Driving an Electronic Switch
AssigneeInfineon Technologies Austria AG
InventorMartin Feldtkeller
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electronic switch is connected in series with a load dependent on an input signal. The electronic switch is operated in a first operation mode for a first time period after a signal level of the input signal has changed from an off-level to an on-level. The first operation mode includes driving the electronic switch dependent on a voltage across the load and dependent on a temperature of the electronic switch. The electronic switch is operated in a second operation mode after the first time period. The second operation mode includes driving the electronic switch dependent on the temperature according to a hysteresis curve.
Claims48
A method for driving an electronic switch connected in series with a load, the method comprising:
- operating the electronic switch in a first operation mode for a first time period after a signal level of an input signal has changed from an off-level to an on-level, wherein operating the electronic switch in the first operation mode comprises driving the electronic switch dependent on a voltage across the load and dependent on a temperature of the electronic switch;
- and
- operating the electronic switch in a second operation mode after the first time period, wherein operating the electronic switch in the second operation mode comprises driving the electronic switch dependent on the temperature according to a hysteresis curve.
A method for driving an electronic switch connected in series with a load, the method comprising:
- operating the electronic switch in a first operation mode for a first time period after a signal level of an input signal has changed from an off-level to an on-level, wherein operating the electronic switch in the first operation mode comprises switching the electronic switch off when a temperature of the electronic switch reaches a first temperature threshold;
- and
- operating the electronic switch in a second operation mode after the first time period, wherein operating the electronic switch in the second operation mode comprises driving the electronic switch dependent on the temperature according to a hysteresis curve, wherein the electronic switch is switched off when the temperature of the electronic switch reaches a second temperature threshold that is lower than the first temperature threshold.
An electronic circuit comprising:
- an electronic switch comprising a control terminal and a load path configured to have a load connected thereto;
- and
- a drive circuit coupled to the control terminal of the electronic switch, the drive circuit configured to receive an input signal and configured to operate the electronic switch in a first operation mode for a first time period after a signal level of the input signal has changed from an off-level to an on-level, wherein the first operation mode comprises driving the electronic switch dependent on a voltage across the load and dependent on a temperature of the electronic switch;
- and
- operate the electronic switch in a second operation mode after the first time period, wherein the second operation mode comprises driving the electronic switch dependent on the temperature according to a hysteresis curve.
An electronic circuit comprising:
- an electronic switch comprising a load path configured to have a load connected thereto and a control terminal;
- a drive circuit coupled to the control terminal of the electronic switch, the drive circuit configured to receive an input signal and configured to
- operate the electronic switch in a first operation mode for a first time period after a signal level of the input signal has changed from an off-level to an on-level, wherein first operation mode comprises switching the electronic switch off when a temperature of the electronic switch reaches a first temperature threshold;
- operating the electronic switch in a second operation mode after the first time period, wherein the second operation mode comprises driving the electronic switch dependent on the temperature according to a hysteresis curve, wherein the electronic switch is switched off when the temperature of the electronic switch reaches a second temperature threshold lower than the first temperature threshold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.