An integrated circuit (IC) includes: an input terminal; an output terminal; a first reference voltage terminal and a second reference voltage terminal; a high-side power switch coupled between the first reference voltage terminal and the output terminal; a low-side power switch coupled between the output terminal and the second reference voltage terminal; a first combinational logic and a second combination logic that are coupled to the input terminal; a first driver coupled between the first combinational logic and the high-side power switch; a second driver coupled between the second combinational logic and the low-side power switch; and first comparators coupled to the second combinational logic, where the first comparators are configured to compare a voltage difference between load path terminals of the high-side power switch with a first threshold and a second threshold.

A power semiconductor circuit is provided for clamping the voltage across the circuit when a power semiconductor switch is opened (i.e., turned off). The circuit may include a first surge arrester and a first semiconductor switch coupled in parallel with the power semiconductor switch. The first semiconductor switch is coupled in series with the first surge arrester. A second surge arrester may be coupled to the gate of the first semiconductor switch to control current flow through the first semiconductor switch and the first surge arrester.

Disconnection of a circulation path through which a circulation current flows is detected while suppressing an increase in circuit scale. A battery monitoring device includes switching circuits that control currents flowing through coils of main contactors by being controlled to be turned on and off, freewheeling diodes that are connected to the coils of the main contactors to form circulation paths for circulating the currents, and a control unit. The control unit measures output voltages of the freewheeling diodes at an input terminal, and detects the disconnection of the circulation paths based on the output voltages of the freewheeling diodes.

A power semiconductor circuit is provided for clamping the voltage across the circuit when a power semiconductor switch is opened (i.e., turned off). The circuit may include a first surge arrester and a first semiconductor switch coupled in parallel with the power semiconductor switch. The first semiconductor switch is coupled in series with the first surge arrester. A second surge arrester may be coupled to the gate of the first semiconductor switch to control current flow through the first semiconductor switch and the first surge arrester.

A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a semiconductor power switch element configured to drive an inductive load, a load current sensing circuit configured to sense a load current of the inductive load, a logic circuit configured to output a logic signal responsive to the load current sensing circuit sensing a drop in the load current while the semiconductor power switch element is turned on, a gate voltage pull-down circuit configured to pull down a gate voltage of the semiconductor power switch element upon receiving the logic signal, a clamp diode disposed between a gate of the semiconductor power switch element and a high-potential terminal connected to the inductive load, and a clamp withstand voltage drop circuit configured to switch a first withstand voltage of the clamp diode to a second withstand voltage, which is lower than the first withstand voltage, upon receiving the logic signal.

Disconnection of a circulation path through which a circulation current flows is detected while suppressing an increase in circuit scale. A battery monitoring device includes switching circuits that control currents flowing through coils of main contactors by being controlled to be turned on and off, freewheeling diodes that are connected to the coils of the main contactors to form circulation paths for circulating the currents, and a control unit. The control unit measures output voltages of the freewheeling diodes at an input terminal, and detects the disconnection of the circulation paths based on the output voltages of the freewheeling diodes.

A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a semiconductor power switch element configured to drive an inductive load, a load current sensing circuit configured to sense a load current of the inductive load, a logic circuit configured to output a logic signal responsive to the load current sensing circuit sensing a drop in the load current while the semiconductor power switch element is turned on, a gate voltage pull-down circuit configured to pull down a gate voltage of the semiconductor power switch element upon receiving the logic signal, a clamp diode disposed between a gate of the semiconductor power switch element and a high-potential terminal connected to the inductive load, and a clamp withstand voltage drop circuit configured to switch a first withstand voltage of the clamp diode to a second withstand voltage, which is lower than the first withstand voltage, upon receiving the logic signal.

A fast shut-off solenoid circuit network includes a solenoid circuit and a current dissipation circuit. The solenoid circuit is operable in response to an electrical current, and configured to operate in an enable mode and a disable mode. The current dissipation circuit is configured to dissipate the current discharged from the solenoid circuit in response to invoking the disable mode. The fast shut-off solenoid circuit network further includes a dissipation bypass circuit. The dissipation bypass circuit is configured to divert the current discharged by the solenoid circuit away from current dissipation circuit when operating in the enable mode.

A fast shut-off solenoid circuit network includes a solenoid circuit and a current dissipation circuit. The solenoid circuit is operable in response to an electrical current, and configured to operate in an enable mode and a disable mode. The current dissipation circuit is configured to dissipate the current discharged from the solenoid circuit in response to invoking the disable mode. The fast shut-off solenoid circuit network further includes a dissipation bypass circuit. The dissipation bypass circuit is configured to divert the current discharged by the solenoid circuit away from current dissipation circuit when operating in the enable mode.

A semiconductor device includes a high side driver, in which the high side driver has an output transistor configured to supply a power voltage to an output terminal based on a driving voltage applied to a gate electrode of the output transistor; a short circuit transistor configured to couple the gate electrode of the output transistor with the output terminal; and a switch transistor connected in series between the gate electrode of the output transistor and a drain electrode of the short circuit transistor. The switch transistor is controlled by a back gate of the switch transistor.