Apparatus and method for disabling the operation of high power devices

摘要

A drive circuit for delivering high-level power to a load, and method of stopping a high power load from operating, are disclosed. The drive circuit includes a high power circuit capable of being coupled to the load and delivering the high level power thereto, and a low power circuit that controls the high power circuit. The low power circuit includes a first circuit portion that provides at least one control signal that is at least indirectly communicated to the high power circuit and that controls the delivering of the high level power by the high power circuit, and a second circuit portions coupled to the first circuit portion. The second circuit portion is capable of disabling the first circuit portion so that the at least one control signal avoids taking on values that would result in the high power circuit delivering the high level power to the load.