circuit until a time off circuit resets the DC-DC converter circuit, the maintaining of the transistor in the deactivated state being additionally effective to prevent damage to the transistor from an over current condition.