Patent · US Expired

Current limited power semiconductor device

US5272392A · kind A · utility

59Cited by
2References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 4, 1992
Grant dateDec 21, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 4, 2012

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH03K17/145
  • WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A current limit circuit for protection of an intelligent power switch includes a series circuit of a sense transistor and a sense resistor coupled to the power semiconductor transistor switch so that the sense resistor current is a fraction of, and is proportional to, the power transistor current. A pull-down transistor is coupled to the control electrode of the power transistor switch. A feedback circuit including a series connection of a diode-connected transistor and a reference V source is coupled between the sense resistor and the control electrode of the pull down transistor. The feedback circuit produces a voltage level shift and the circuit provides an accurate limit on the power transistor current independent of any variations in threshold voltage.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.