Over current protection circuit and method
US7558037B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 30, 2008 |
| Grant date | Jul 7, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 30, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02M1/32
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Circuit and method for providing over-current and overloading protection with a single additional pin. A converter controller circuit is provided that includes a voltage controlled oscillator and outputs upper and lower gating signals for driving the upper and lower driving transistors in a voltage converter, for example, in an inductor-inductor capacitor half-bridge circuit topology. A current sense input pin of the circuit receives a voltage corresponding to the current flowing in the half-bridge circuit. A feedback input pin has an external capacitor coupled to it and receives a voltage from an output voltage sensor at the output terminals. Over-current protection is provided by sensing the voltage at the current sense input pin with no external components needed. Overload protection is provided by utilizing the external feedback capacitor and the feedback input pin during overload conditions. Methods for providing over-current and overload protection are disclosed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.