Low side driver circuit with diagnostic output
US5903173A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 12, 1997 |
| Grant date | May 11, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 12, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03K17/18
- WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A low side driver circuit includes a command voltage source, a first switching transistor having a base connected to the command voltage source, an emitter connected to ground, and a collector connected to a second switching transistor base. The second switching transistor includes an emitter connected to a first reference voltage. A power transistor includes a gate connected to the second switching transistor collector through a first resistor, a drain connected to an electrical energy source through a load, and a source connected to ground through a sense resistor. A second resistor is connected between the power transistor gate and ground. A diagnostic circuit portion including a first comparator and a second comparator establishes a diagnostic output voltage based upon the voltages at the power transistor drain, gate and source for indicating fault conditions of the driver circuit.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.