Power device protection circuit
US7365954B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 19, 2005 |
| Grant date | Apr 29, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 19, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03K2017/0806
- WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A protected power device includes a power transistor with an internal control line to receive a control line current and a fault detector, coupled to the internal control line. A power device protection circuit includes a power device driver, coupled to the control line to drive the protected power device, a current sensor, coupled to the control line to sense a fault of the protected power device by monitoring the control line current and to generate a fault-sensing signal, and control logic, coupled to the current sensor and to the power device driver to respond to the fault-sensing signal of the current sensor. The fault detector modifies the control line current upon detecting a fault and the current sensor senses the fault by sensing the modified control line current. The control logic responds to the sensed fault by limiting or shutting down the current of the protected power device.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.