Transformer driver circuit with IC protection circuitry

A transformer driver circuit comprising:

• an off-chip transformer comprising a primary winding and a secondary winding, the primary winding being electrically connected at a first end to a first unipolar controllable current sink and at a second end to a second unipolar controllable current sink, both of the first unipolar controllable current sink and the second unipolar controllable current sink formed on an integrated circuit and having respective outputs at a boundary of the integrated circuit;
• the primary winding comprising a transformer tap electrically connected to a first voltage source, the circuit being operable such that first current sink selectively sinks current from the first end of the primary winding and the second current sink selectively sinks current from the second end of the primary winding thereby causing current to flow in the secondary winding in a push-pull fashion;
• control circuitry formed on the integrated circuit and configured to drive the first and second current sinks based upon an input signal and limited by first and second feedback signals;
• protection circuitry formed on the integrated circuit and configured to provide the first and second feedback signals based upon feedback from the first end of the primary winding and the second end of the primary winding to limit operations of the first unipolar controllable current sink and the second unipolar controllable current sink to protect the integrated circuit from voltage levels greater than a protection voltage of the integrated circuit at the respective outputs;
• and
• a load electrically connected to the secondary winding.