Systems and methods for driving a load

1. A control system, comprising:

a controller configured to generate a drive signal as a function of a comparison between a user defined threshold signal and a second control signal, the user defined threshold signal differing from the second control signal;

a timing circuit that is coupled to the controller and adapted to provide the second control signal, wherein the second control signal is representative of a frequency; and

a switching device configured to generate an output control signal having a duty cycle that is a function of the drive signal;

wherein the timing circuit comprises:

an oscillator configured to generate an oscillating voltage signal having a rise time; and

a wave shape circuit configured to derive the second control signal from the oscillating voltage such that the second control signal has a rise time that is greater than the rise time of the oscillating voltage signal.

2. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control the duty cycle of the output control signal.

3. The control system of claim 2 , wherein the switching device has an on-state mode of operation, and further comprising:

a timing network that is configured to output a gated signal to the switching device, wherein the gated signal maintains a relationship with a predetermined threshold during the on-state mode of operation of the switching device, and maintains another, different relationship with the predetermined threshold during an off-state mode of the switching device.

4. A control system, comprising:

a p-channel high-side MOSFET for providing a high-side current and voltage;

an n-channel low-side MOSFET for providing a low-side current and voltage;

a driver integrated circuit for selectively controlling the p-channel high-side MOSFET and the n-channel low-side MOSFET; and

a controller configured to receive a first control signal and a second control signal, and to provide a drive signal to the driver integrated circuit based on a comparison of the first and second control signals, the controller comprising:

a modulator block having a first input related to the first control signal, a second input related to the second control signal, and an output configured to generate the drive signal;

a user-manipulatable current source coupled to the first input of the modulator block;

an oscillator configured to generate an oscillating voltage signal having a rise time; and

a wave shape circuit configured to derive the second control signal from the oscillating voltage signal such that the second control signal has a rise time that is greater than the rise time of the oscillating voltage signal.

5. The control system of claim 4 , wherein the p-channel high-side MOSFET, the n-channel low-side MOSFET, the driver integrated circuit, and the controller are integrated in a single integrated circuit package.

6. A method for driving a load with a current switching device, comprising:

providing a drive signal via a controller, wherein the drive signal is generated as a function of a first control signal and a second control signal that is different from the first control signal; and

receiving a drive signal at a current switching device, wherein the current switching device is capable of driving the load in response thereto, and wherein the drive signal comprises a pulse width modulation signal comprising a first state and a second state during an on-state of the load; and

processing the drive signal to generate a gated signal with a decay region, the decay region engineered to cross a predetermined threshold at a predetermined time to place the current switching device in an off-state of the load.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

providing the first control signal in response to a user-manipulatable current control that is capable of being positioned within the reach of a vehicle occupant.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the control system has a single connection coupleable to the user-manipulatable current control to ease integration of the control system into a vehicle.

9. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

providing the second control signal as a function of an oscillator.

10. A method for driving a motor with a current switching device, comprising:

providing a drive signal via a pulse width modulator cell, wherein the drive signal is generated as a function of a dynamically adjustable user input and a frequency input;

receiving a drive signal at the current switching device, wherein the current switching device is capable of driving the motor in response thereto, and wherein the drive signal comprises a pulse width modulation signal comprising a first state and a second state during an on-state of the motor; and

processing the drive signal to generate a gated signal with a decay region, the decay region engineered to cross a predetermined threshold at a predetermined time to place the current switching device in an off-state of the motor.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the decay region begins at a time associated with the transition from the first and second state of the drive signal.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the decay region alleviates at a time associated with the transition from the second state back to the first state.

13. A system for driving a motor, comprising:

pulse-width modulation means for providing a drive signal from a user-manipulatable current source and a frequency input;

a current switching circuit for generating an output control signal as a function of the drive signal in an on-state mode of operation, wherein the output control signal is capable of driving a motor; and

a user-manipulatable device for controlling the user-manipulatable current source;

wherein a single connection is coupleable to the user-manipulatable current source to ease integration.

14. The system of claim 13 , further comprising:

a timing network for providing a gated signal to the current switching circuit wherein the gated signal maintains a relationship with a predetermined threshold during the on-state mode of operation of the current switching circuit, and maintains another, different relationship with the predetermined threshold during an off-state mode of the current switching circuit.

15. A control system, comprising:

a controller configured to generate a drive signal as a function of a comparison between a first control signal and a second control signal, the first control signal differing from the second control signal;

a switching device configured to generate an output control signal having a duty cycle that is a function of the drive signal; and

a timing network that is configured to output a gated signal to the switching device, wherein the gated signal maintains a relationship with a predetermined threshold during an on-state mode of operation of the switching device, and maintains another, different relationship with the predetermined threshold during an off-state mode of the switching device.

16. A control system, comprising:

a controller configured to generate a drive signal as a function of a comparison between a first control signal and a second control signal, the first control signal differing from the second control signal; and

a switching device configured to generate an output control signal having a duty cycle that is a function of the drive signal;

wherein the first control signal comprises a threshold signal that is adapted to be dynamically altered by a user.