Controlling a Current Between a Source and a Load
AssigneeInfineon Technologies AG
InventorsWerner Roessler, Gerald Deboy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for controlling a current between an energy source and a load is disclosed. A switching module is coupled between the energy source and the load. The switching module includes two input terminals coupled to the energy source and two output terminals coupled to the load and at least one semiconductor switching element coupled between one of the input terminals and one of the output terminals. At least one current parameter of the current is measured between the energy source and the load. The current between the energy source and the load is interrupted by switching off the switching element when the at least one current parameter reaches or exceeds at least one predetermined parameter threshold value.
Claims37
A method for controlling a current between an energy source and a load, the method comprising:
- providing a switching module coupled between the energy source and the load, the switching module comprising two input terminals coupled to the energy source and two output terminals coupled to the load, and a semiconductor switching element coupled between one of the input terminals and one of the output terminals;
- measuring at least one current parameter of the current between the energy source and the load;
- and
- interrupting the current between the energy source and the load by switching off the semiconductor switching element when the at least one current parameter reaches or exceeds at least one predetermined parameter threshold value.
A method for switching on a current between an energy source and a load, the method comprising:
- providing a switching module coupled between the energy source and the load, the switching module comprising two input terminals coupled to the energy source and two output terminals coupled to the load, and at least one semiconductor switching element coupled between one of the input terminals and one of the output terminals;
- operating the switching module in a first switching mode, in which the at least one semiconductor switching element is switched on for an on-period and is switched off for an off-period in a pulsed fashion;
- and
- subsequently operating the switching module in a second switching mode, in which the at least one semiconductor switching element is switched on such that the duration of its on-period is at least ten times the duration of the on-period during the first switching mode.
A switching module comprising:
- two input terminals for coupling to an energy source;
- two output terminals for coupling to a load;
- and
- a semiconductor switching element coupled between one of the input terminals and one of the output terminals;
- wherein the switching module is configured to measure at least one current parameter of a current between the energy source and the load and to interrupt the current between the energy source and the load by switching off the switching element, when the at least one current parameter reaches or exceeds at least one predetermined parameter threshold value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.