Driver with accurately controlled slew rate and limited current

Abstract

A driver circuit, that provides slew rate control of its output voltage, including a current generator, an output transistor, and optionally, a capacitor. The current generator has an input port, an output port and reference port. The output port couples to the gate of the output transistor. The capacitor couples between the gate and drain of the output transistor. The current generator controls a current Iflowing through the output port based on an input voltage at the input port. The current generator limits the absolute value of the current Ito be less than or equal to a maximum determined by a reference current Iref provided at the reference port. Modifications may be made to the driver circuit to limit the output current (e.g., as a function of the output voltage) and to make the slew rate limit independent of the gate-drain capacitance of the output transistor.