Overload and short circuit protection device for a power semiconductor circuit

US5831807A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• SEMIKRON ELEKTRONIK GMBH & CO. KG · DE

Inventors

• Juergen Masannek · Nuremberg, DE
• Ernst Schimanek · Nürnberg, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 28, 1997
• Grant date: Nov 3, 1998
• Expiry date: Apr 28, 2017

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H02H7/1227
• WIPO field: Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

An overcurrent and short circuit protection device for a power semiconductor component is responsive to output current signals representing the actual output current(s) of the semiconductor component. A short-circuit window comparator receives the output current signals and produces an error signal when the sum of all output current signals is less than a minimum allowable value or more than a maximum allowable value. An overcurrent window comparator receives the same output current signals, determines a positive maximum instantaneous value and a negative maximum instantaneous value, and produces an error signal when either one of these exceeds a maximum allowable value. An error signal from either window comparator interrupts operation of the power semiconductor component and locks out all higher level control signals to the power semiconductor component.