Protection circuit for a power switching device
US7046494B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 5, 2003 |
| Grant date | May 16, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 13, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03K17/0822
- WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A protection circuit for a power switching device of the type configured to supply load current to an electrical load from a voltage source. The protection circuit includes a voltage drop sensing circuit connected in parallel with the switching device to sense a voltage drop across the switching device. A limit circuit is connected to the voltage drop sensing circuit and operates to inhibit further flow of load current through the switching device in relation to the sensed voltage drop. The limit circuit limits the load current to different maximum values for different sensed voltage drop values. This enables the load current to be limited to a lower value in the event an electrical short occurs across the load, reducing the amount of power dissipated by the switching device.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.