Predriver circuit for controlling a power drive circuit

A predriver circuit for controlling a power drive circuit, comprising:

• a first analog signal amplifier defining an input adapted to receive a first analog signal;
• a second analog signal amplifier coupled to said first analog signal amplifier and defining an output adapted for connection to an input of a power drive circuit, said first and second analog signal amplifiers responsive to a first state of a predriver control signal to supply an amplified representation of said first analog signal to said output;
• a sense circuit responsive to detection of said amplified representation of said first analog signal to disable operation of said first analog signal amplifier and a first portion of said second analog signal amplifier to thereby reduce electrical power consumed thereby;
• a control circuit responsive to disablement of said first analog signal amplifier and said first portion of said second analog signal amplifier to maintain a second portion of said second analog signal amplifier operable to thereby maintain said output near a predefined signal level for a duration of said first state of said predriver control signal;
• and
• a turn off drive circuit responsive to a second state of said predriver control signal to draw a second analog signal from said output.

A predriver circuit for controlling a power drive circuit, comprising:

• a turn on drive circuit responsive to a first state of a predriver control signal to supply a first analog signal to a predriver circuit output thereof, said predriver circuit output adapted for connection to an input of a power drive circuit;
• a first analog signal amplifier defining an input adapted to receive a second analog signal;
• a second analog signal amplifier having an input coupled to said first analog signal amplifier and defining a second amplifier output;
• a third analog signal amplifier coupled to said second amplifier output and defining an output connected to said predriver circuit output, said first, second and third amplifiers responsive to a second opposite state of said predriver control signal to draw an amplified representation of said second analog signal from said predriver circuit output;
• a sense circuit responsive to detection of said amplified representation of said second analog signal drawn from said predriver circuit output to disable operation of said first and second analog signal amplifiers and a first portion of said third analog signal amplifier to thereby reduce electrical power consumed thereby;
• and
• a control circuit responsive to disablement of said first and second analog signal amplifiers and said first portion of said third analog signal amplifier to maintain a second portion of said third analog signal amplifier operable to thereby maintain said predriver circuit output near a predefined signal level for a duration of said second state of said predriver control signal.

A predriver circuit for controlling a power drive circuit, comprising:

• a turn on drive circuit having a first analog input adapted to receive a first analog signal and an analog output adapted for connection to an input of a power drive circuit, said turn on drive circuit responsive to one of an active and an inactive state of a first digital signal to supply an amplified representation of said first analog signal to said analog output and to produce a digital turn off circuit disable signal;
• and
• a turn off drive circuit having a second analog input adapted to receive a second analog signal and an analog output defined by said analog output of said turn on drive circuit, said turn off drive circuit responsive to the other of an active and inactive state of said first digital control signal to draw an amplified representation of said second analog signal from said analog output and to produce a digital turn on circuit disable signal;
• wherein said turn on circuit is responsive to said digital turn on circuit disable signal to disable operation thereof by disabling supply of said amplified representation of said first analog signal to said analog output;
• and wherein said turn off circuit is responsive to said digital turn off circuit disable signal to disable operation thereof by disabling draw of said amplified representation of said second analog signal from said analog output.