Power regulation and thermal management circuit
US6667606B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 15, 2002 |
| Grant date | Dec 23, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 17, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02M3/157
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
This invention provides a means of protecting power dissipating pass elements from exceeding their predetermined thermal limits. In one preferred embodiment, the circuit protects a pass element in a battery charging circuit from exceeding its threshold junction temperature by predicting temperature based upon the voltage across the pass element and the current flowing through it. From this predicted temperature, current is reduced to provide charging of a battery at a constant power. The circuit includes a voltage sensing circuit and a plurality of comparators for selecting a predetermined current based upon the output of the voltage sensing circuit. The circuit provides a piecewise linear approximation of proper pass element voltage and current values to maintain a suitable threshold junction temperature.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.