Programmable power management switch
AssigneeDaimlerChrysler AG
InventorsMarian Mirowski, Charlie T. Accad, Gary Burlak
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A power management switch arrangement can be programmed by an external switch controller to alter the operating parameter limits used for fault detection. The switch arrangement includes the capability for full diagnostic feedback of load current and over-temperature conditions.
Claims32
A power switch for selectively coupling a voltage source to a load, the power switch comprising:
- an input message port adapted to be coupled to a switch controller;
- an output adapted to be coupled to the load;
- a switching element adapted to be coupled between the voltage source and the output;
- a detector element coupled to the switching element for detecting a preselected operating condition;
- and
- logic circuitry coupled to the input message port and to the detector element and operative to set a threshold level against which the detector element compares the preselected operating condition, the threshold level being programmable in accordance with data received at the input message port.
In a power switch for selectively coupling a voltage source to a load, the improvement comprising:
- a detector adapted to be coupled to the load for monitoring and comparing a preselected operating condition to a limit value;
- and
- programmable means for setting the limit value in accordance with data received from a control source.
A programmable switch for selectively coupling an energy source to a load comprising:
- an interface adapted to receive input instructions from a switch controller;
- and
- a plurality of addressable data registers coupled to the interface for controlling the switch in accordance with the input instructions so as to couple or uncouple the energy source to or from the load.
A power switch having an active, or ON, state and an inactive, or SLEEP, state for selectively coupling an energy source to a load, the power switch comprising:
- an interface adapted to receive input instructions from a switch controller;
- at least one addressable data register coupled to the interface;
- wherein the data register is adapted to receive programming data via the interface used to variably set a time delay period during which the power switch will ignore any command to change its ON or SLEEP states.
A power switch having an active, or ON, state and an inactive, or SLEEP, state for selectively coupling an energy source to a load, the power switch comprising:
- a control input adapted to receive a switch state instruction signal from a switch controller;
- an interface adapted to receive input instructions from the switch controller;
- and
- at lease one addressable data register coupled to the interface for controlling a power switch state as a function of the switch state instruction signal and data in the addressable data register.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.