Load drive apparatus and sensor control apparatus

A load drive apparatus comprising:

• a pulse drive circuit which has an output terminal connected to a second end of a resistive load whose first end is grounded, the pulse drive circuit being disposed between the resistive load and a power supply, the pulse drive circuit repeatedly applying a pulse voltage to the resistive load by repeatedly turning the pulse drive circuit on and off;
• current detection means for detecting a current flowing from the power supply to the resistive load through the pulse drive circuit when the pulse drive circuit turns on;
• level detection means for determining whether an output terminal voltage at the output terminal of the pulse drive circuit is at a high potential level or a low potential level;
• and
• anomaly detection means for detecting a wire breakage anomaly, a short-to-power anomaly, and a short-to-ground anomaly based on the level of the output terminal voltage detected by the level detection means and the current detected by the current detection means when the pulse drive circuit is turned on and off,
• the wire breakage anomaly being an anomaly in which at least one of a first connection path which connects the output terminal of the pulse drive circuit and the second end of the resistive load and a second connection path which grounds the first end of the resistive load is broken,
• the short-to-power anomaly being an anomaly in which the first connection path is short-circuited to a power supply potential, and
• the short-to-ground anomaly being an anomaly in which the first connection path is short-circuited to a ground potential.