Output discharge techniques for load switches

An integrated circuit comprising:

• an input voltage lead;
• an output voltage lead;
• a pass transistor coupled between the input voltage lead and the output voltage lead;
• and
• an output discharge circuit coupled between the output voltage lead and a ground lead, the output discharge circuit including:
• a power input;
• a diode having an anode coupled to the power input;
• a capacitor coupled between a cathode of the diode and the ground lead;
• a control input;
• a switch coupled between the output voltage lead and the ground lead, the switch having a control electrode;
• and
• a buffer having an input coupled to the control input of the output discharge circuit, an output coupled to the control electrode of the switch, and a power rail coupled to the cathode of the diode.

An integrated circuit comprising:

• an input voltage lead;
• an output voltage lead;
• a pass transistor coupled between the input voltage lead and the output voltage lead;
• and
• an output discharge circuit coupled between the output voltage lead and a ground lead, the output discharge circuit including:
• a power input;
• a diode having an anode coupled to the power input;
• a capacitor coupled between a cathode of the diode and the ground lead;
• a control input;
• a switch coupled between the output voltage lead and the ground lead, the switch having a control electrode;
• a resistive component coupled between the cathode of the diode and the control electrode of the switch;
• and
• a transistor coupled between control electrode of the switch and the ground lead, the transistor having a control electrode coupled to the control input of the output discharge circuit.

An integrated circuit comprising:

• an input voltage lead;
• an output voltage lead;
• a pass transistor coupled between the input voltage lead and the output voltage lead;
• and
• an output discharge circuit coupled between the output voltage lead and a ground lead, the output discharge circuit including:
• a power input;
• a diode having an anode coupled to the power input;
• a capacitor coupled between a cathode of the diode and the ground lead;
• a bias voltage lead;
• a charge pump circuit coupled to the bias voltage lead;
• and
• a gate driver circuit having a power input coupled to the charge pump circuit, and an output coupled to a gate of the pass transistor,
• wherein the power input of the output discharge circuit is coupled to the bias voltage lead.

A method comprising:

• charging, via a current path, a capacitor coupled between a power rail of a buffer and a ground lead in response to a voltage being applied to a power input of an output discharge circuit of a switch;
• preventing the capacitor from discharging through the current path in response to the voltage ceasing to be applied to the power input of the output discharge circuit;
• and
• supplying power to the output discharge circuit based on the charge stored in the charged capacitor in response to the voltage ceasing to be applied to the power input of the output discharge circuit.