Texas Instruments Corporation

Mark A Streeter

David M Gonzalez

Christopher J Kemp

Roger J Cook

Stephen R Tomassetti

A low side line driver (10) includes a slew rate limiter (12) providing current to a pre-charge reference circuit (16). The pre-charge reference circuit (16) generates a constant voltage at the input of a pre-drive circuit (18). Upon a transition to the active state, the pre-charge reference circuit (16) is disabled and current from the slew rate limiter (12) flows to pre-drive circuit (18) which becomes enabled without undue propagation delay or high instantaneous slew rate due to the pre-charge voltage generated by the pre-charge reference circuit (16) before turn on. The pre-drive circuit (18) provides base current to an output driver (22) from a negative voltage created in a charge pump (28). At turn off, an active turn off circuit (26) produces a short output pulse causing rapid discharge of base capacitance of the output driver (22) in order to minimize turn off propagation delay.

Growing community of inventors

Northbrook, IL, United States of America

Mark A Streeter