Adaptive duty-cycle limiting for overload protection of integrated circuits
US5550702A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 21, 1994 |
| Grant date | Aug 27, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 21, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02H5/04
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A technique for which integrated circuit duty-cycle control or pulse width current limiting adaptively responds to the load, allowing a brief inrush current event upon startup of the load, while restricting long-term power dissipation to a lower value. Upon sensing an overcurrent condition, a duty cycle control circuit causes the output to be placed into a high duty-cycle mode of operation to provide sufficient power to the load. A thermal sense circuit provides additional control because if the overcurrent condition continues and the junction temperature rises to the thermal sense trip point, the duty cycle control circuit places the output in a lower duty-cycle mode.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.