Switching signal generating apparatus and method

A method for generating a switching signal, comprising:

• receiving an electrical quantity related to an electrical current which is to be switched;
• comparing the electrical quantity related to the electrical current with a predefined first fixed threshold value in a first comparator for determining a first logical state;
• comparing the electrical quantity related to the electrical current with a first variable threshold value in a second comparator for determining a second logical state;
• comparing the electrical quantity related to the electrical current with a predefined second fixed threshold value for determining a third logical state, wherein the predefined second fixed threshold value is different from the predefined first fixed threshold value;
• comparing the electrical quantity related to the electrical current with a second variable threshold value for determining the second logical state;
• and
• switching the electrical current between an ON state and an OFF state in response to a switching signal on an output terminal when the electrical quantity of the electrical current meets the first variable threshold value;
• wherein the first logical state and the second logical state vary the first variable threshold value;
• and wherein the third logical state and the second logical state vary the second variable threshold value.

A non-transitory computer readable medium, comprising software code, which when executed by a processor, is configured to:

• receive an electrical quantity related to an electrical current which is to be switched by the switching generating apparatus;
• compare the electrical quantity related to the electrical current with a predefined first fixed threshold value in a first comparator for determining a first logical state;
• compare the electrical quantity related to the electrical current with a first variable threshold value in a second comparator for determining a second logical state
• compare the electrical quantity related to the electrical current with a predefined second fixed threshold value for determining a third logical state, wherein the predefined second fixed threshold value is different from the predefined first fixed threshold value;
• compare the electrical quantity related to the electrical current with a second variable threshold value for determining the second logical state;
• and
• switch the electrical current between an ON state and an OFF state in response to a switching signal on an output terminal when the electrical quantity of the electrical current meets the first variable threshold value;
• wherein the first logical state and the second logical state vary the first variable threshold value;
• and wherein the third logical state and the second logical state vary the second variable threshold value.

A switching signal generating apparatus, comprising:

• an input terminal configured to receive an electrical quantity related to an electrical current which is to be switched by the switching signal generating apparatus;
• a first comparator configured to compare the electrical quantity related to the electrical current with a predefined first fixed threshold value for determining a first logical state;
• a second comparator configured to compare the electrical quantity related to the electrical current with a first variable threshold value for determining a second logical state and to compare the electrical quantity related to the electrical current with a second variable threshold value for determining the second logical state;
• a third comparator configured to compare the electrical quantity related to the electrical current with a predefined second fixed threshold value for determining a third logical state,
• wherein the predefined second fixed threshold value is different from the predefined first fixed threshold value and wherein the first variable threshold value lies closer to the first fixed threshold value than to the second fixed threshold value and the second variable threshold value lies closer to the second fixed threshold value than to the first fixed threshold value;
• and
• an output terminal configured to provide a switching signal which switches the electrical current between an ON state and an OFF state when the electrical quantity of the electrical current meets the first variable threshold value;
• and
• wherein the first logical state and the second logical state vary the first variable threshold value;
• and wherein the second logical state and the third logical state vary the second variable threshold value.