# US 11,451,045 B2 · Automotive auxiliary unit with an electronic protection unit

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- Number: US 11,451,045 B2
- Document ID: US11451045B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/966,903
- Filed: 2018-02-05
- Published: 2021-02-18
- Granted: 2022-09-20
- Earliest claimed: 2018-02-05
- Assignees: Pierburg Pump Technology GmbH
- Applicants: Pierburg Pump Technology GmbH
- Inventors: Witold Joschko; Stephan Riefers
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11451045B2

## CPC

- H02H 3/08: responsive to excess current (responsive to abnormal temperature caused by excess current H02H5/04)
- H02H 11/002: {in case of inverted polarity or connection; with switching for obtaining correct connection}
- H02H: EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS (indicating or signalling undesired working conditions G01R, e.g. G01R31/00, G08B; locating faults along lines G01R31/08; emergency protective devices H01H)

## Abstract

An automotive auxiliary unit includes an electronic protection unit. The electronic protection unit includes an inverse-polarity protection unit having a semiconductor switch, and an overcurrent protection unit which detects a voltage drop at the semiconductor switch of the inverse-polarity protection unit so as to determine a present current level.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An automotive auxiliary unit comprising an electronic protection unit, the electronic protection unit comprising:
an inverse-polarity protection unit comprising a semiconductor switch which comprises an input and an output;
an overcurrent protection unit which is configured to detect a voltage drop at the semiconductor switch of the inverse-polarity protection unit so as to determine a present current level and to provide an overcurrent signal if the present current level is higher than a specified maximum current level, the overcurrent protection unit being directly electrically connected with the input of the semiconductor switch and directly electrically connected with the output of the semiconductor switch; and
a protection control unit which is configured to switch the semiconductor switch of the inverse-polarity protection unit off if the overcurrent protection unit provides the overcurrent signal.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The automotive auxiliary unit as recited in claim 1, wherein the semiconductor switch is a MOSFET.