Semiconductor device and current limiting method
US10103539B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 6, 2015 |
| Grant date | Oct 16, 2018 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 29, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03K2217/0027
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A semiconductor device, including a main transistor configured to supply power from a power source to a load, and a current limiting device including a control transistor. The current limiting device is configured to detect that the current flowing from the main transistor is an overcurrent, and to limit the current upon determining that the current is equal to or greater than a current limit value, and an operating voltage of the control transistor is equal to or greater than a current limiting activation voltage. The current limit value is a threshold for determining whether the current is greater than an operating current of the main transistor for the load to operate in a steady state. The current limiting activation voltage is a sum of a correction voltage and a predetermined threshold voltage at the gate of the control transistor when the current rises to the current limit value.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.