Short circuit detection circuit
AssigneeSemiconductor Components Industries, LLC
InventorStephane Ramond
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for detecting a short circuit includes driving a transistor in response to a drive signal, forming a drain signal of the transistor, generating an inverted signal in response to the drain signal, generating a detect signal when the inverted signal and a control signal are active, and providing the drive signal in an active logic state when the control signal is active and the detect signal is inactive, and in an inactive logic state otherwise.
Claims25
A gate driver with short circuit protection for driving a gate of a first transistor having a drain and a source, comprising:
- an inverter having an input for receiving a drain signal from the drain of the first transistor and an output for providing an inverted signal;
- a digital processing circuit having a first input coupled to said output of said inverter, a second input for receiving a control signal, and an output for providing a detect signal, wherein said digital processing circuit provides said detect signal in an active logic state in response to said inverted signal and control signal being in respective active states;
- and
- a driver having a first input coupled to said output of said digital processing circuit, a second input for receiving said control signal, and an output for providing a drive signal, wherein said driver provides said drive signal in an active logic state when said control signal is active and said detect signal is inactive, and in an inactive logic state otherwise.
A circuit comprising a switching converter, the switching converter comprising:
- a controller for providing a first control signal in response to a feedback signal;
- a first driver for providing a first drive signal in response to said first control signal;
- a first transistor for conducting a first current into an inductive load in response to said first drive signal, wherein a drain of said first transistor forms a first drain signal;
- and
- a first short circuit detection circuit comprising:
- a first inverter for providing a first inverted signal in response to said first drain signal;
- and
- a first digital processing circuit that provides a first detect signal in an active state when said first inverted signal and said first control signal are in respective active states,
- wherein said first driver provides said first drive signal in an active logic state when said first control signal is active and said first detect signal is inactive, and in an inactive logic state otherwise.
A method for detecting a short circuit:
- driving a transistor in response to a drive signal;
- forming a drain signal of said transistor;
- generating an inverted signal in response to said drain signal;
- generating a detect signal when said inverted signal and a control signal are active;
- and
- providing said drive signal in an active logic state when said control signal is active and said detect signal is inactive, and in an inactive logic state otherwise.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.