Short circuit protection for a power isolation device and associated diode
AssigneeTexas Instruments Incorporated
InventorsKevin W. Ziemer, Fredrick W. Trafton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Short circuit protection is provided for an isolation component that has a parasitic diode as an inherent part of its construction. The isolation component may or may not be contained in an integrated circuit. In response to detecting a short circuit condition based on voltages at one or more input terminals of the integrated circuit, or based on current between the terminals, the isolation component is activated to facilitate current flow through the isolation component, such as to reduce total power dissipation in the isolation component during at least part of the short circuit condition.
Claims40
A short circuit protection system, comprising:
- an isolation component between a first terminal and a node coupled to other circuitry, the isolation component having a control input and being operative to conduct current from the first input terminal to the node based on at least one of a voltage potential across the isolation component and a signal provided at the control input;
- and
- a control system that provides a control signal to the control input of the isolation component in response to an electrical characteristic at a second terminal indicating a short circuit condition at the second terminal, whereby current can be conducted through the isolation component during the short circuit condition.
A protection system, comprising:
- isolation circuitry electrically coupled between a first input terminal and associated circuitry, such that the first input terminal can supply power to the associated circuitry according to an operating state of the isolation circuitry;
- a first detector coupled to a first input terminal to detect an electrical characteristic at the first input terminal and provide a first detector signal based on the detected electrical characteristic at the first input terminal;
- a second detector coupled to a second input terminal to detect an electrical characteristic at the second input terminal and to provide a second detector signal based on the electrical characteristic at the second input terminal, the second input terminal being electrically coupled to supply power to the internal circuitry;
- and
- a short circuit protection control system that controls the operating state of the isolation circuitry based on the first and second detector signals.
An integrated circuit to control at least one motor, comprising:
- a first input terminal operative to receive a first supply voltage;
- drive circuitry operative to selectively energize at least one phase of a spindle motor;
- an isolation component connected between the first input terminal and the drive circuitry;
- a second input terminal operative to receive a second supply voltage, the second input terminal electrically coupled to supply power to the drive circuitry;
- and
- a short circuit protection system electrically connected to receive an indication of an electrical characteristic at the second input terminal, the protection system being operative to control the isolation component to an on condition so as conduct current therethrough in response to detecting a short circuit condition associated with the second input terminal, whereby power dissipation through the isolation component is reduced during the short circuit condition.
An integrated circuit that includes an overvoltage protection system comprising:
- means for selectively electrically isolating internal circuitry from a first input terminal of the integrated circuit;
- and
- means for detecting a short circuit condition at a second input terminal of the integrated circuit and controlling the means for isolating based on the voltage at the second input terminal, such as to reduce power dissipation in the isolation circuitry during the short circuit condition.
A method to protect an integrated circuit that includes at least first and second terminals that receive power, the first terminal being connected to selectively supply power to other circuitry of the integrated circuit through isolation circuitry, the second terminal also being connected to supply power to the other circuitry, the method comprising:
- detecting a short circuit condition associated with the second terminal;
- and
- in response to detecting the short circuit condition, activating the isolation component to conduct electrical current through the isolation component so as to reduce power dissipation in the isolation component during at least a portion of the short circuit condition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.