Write driver circuit having enhanced switching control circuitry

In a write current driver circuit including first and second switching devices for directing write current in opposite directions through a write head between first and second terminals in response to first and second input signals, the improvement of turn-off control circuitry comprising:

• a first active device coupled to a control element of the first switching device;
• a second active device coupled to a control element of the second switching device;
• a first MOSFET having a gate coupled to the second input signal and being coupled to pull current from the control clement of the first switching device in a first current path upon activation of the second input signal;
• and
• a second MOSFET having a gate coupled to the first input signal and being coupled to pull current from the control element of the second switching device in a second current path upon activation of the first input signal.

In a write current driver circuit including first and second switching devices for directing write current in opposite directions through a write head between first and second terminals, the improvement of turn-on control circuitry comprising:

• a first resistor coupled between a control element of the first switching device and a fixed voltage;
• a second resistor coupled between a control element of the second switching device and the fixed voltage;
• at least one first active device coupled between the control element of the first switching device and the fixed voltage, the at least one first active device having a control element directly connected to the control element of the second switching device;
• and
• at least one second active device coupled between the control element of the second switching device and the fixed voltage, the at least one second active device having a control element directly connected to the control element of the first switching device.

In a write current driver circuit including a high fixed voltage level, a low fixed voltage level, and first and second switching devices for directing write current in opposite directions through a write head between first and second terminals, the improvement of turn-on control circuitry comprising:

• a first resistor coupled between a control element of the first switching device and the high fixed voltage;
• a second resistor coupled between a control element of the second switching device and the high fixed voltage;
• at least one first active device coupled between the control element of the first switching device and the high fixed voltage, the at least one first active device having a control element coupled to the control element of the second switching device;
• and
• at least one second active device coupled between the control element of the second switching device and the high fixed voltage, the at least one second active device having a control element coupled to the control element of the first switching device.

In a write current driver circuit including first and second transistors for directing write current in opposite directions through a write head between first and second terminals in response to first and second input signals, the improvement of turn-off control circuitry comprising:

• a third transistor coupled to a base of the first transistor;
• a fourth transistor coupled to a base of the second transistor;
• a first MOSFET having a gate coupled to the second input signal and being coupled to the third transistor to pull current from the base of the first transistor through the third transistor upon activation of the second input signal;
• and
• a second MOSFET having a gate coupled to the first input signal and being coupled to the fourth transistor to pull current from the base of the second transistor through the fourth transistor upon activation of the first input signal.