# US 12,763,702 B2 · Bridge controller with slope detector > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,763,702 B2 - Document ID: US12763702B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/616,851 - Filed: 2024-03-26 - Published: 2025-10-02 - Granted: 2026-10-13 - Earliest claimed: 2024-03-26 - Assignees: NXP USA, Inc. - Applicants: NXP USA, Inc. - Inventors: Jacobus Govert Sneep - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12763702B2 ## CPC - H02M 7/53871: {with automatic control of output voltage or current} - H02M 7/46: using discharge tubes without control electrode or semiconductor devices without control electrode - 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) ## Abstract One example discloses a bridge controller, including: a slope detector coupled between the first input node and the second output node; wherein the slope detector is configured to measure a rate of change of an input voltage across the first input node and the second input node; and wherein the bridge controller is configured to blank at least one of the first switch and the second switch if the measured rate of change exceeds a predetermined value. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A bridge controller, comprising: wherein the bridge controller is configured to be coupled to a bridge circuit; wherein the bridge circuit includes, a first pair of diodes coupled in series; a second pair of diodes coupled in series; wherein the first pair of diodes is coupled in parallel with the second pair of diodes between a first output node and a second output node; a first input node coupled between the first pair of diodes; a second input node coupled between the second pair of diodes; a first switch coupled in parallel with one of the first pair of diodes; a second switch coupled in parallel with one of the second pair of diodes; wherein the bridge controller is coupled to the first input node, the second input node, the first switch and the second switch; wherein the bridge controller includes a slope detector coupled between the first input node and the second output node; wherein the slope detector is configured to measure a rate of change of an input voltage across the first input node and the second input node; and wherein the bridge controller is configured to blank at least one of the first switch and the second switch if the measured rate of change exceeds a predetermined value. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The bridge controller of claim 1: wherein the bridge circuit is a rectifier circuit. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The bridge controller of claim 1: wherein the bridge circuit is either a voltage rectifier, or a current rectifier. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The bridge controller of claim 1: wherein the first and second switches are MOSFET devices and the controller is coupled to each gate of the MOSFET devices. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The bridge controller of claim 1: wherein the slope detector is configured to measure a first derivative of the input voltage across the first input node and the second input node. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The bridge controller of claim 1: wherein the bridge controller is configured to blank both the first switch and the second switch if the measured rate of change exceeds the predetermined value. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The bridge controller of claim 1: wherein the bridge controller includes a NOR gate coupled between the slope detector and at least one of the first switch and the second switch. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The bridge controller of claim 7: wherein the NOR gate is configured to blank at least one of the first switch and the second switch if the measured rate of change exceeds the predetermined value. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The bridge controller of claim 1: wherein the slope detector is a first slope detector; and wherein the controller includes a second slope detector coupled between the second input node and the second output node. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The bridge controller of claim 9: wherein the first slope detector is configured to measure a first rate of change of the input voltage across the first input node and the second input node; and wherein the second slope detector is configured to measure a second rate of change of the input voltage across the first input node and the second input node. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The bridge controller of claim 10: wherein the bridge controller is configured to blank at least one of the first switch and the second switch if at least one of the first measured rate of change exceeds a first predetermined value and the second measured rate of change exceeds a second predetermined value. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The bridge controller of claim 10: wherein the bridge controller is configured to blank at least one of the first switch and the second switch only if both the first measured rate of change exceeds the first predetermined value and the second measured rate of change exceeds the second predetermined value. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The bridge controller of claim 10: wherein the bridge controller includes a first NOR gate coupled between the first slope detector and the first switch and includes a second NOR gate coupled between the second slope detector the second switch. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The bridge controller of claim 13: wherein the first NOR gate is configured to blank the first switch if the first measured rate of change exceeds the first predetermined value; and wherein the second NOR gate is configured to blank the second switch if the second measured rate of change exceeds the second predetermined value. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The bridge controller of claim 1, further comprising: a third switch coupled in parallel with another one of the first pair of diodes; a fourth switch coupled in parallel with another one of the second pair of diodes; wherein the bridge controller is coupled to the third switch and the fourth switch; and wherein the bridge controller is configured to blank at least one of the first, second, third and fourth switch if the measured rate of change exceeds the predetermined value. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The bridge controller of claim 1: wherein the second output node is a ground reference node. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The bridge controller of claim 1: wherein the second output node is a voltage supply node. ### Claim 18 A bridge controller, comprising: wherein the bridge controller is configured to be coupled to a bridge circuit; wherein the bridge circuit includes, a first pair of diodes coupled in series; a second pair of diodes coupled in series; wherein the first pair of diodes is coupled in parallel with the second pair of diodes between a first output node and a second output node; a first input node coupled between the first pair of diodes; a second input node coupled between the second pair of diodes; a first switch coupled in parallel with one of the first pair of diodes; a second switch coupled in parallel with one of the second pair of diodes; wherein the bridge controller is coupled to the first input node, the second input node, the first switch and the second switch; wherein the bridge controller includes a slope detector coupled between the first input node and the second output node; wherein the slope detector is configured to measure a rate of change of an input voltage across the first input node and the second input node; wherein the bridge controller is configured to blank at least one of the first switch and the second switch if the measured rate of change exceeds a predetermined value; and wherein the bridge controller includes a NOR gate coupled between the slope detector and at least one of the first switch and the second switch. ### Claim 19 A bridge controller, comprising: wherein the bridge controller is configured to be coupled to a bridge circuit; wherein the bridge circuit includes, a first pair of diodes coupled in series; a second pair of diodes coupled in series; wherein the first pair of diodes is coupled in parallel with the second pair of diodes between a first output node and a second output node; a first input node coupled between the first pair of diodes; a second input node coupled between the second pair of diodes; a first switch coupled in parallel with one of the first pair of diodes; a second switch coupled in parallel with one of the second pair of diodes; wherein the bridge controller is coupled to the first input node, the second input node, the first switch and the second switch; wherein the bridge controller includes a slope detector coupled between the first input node and the second output node; wherein the slope detector is configured to measure a rate of change of an input voltage across the first input node and the second input node; wherein the bridge controller is configured to blank at least one of the first switch and the second switch if the measured rate of change exceeds a predetermined value; wherein the slope detector is a first slope detector; wherein the controller includes a second slope detector coupled between the second input node and the second output node; wherein the first slope detector is configured to measure a first rate of change of the input voltage across the first input node and the second input node; and wherein the second slope detector is configured to measure a second rate of change of the input voltage across the first input node and the second input node.