US5764460A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Circuit for the protection against overcurrents in power electronic devices and corresponding method
Assignee: CORIMME Consorzio per Ricerca Sulla Microelettronica nel Mezzogiorno
•
Filing: 1996-12-23
•
Granted: 1998-06-09
•
Expires: 2016-12-23
Abstract
Abstract A circuit for protecting from overload currents includes an electronic power device having at least first and second terminals and at least one control terminal. The circuit also includes at least one voltage-generating circuit for generating a reference voltage having a predetermined pattern. The voltage-generating circuit includes at least a first terminal connected to the first terminal of the power device and at least a second terminal coupled to the second terminal of the power device through a sensor. The circuit also preferably includes at least one comparator for comparing the reference voltage with a voltage present across the sensor. The comparator has at least one output terminal and at least first and second input terminals. The first and second input terminals are respectively connected to a third terminal of the voltage-generating circuit and the second terminal of the power device. The circuit also includes at least one current limiter having at least a first terminal connected to the control terminal of the power device, at least a second terminal connected to the second terminal of the voltage-generating circuit, and at least one control terminal connected to the output terminal of the comparator.
Inventors
- 👤 Leonardo Perillo
- 👤 Giuseppe Scilla
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 15:55
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05F; G05F1/00; G05F1/10; G05F1/46; G05F1/56; G05F1/565; G05F1/569; H; H03; H03F; H03F1/00; H03F1/52
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
190 words
A protection circuit for protecting from overload currents an electronic power device comprising at least first and second terminals and at least one control terminal, said protection circuit comprising: a sensor; voltage-generating circuit means for generating a reference voltage having a predetermined pattern, said voltage-generating circuit means comprising first, second and third terminals with the first terminal connected to the first terminal of the power device and the second terminal connected to the second terminal of the power device through said sensor; at least one comparator for comparing the reference voltage with a voltage present across said sensor, said comparator comprising at least one output terminal and at least first and second input terminals, said first and second input terminals being respectively connected to the third terminal of the voltage-generating circuit means and the second terminal of the power device; and at least one current limiter comprising at least a first terminal connected to the control terminal of the power device, at least a second terminal connected to the second terminal of the voltage-generating circuit means, and at least one control terminal connected to the output terminal of said comparator.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
190 words
A protection circuit for protecting from overload currents an electronic power device comprising at least first and second terminals and at least one control terminal, said protection circuit comprising: a sensor; voltage-generating circuit means for generating a reference voltage having a predetermined pattern, said voltage-generating circuit means comprising first, second and third terminals with the first terminal connected to the first terminal of the power device and the second terminal connected to the second terminal of the power device through said sensor; at least one comparator for comparing the reference voltage with a voltage present across said sensor, said comparator comprising at least one output terminal and at least first and second input terminals, said first and second input terminals being respectively connected to the third terminal of the voltage-generating circuit means and the second terminal of the power device; and at least one current limiter comprising at least a first terminal connected to the control terminal of the power device, at least a second terminal connected to the second terminal of the voltage-generating circuit means, and at least one control terminal connected to the output terminal of said comparator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A circuit according to claim 1, wherein said voltage-generating circuit means further comprises means for generating the reference voltage having the predetermined pattern to include at least a first segment of zero slope.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A circuit according to claim 2, wherein said voltage-generating circuit means further comprises means for generating the reference voltage having the predetermined pattern to include at least a second segment of constant negative slope.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A circuit according to claim 3, wherein said voltage-generating circuit means further comprises means for generating the reference voltage having the predetermined pattern to include at least a third segment of zero slope.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
A circuit according to claim 3, wherein said voltage-generating circuit means further comprises means for generating the reference voltage having the predetermined pattern to include at least a third segment of zero slope having a non-zero value.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A circuit according to claim 1, wherein said at least one comparator comprises an error comparator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
218 words
A voltage regulator comprising at least one input terminal and at least one output terminal; a current generator; an electronic power device comprising first and second terminals and a control terminal, the control terminal being coupled through said current generator to said at least one input terminal; and a protection circuit for said electronic power device comprising a sensor, voltage-generating circuit means for generating a reference voltage having a predetermined pattern, said voltage-generating circuit means comprising first, second and third terminals with the first terminal connected to the first terminal of the power device and the second terminal connected to the second terminal of the power device through said sensor, at least one comparator for comparing the reference voltage with a voltage present across said sensor, said comparator comprising at least one output terminal and at least first and second input terminals, said first and second input terminals being respectively connected to the third terminal of the voltage-generating circuit means and the second terminal of the power device, and at least one current limiter comprising at least a first terminal connected to the control terminal of the power device, at least a second terminal connected to the second terminal of the voltage-generating circuit means, and at least one control terminal connected to the output terminal of said comparator.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
218 words
A voltage regulator comprising at least one input terminal and at least one output terminal; a current generator; an electronic power device comprising first and second terminals and a control terminal, the control terminal being coupled through said current generator to said at least one input terminal; and a protection circuit for said electronic power device comprising a sensor, voltage-generating circuit means for generating a reference voltage having a predetermined pattern, said voltage-generating circuit means comprising first, second and third terminals with the first terminal connected to the first terminal of the power device and the second terminal connected to the second terminal of the power device through said sensor, at least one comparator for comparing the reference voltage with a voltage present across said sensor, said comparator comprising at least one output terminal and at least first and second input terminals, said first and second input terminals being respectively connected to the third terminal of the voltage-generating circuit means and the second terminal of the power device, and at least one current limiter comprising at least a first terminal connected to the control terminal of the power device, at least a second terminal connected to the second terminal of the voltage-generating circuit means, and at least one control terminal connected to the output terminal of said comparator.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
A voltage regulator according to claim 7, wherein said voltage-generating circuit means further comprises means for generating the reference voltage having the predetermined pattern to include at least a first segment of zero slope.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
A voltage regulator according to claim 8, wherein said voltage-generating circuit means further comprises means for generating the reference voltage having the predetermined pattern to include at least a second segment of constant negative slope.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
A voltage regulator according to claim 9, wherein said voltage-generating circuit means further comprises means for generating the reference voltage having the predetermined pattern to include at least a third segment of zero slope.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
A voltage regulator according to claim 9, wherein said voltage-generating circuit means further comprises means for generating the reference voltage having the predetermined pattern to include at least a third segment of zero slope having a non-zero value.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
A voltage regulator according to claim 7, wherein said at least one comparator comprises an error comparator.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
181 words
An electronic circuit comprising: an electronic power device comprising at least first and second terminals and at least one control terminal; a sensor; voltage-generating circuit means for generating a reference voltage having a predetermined pattern, said voltage-generating circuit means comprising first, second and third terminals with the first terminal connected to the first terminal of the power device and the second terminal connected to the second terminal of the power device through said sensor; at least one comparator for comparing the reference voltage with a voltage present across said sensor, said comparator comprising at least one output terminal and at least first and second input terminals, said first and second input terminals being respectively connected to the third terminal of the voltage-generating circuit means and the second terminal of the power device; at least one current limiter comprising at least a first terminal connected to the control terminal of the power device, at least a second terminal connected to the second terminal of the voltage-generating circuit means, and at least one control terminal connected to the output terminal of said comparator.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
181 words
An electronic circuit comprising: an electronic power device comprising at least first and second terminals and at least one control terminal; a sensor; voltage-generating circuit means for generating a reference voltage having a predetermined pattern, said voltage-generating circuit means comprising first, second and third terminals with the first terminal connected to the first terminal of the power device and the second terminal connected to the second terminal of the power device through said sensor; at least one comparator for comparing the reference voltage with a voltage present across said sensor, said comparator comprising at least one output terminal and at least first and second input terminals, said first and second input terminals being respectively connected to the third terminal of the voltage-generating circuit means and the second terminal of the power device; at least one current limiter comprising at least a first terminal connected to the control terminal of the power device, at least a second terminal connected to the second terminal of the voltage-generating circuit means, and at least one control terminal connected to the output terminal of said comparator.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
A circuit according to claim 13, wherein said voltage-generating circuit means further comprises means for generating the reference voltage having the predetermined pattern to include at least a first segment of zero slope.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
A circuit according to claim 14, wherein said voltage-generating circuit means further comprises means for generating the reference voltage having the predetermined pattern to include at least a second segment of constant negative slope.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
A circuit according to claim 15, wherein said voltage-generating circuit means further comprises means for generating the reference voltage having the predetermined pattern to include at least a third segment of zero slope.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
37 words
A circuit according to claim 15, wherein said voltage-generating circuit means further comprises means for generating the reference voltage having the predetermined pattern to include at least a third segment of zero slope having a non-zero value.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
A circuit according to claim 13, wherein said at least one comparator comprises an error comparator.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
220 words
A method of protecting from overload currents an electronic power device comprising at least first and second terminals and at least one control terminal, said method comprises the steps of: generating, from a voltage-generating circuit, a reference voltage having a predetermined pattern, wherein the voltage-generating circuit includes first, second and third terminals, and wherein the first terminal is connected to the first terminal of the power device and the second terminal is connected to the second terminal of the power device through the sensor; comparing, on a compare circuit, said reference voltage with a voltage present across a sensor connected in series with the power device, wherein the comparator includes at least one output terminal and at least first and second input terminals, wherein the first and second input terminals are respectively connected to the third terminal of the voltage-generating circuit and the second terminal of the power device; and limiting, by means of a current limiter, a power device drive current based upon the voltage present across the sensor exceeding the reference voltage, wherein the current limiter includes at least a first terminal connector to the central terminal the power device, at least a second terminal connected to the second terminal of the voltage-generating circuit, and at least one central terminal connected to the output circuit of the terminal.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
220 words
A method of protecting from overload currents an electronic power device comprising at least first and second terminals and at least one control terminal, said method comprises the steps of: generating, from a voltage-generating circuit, a reference voltage having a predetermined pattern, wherein the voltage-generating circuit includes first, second and third terminals, and wherein the first terminal is connected to the first terminal of the power device and the second terminal is connected to the second terminal of the power device through the sensor; comparing, on a compare circuit, said reference voltage with a voltage present across a sensor connected in series with the power device, wherein the comparator includes at least one output terminal and at least first and second input terminals, wherein the first and second input terminals are respectively connected to the third terminal of the voltage-generating circuit and the second terminal of the power device; and limiting, by means of a current limiter, a power device drive current based upon the voltage present across the sensor exceeding the reference voltage, wherein the current limiter includes at least a first terminal connector to the central terminal the power device, at least a second terminal connected to the second terminal of the voltage-generating circuit, and at least one central terminal connected to the output circuit of the terminal.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 19, wherein the step of generating comprises generating the reference voltage dependent on a pattern of a voltage present across the first and second terminals of the power device.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB229054A
Cited
GB2030808A
Cited
GB2042297A
Cited
US5025203A
Cited
US5091818A
Cited
US5210481A
Cited
EP0501418A2
Cited
EP0580921A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-06-08 | 2001-12-08 | 2002-06-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-06-08 | 2005-12-08 | 2006-06-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-06-08 | 2009-12-08 | 2010-06-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |