Switched-mode power converter with triple protection in a single latch

Claim 2

A power supply circuit, comprising: a switched-mode power conversion circuit; a pulse-width modulator circuit operatively connected to apply drive pulses to operate said conversion circuit, and connected to be controlled by feedback signals received at a modulator voltage input and a modulator current input; and a latching circuit which is operatively connected to detect overvoltage, overtemperature, and overcurrent conditions in said power conversion circuit, and which is connected to shut down said modulator circuit by driving said modulator voltage input during an overvoltage or overtemperature condition, and connected to shut down said modulator circuit by driving said modulator current input during an overcurrent condition; wherein said latching circuit comprises a bistable semiconductor device structure.

Claim 3

The circuit of claim 1, wherein said power supply circuit embodies flyback topology.

Claim 4

The circuit of claim 1, wherein said latching circuit cycles power on and off when in an overtemperature condition.

Claim 5

The circuit of claim 1, wherein said latching circuit cycles power on and off when in an overvoltage or overcurrent condition.

Claim 6

The circuit of claim 1, wherein said pulse-width modulator resets said latching circuit.

Claim 7

The circuit of claim 1, wherein said modulator, in response to said latching circuit, cycles on and off when an overtemperature condition occurs.

Claim 8

A power supply protection circuit, comprising: a switched-mode power conversion circuit; a pulse-width modulator circuit operatively connected to apply drive pulses to operate said conversion circuit; a latch which is operatively connected to disable said modulator circuit whenever said latch is in a set condition; an overvoltage protection circuit connected to set said latch when an overvoltage condition occurs; an overtemperature protection circuit connected to set said latch when an overtemperature condition occurs; and an overcurrent protection circuit connected to set said latch when an overcurrent condition occurs; wherein said latching circuit comprises a bistable semiconductor device structure.

Claim 9

A power supply protection circuit, comprising: a switched-mode power conversion circuit; a pulse-width modulator circuit operatively connected to apply drive pulses to operate said conversion circuit; a latch which is operatively connected to disable said modulator circuit whenever said latch is in a set condition; an overvoltage protection circuit connected to set said latch when an overvoltage condition occurs; an overtemperature protection circuit connected to set said latch when an overtemperature condition occurs; and an overcurrent protection circuit connected to set said latch when an overcurrent condition occurs; wherein said latching circuit comprises a bistable semiconductor device structure.

Claim 10

The circuit of claim 7, wherein said power supply circuit embodies flyback topology.

Claim 11

The circuit of claim 7, wherein said latch cycles power on and off when in an overtemperature condition.

Claim 12

The circuit of claim 7, wherein said latch cycles power on and off when in an overvoltage or overcurrent condition.

Claim 13

The circuit of claim 7, wherein said pulse-width modulator resets said latch.

Claim 14

The circuit of claim 7, wherein said modulator, in response to said latch, cycles on and off when an overtemperature condition occurs.

Claim 17

The method of claim 13, wherein said power supply circuit embodies flyback topology.

Claim 18

The method of claim 13, wherein said latching circuit cycles power on and off when in an overtemperature condition.

Claim 19

The method of claim 13, wherein said latching circuit cycles power on and off when in an overvoltage or overcurrent condition.

Claim 20

The method of claim 13, wherein said pulse-width modulator resets said latching circuit.

Claim 21

The method of claim 13, wherein said modulator, in response to said latching circuit, cycles on and off when an overtemperature condition occurs.

Claim 22

A computer system, comprising: a user input device, a microprocessor which is operatively connected to detect inputs from said input device, random-access memory which is connected to be read/write accessible by said microprocessor, and an output device operatively connected to receive outputs from said microprocessor; and a power supply connected to provide power to said computer system, said power supply comprising a switched-mode power conversion circuit; a pulse-width modulator circuit operatively connected to apply drive pulses to operate said conversion circuit, and connected to be controlled by feedback signals received at a modulator voltage input and a modulator current input; and a latching circuit which is operatively connected to detect overvoltage, overtemperature, and overcurrent conditions in said power conversion circuit, and which is connected to shut down said modulator circuit by driving said modulator voltage input during an overvoltage or overtemperature condition, and connected to shut down said modulator circuit by driving said modulator current input during an overcurrent condition; wherein said latching circuit comprises a bistable semiconductor device structure.

Claim 23

A computer system, comprising: a user input device, a microprocessor which is operatively connected to detect inputs from said input device, random-access memory which is connected to be read/write accessible by said microprocessor, and an output device operatively connected to receive outputs from said microprocessor; and a power supply connected to provide power to said computer system, said power supply comprising a switched-mode power conversion circuit; a pulse-width modulator circuit operatively connected to apply drive pulses to operate said conversion circuit, and connected to be controlled by feedback signals received at a modulator voltage input and a modulator current input; and a latching circuit which is operatively connected to detect overvoltage, overtemperature, and overcurrent conditions in said power conversion circuit, and which is connected to shut down said modulator circuit by driving said modulator voltage input during an overvoltage or overtemperature condition, and connected to shut down said modulator circuit by driving said modulator current input during an overcurrent condition; wherein said latching circuit comprises a bistable semiconductor device structure.

Claim 24

The system of claim 19, wherein said power supply circuit embodies flyback topology.

Claim 25

The system of claim 19, wherein said latching circuit cycles power on and off when in an overtemperature condition.

Claim 26

The system of claim 19, wherein said latching circuit cycles power on and off when in an overvoltage or overcurrent condition.

Claim 27

The system of claim 19, wherein said pulse-width modulator resets said latching circuit.

Claim 28

The system of claim 19, wherein said modulator, in response to said latching circuit, cycles on and off when an overtemperature condition occurs.