# US 11,909,195 B2 · Electronic device with overcurrent protection and method for overcurrent protection > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,909,195 B2 - Document ID: US11909195B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/046,133 - Filed: 2020-09-01 - Published: 2023-05-18 - Granted: 2024-02-20 - Earliest claimed: 2019-09-02 - Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Jehwan Lee - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11909195B2 ## CPC - H02H 3/087: for DC applications - H02M 1/32: Means for protecting converters other than automatic disconnection - G01R 19/165: Indicating that current or voltage is either above or below a predetermined value or within or outside a predetermined range of values - G01R 19/257: using analogue/digital converters of the type with comparison of different reference values with the value of voltage or current, e.g. using step-by-step method - H02H 1/003: {Fault detection by injection of an auxiliary voltage (same for detection of earth fault currents H02H3/17; for monitoring earth connection H02H5/105)} - H02H 3/0935: {the timing being determined by numerical means} - H02M 1/008: {Plural converter units for generating at two or more independent and non-parallel outputs, e.g. systems with plural point of load switching regulators} - 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) - H02M: APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF (transformers H01F; dynamo-electric converters H02K47/00; controlling transformers, reactors or choke coils, control or regulation of electric motors, generators or dynamo-electric converters H02P) - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) ## Abstract An electronic device having an overcurrent protection function is provided. The electronic device includes at least one power converter, the at least one power converter including a power conversion unit to convert input voltage or input current to supply output current, a control unit to adjust the output current, and an overcurrent protection unit to detect the output current and transmit a detection result to the control unit, and wherein the overcurrent protection unit includes an overcurrent extraction module to output a difference between the output current exceeding designated first reference current and the first reference current; a calculation module to calculate an accumulative value obtained by integrating the difference with respect to time, and a first comparison module to compare the accumulative value with a designated critical value and to transmit a first detection result in which the accumulative value exceeds the critical value to the control unit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electronic device comprising: at least one power converter, wherein the at least one power converter comprises: a power conversion unit configured to convert an input voltage or an input current to supply an output current, a control unit configured to adjust the output current, and an overcurrent protection unit configured to detect the output current and transmit a detection result to the control unit, and wherein the overcurrent protection unit comprises: an overcurrent extraction module configured to output a difference between the output current exceeding a designated first reference current and the designated first reference current, a calculation module configured to calculate an accumulative value obtained by integrating the difference with respect to time, a first comparison module configured to: compare the accumulative value with a designated critical value, and transmit a first detection result in which the accumulative value exceeds the designated critical value to the control unit, and a second comparison module configured to: compare the output current with second reference current larger than the first reference current, and transmit a second detection result in which the output current exceeds the second reference current to the control unit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to stop the supply of the output current based on the first detection result or the second detection result. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to pause the supply of the output current so that the output current is re-supplied after a predetermined time elapses based on the first detection result or the second detection result. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The electronic device of claim 3, wherein the at least one power converter further comprises a counter configured to count a number of times the supply of the output current is paused, and wherein the control unit is further configured to: pause the supply of the output current so that the output current is re-supplied after a predetermined time elapses based on the first detection result or the second detection result, and stop the supply of the output current to prevent the output current from being re-supplied when the counted number of times exceeds a predetermined number of times. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the overcurrent extraction module comprises a differential amplifier. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The electronic device of claim 5, wherein the overcurrent extraction module further comprises an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). ### Claim 7 An electronic device comprising: at least one power converter, wherein the at least one power converter comprises: a power conversion unit configured to convert an input voltage or an input current to supply an output current, and an overcurrent protection unit configured to: detect the output current, and transmit a detection result to the power conversion unit to adjust the output current, and wherein the overcurrent protection unit comprises: an overcurrent extraction module configured to output a difference between the output current exceeding a designated first reference current and the designated first reference current, a calculation module configured to calculate an accumulative value obtained by integrating the difference with respect to time, a first comparison module configured to: compare the accumulative value with a designated critical value, and transmit a first detection result in which the accumulative value exceeds the designated critical value to the power conversion unit, and a second comparison module configured to: compare the output current with second reference current larger than the first reference current, and transmit a second detection result in which the output current exceeds the second reference current to the power conversion unit. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the power conversion unit is configured to stop the supply of the output current based on the first detection result or the second detection result. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the power conversion unit is configured to pause the supply of the output current so that the output current is re-supplied after a predetermined time elapses based on the first detection result or the second detection result. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the at least one power converter comprises a counter configured to count a number of times the supply of the output current is paused, and wherein the power conversion unit is configured to: pause the supply of the output current so that the output current is re-supplied after a predetermined time elapses based on the first detection result or the second detection result, and stop the supply of the output current to prevent the output current from being re-supplied when the counted number of times exceeds a predetermined number of times. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the overcurrent extraction module comprises a differential amplifier. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the overcurrent extraction module further comprises an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). ### Claim 13 An overcurrent protection method of an electronic device, the method comprising: converting an input voltage or an input current to supply an output current; outputting a difference between the output current exceeding a designated first reference current and the designated first reference current; calculating an accumulative value obtained by integrating the difference with respect to time; comparing the accumulative value with a designated critical value and transmitting a first detection result in which the accumulative value exceeds the designated critical value; and comparing the output current with second reference current larger than the first reference current and transmitting a second detection result in which the output current exceeds the second reference current. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The overcurrent protection method of claim 13, further comprising: stopping the output current based on the first detection result or the second detection result. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The overcurrent protection method of claim 13, further comprising: pausing the output current so that the output current is re-supplied after a predetermined time elapses based on the first detection result or the second detection result. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The overcurrent protection method of claim 13, further comprising: pausing the output current so that the output current is re-supplied after a predetermined time elapses based on the first detection result or the second detection result; counting the number of times the supply of the output current is paused; and stopping the supply of the output current to prevent the output current from being re-supplied when the counted number of times exceeds the predetermined number of times. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The overcurrent protection method of claim 13, further comprising: notifying that the output current is overcurrent requiring overcurrent protection based on the first detection result or the second detection result.