Power device with a short-circuit detector

Details Power device with a short-circuit detector Power device with a short-circuit detector

1998-02-18

1999-08-24

Hecker, Stuart N.

Electricity: power supply or regulation systems

Self-regulating

Using a three or more terminal semiconductive device as the...

361 18, G05F 304, H02H 700

Patent

active

059428864

ABSTRACT:
A power device circuit comprises a power semiconductor device (MPWR) in series with a load (LD) between a power supply line (1) and a return line (2), and a short-circuit detector (R1, R2, . . . R1', R2', . . . CP) for determining whether the load (LD) is short-circuit. The short-circuit detector examines the distribution of the supply-to-return voltage (Vbg) between the device (MPWR) and the load (LD) by comprising a comparator (CP) which has a first input (+) coupled to a series node (11) between the device and load and a second input (+) from circuit means (R1, R2, . . . , R1', R2', . . . ) coupled between the supply and return lines (1 and 2) to provide the second input (-) with a voltage supply signal (Vbg') which is a predetermined function of the supply-to-return voltage (Vbg). By so comparing the voltage (Vdl) at the series node (11) with the predetermined function of the supply-to-return voltage (Vbg), the detector (SC) provides an output signal (sc) indicating whether or not a short-circuit is present. Preferably pinch-resistors (R1,R2) or a voltage-clamp (ZD) are used with the circuit means (R1, R2, . . ., R1', R2', . . . ), so that the predetermined function of the supply-to-return voltage (Vbg) input to the comparator (CP) varies with the magnitude of the supply-to-return voltage (Vbg). By this means a lower percentage of the supply-to-return voltage (Vbg) can be input at a higher magnitude of the supply-to-return voltage (Vbg) than at a lower magnitude.

REFERENCES:
patent: 4929884 (1990-05-01), Bird et al.
patent: 5086364 (1992-02-01), Leipold et al.
patent: 5570255 (1996-10-01), Hirata
patent: 5670867 (1997-09-01), Mitsuda
patent: 5793596 (1998-08-01), Jordan et al.
patent: 5844760 (1998-12-01), Kumagai et al.

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