Circuit arrangement having a load transistor and a voltage limiting circuit and method for driving a load transistor
AssigneeInfineon Technologies AG
InventorJenoe Tihanyi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention relates to a circuit arrangement having connecting terminals (K1, K2) for application of a supply voltage (V+) and having a load transistor (M) for connecting a load (Z) to the supply voltage, said load transistor having a control terminal (G) and a first and second load terminal (D, S), the control terminal (G) of the load transistor (2) being coupled to a drive terminal (IN) for application of a drive signal (Sin). A voltage limiting circuit (10) is connected between one (D) of the load terminals and the drive terminal (G) of the transistor, a deactivation circuit (20) being provided, which is designed to deactivate the voltage limiting circuit (10) in a manner dependent on the supply voltage (V+).
Claims20
A circuit arrangement, comprising:
- a load transistor having a control terminal and first and second load terminals, the first and second load terminals operable to connect a load to a supply voltage,
- a drive terminal operably coupled to provide a drive signal to the control terminal of the load transistor,
- a voltage limiting circuit connected between the first load terminal and the control terminal of the transistor, and
- a deactivation circuit operably connected to selectively deactivate the voltage limiting circuit based on the supply voltage provided to the load, wherein the deactivation circuit is configured to deactivate the voltage limiting circuit if the supply voltage provided to the load is greater than a predetermined voltage value.
A method for driving a load transistor having a control terminal, which is coupled to a drive terminal for receiving a drive signal, the load transistor having first and second load terminals configure to connect a load to a supply voltage, the method comprising:
- a) employing a voltage limiting circuit connected between the first load terminal and the control terminal, and
- b) deactivating the voltage limiting circuit responsive to the supply voltage provided to the load being greater than a predetermined voltage value.
A circuit arrangement, comprising:
- a load transistor having a control terminal and first and second load terminals, the first and second load terminals operable to connect a load to a supply voltage,
- a drive terminal operably coupled to provide a drive signal to the control terminal of the load transistor,
- a first circuit connected between the first load terminal and the control terminal of the transistor, the first circuit operable to provide voltage to the control terminal based on the supply voltage, and
- a second circuit operably connected to selectively inhibit the provision of voltage to the control terminal by the first circuit, the selective inhibition responsive to the supply voltage provided to the load being greater than a predetermined voltage value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.