Remote Power Controller with Parallel FETS
AssigneeHamilton Sundstrand Corporation
InventorDavid A. Fox
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A remote power controller (RPC) includes a line connection; a load connection; a first field effect transistor (FET) and a second FET arranged in parallel between the line connection and the load connection, wherein the first FET has a lower safe operating area (SOA) than a SOA of the second FET, and wherein the first FET has a lower resistance at saturation (RDS(on)) than the second FET; and a voltage offset element connected between the first FET and the second FET, such that in the event that a current in the RPC is above a current limiting setpoint, the voltage offset element is configured to cause the first FET to turn off.
Claims18
A remote power controller (RPC), comprising:
- a line connection;
- a load connection;
- a first field effect transistor (FET) and a second FET arranged in parallel between the line connection and the load connection, wherein the first FET has a lower safe operating area (SOA) than a SOA of the second FET, and wherein the first FET has a lower resistance at saturation (RDS(on)) than the second FET;
- a differential amplifier having an output connected to a gate of the second FET, wherein a first input of a differential amplifier is connected to a reference voltage, and a second input of the differential amplifier is connected to a shunt;
- and
- a voltage offset element connected between the output of the differential amplifier and the gate of the first FET, wherein in the event that the output of the differential amplifier is at a level configured to control an output current of the second FET to a current limit setpoint, the voltage offset element is configured to cause the first FET to turn off.
4-6. (canceled)
A method of operating a remote power controller (RPC), the RPC comprising a line connection, a load connection, and a first field effect transistor (FET) and a second FET arranged in parallel between the line connection and the load connection, wherein the first FET has a lower safe operating area (SOA) than a SOA of the second FET, wherein the first FET has a lower resistance at saturation (RDS(on)) than the second FET, the method comprising:
- in the event that a current traveling in the RPC is below a current limiting setpoint, turning the first FET on, and turning the second FET on;
- and
- in the event that a current in the RPC is above the current limit setpoint, turning the first FET off;
- wherein the RPC further comprises:
- a differential amplifier having an output connected to a gate of the second FET, wherein a first input of a differential amplifier is connected to a reference voltage, and a second input of the differential amplifier is connected to a shunt;
- and
- a voltage offset element connected between the output of the differential amplifier and the gate of the first FET, wherein in the event that the output of the differential amplifier is at a level configured to control an output current of the second FET to a current limit setpoint, the voltage offset element is configured to cause the first FET to turn off.
(canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.