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US 11,901,884 B2Granted
Method for protecting a transistor from overload and electronic circuit
AssigneeInfineon Technologies AG
InventorMarkus Bader
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method is described. The method comprises determining a first measurement signal (CS1) which depends on a first load current (I1) through a first transistor (Q1) which is connected in series to a load (Z); determining a second measurement signal (CS2) which depends on a second load current (I2) through a second transistor (Q2) which is connected in series to the load (Z); and comparing the first measurement signal (CS1) and the second measurement signal (CS2), in order to detect the presence of an error.
Claims23
A method comprising:
- comparing, by an evaluation circuit, a first measurement signal to a second measurement signal, wherein the evaluation circuit comprises a measuring resistor;
- wherein the first measurement signal is a drain-source voltage of a first transistor connected in series to a load,
- wherein the first transistor conducts a first load current, and the first measurement signal comprises an indication of an amount of the first load current,
- wherein the second measurement signal comprises a drain-source voltage of a second transistor which is connected in series to the load,
- wherein the second transistor conducts a second load current, and the second measurement signal comprises an indication of an amount of the second load current;
- based on the comparison, determining whether the first measurement signal deviates from the second measurement signal by more than a threshold value, wherein the threshold value defines the amount of the second load current multiplied by a constant, wherein selecting a value for the measuring resistor sets the value for the constant;
- and
- in response to determining that the first measurement signal deviates from the second measurement signal by more than the threshold value, detecting the presence of an error.
5 more elements
An electronic circuit comprising:
- a first electronic switch configured to be connected in series to a load;
- a second electronic switch configured to be connected in series to the load, wherein the second electronic switch includes a first source connection and a second source connection, wherein the second source connection is connected in series to the load;
- an error detection circuit comprising a measuring resistor, the error detection circuit configured to:
- compare a first measurement signal to a second measurement signal, and
- in response to determining that the first measurement signal deviates from the second measurement signal by more than a threshold value, output an indication of an error,
- wherein the first measurement signal is a drain-source voltage of the first electronic switch connected in series to the load,
- wherein the first electronic switch conducts a first load current, and the first measurement signal comprises an indication of an amount of the first load current,
- wherein the second measurement signal comprises a drain-source voltage of the second electronic switch,
- wherein the second measurement signal comprises an indication of the amount of a second load current through the second electronic switch output by the second source connection, wherein the second source connection is connected in series to the load, and
- wherein the threshold value defines the amount of the second load current multiplied by a constant, and
- wherein selecting a value for the measuring resistor sets the value for the constant.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.