Patent · US Expired

Microprocessor based solid state DC power controller

US6768350B1 · kind B1 · utility

26Cited by
9References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateApr 10, 2002
Grant dateJul 27, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 10, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH03K17/063
  • WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A switching system includes a microcontroller that provides a powering signal to a solid state switch, such as a field effect transistor (FET). A powering signal from the microcontroller preferably is amplified using a charge pump to triple the magnitude of the signal from the microcontroller to provide a sufficient voltage to operate the gate of the FET. The microcontroller preferably provides the powering signal at least several cycles during a selected time period on a repeated, cyclical basis. During times when the controller is not providing the powering signal to operate the gate of the FET, the controller is free to perform other functions. Various other features, including over current monitoring are disclosed.

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