Importance

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Abstract

The embodiments described herein relate inter alia to a circuit comprising an electronic switch with a load current path, which is switched between an output node and a supply node and is designed to connect or disconnect the output node to or from the supply node in accordance with a control signal. The circuit further comprises a control circuit which is designed to generate the control signal based on an input signal, and a current monitoring circuit which is designed to receive a current measurement signal that represents the load current flowing through the load current path, and to generate a protective signal, based on the current measurement signal, which indicates whether the output node should be disconnected from the supply node. The circuit further comprises a reverse current detection circuit, which is designed to detect that the load current is flowing in the reverse direction, namely from the output node to the supply node. The control circuit is designed to work at least in a normal mode and in an idle mode, wherein the control circuit switches from the normal mode into the idle mode if at least the following idle-mode conditions are met: the load current is below a current threshold; the electronic switch is switched on; and the reverse current detection circuit does not detect a load current in the reverse direction.

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First Claim