Patent · US Active

Electronic device having a circuit protection unit

US8179704B2 · kind B2 · utility

2Cited by
4References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 18, 2009
Grant dateMay 15, 2012
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 23, 2030

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S323/908
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An electronic device includes a circuit protection unit providing over-current protection to a main circuit and including a series connection of first and second current limiting circuits, and a normally-open branch circuit coupled in parallel to the first current limiting circuit and operable to conduct when a voltage across the first current limiting circuit reaches a first predetermined threshold voltage not greater than an endure voltage of the first current limiting circuit. Prior to conduction of the branch circuit, the first current limiting circuit maintains a current flowing therethrough at a first limit value when a current flowing through the main circuit reaches the first limit value. Upon conduction of the branch circuit, the second current limiting circuit maintains a current flowing therethrough at a second limit value greater than the first limit value when the current flowing through the main circuit reaches the second limit value.

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