US 2016/0254741 A1 · CURRENT-LIMITING CIRCUIT

Abstract

A current-limiting circuit that includes a transistor connected between an input terminal and an output terminal of the current-limiting circuit. A controller is arranged to monitor a current flowing through the transistor and to control the transistor based on the monitored current so as to limit the current, wherein a voltage dropped across the transistor varies over a range of values during operation in a current-limiting mode. The controller includes a timing module arranged to control, based on a value of the voltage across the transistor, a period of time for which the transistor limits the current. For all ranges of voltage that may be dropped across the transistor during the current-limiting mode, the timing module is arranged to control the respective period of time for each range, such that the transistor dissipates substantially the maximum amount of energy that it is capable of dissipating without sustaining damage.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A current-limiting circuit, comprising:

a transistor connected between an input terminal of the current-limiting circuit and an output terminal of the current-limiting circuit;
and
a controller arranged to monitor a current flowing through the transistor and operable in a current-limiting mode to control the transistor based on the monitored current so as to limit the current, wherein a voltage dropped across the transistor varies over a range of values during operation in the current-limiting mode, the controller comprising:
a timing module arranged to control, based on a value of the voltage across the transistor during operation in the current-limiting mode, a period of time for which the transistor limits the current during operation in the current-limiting mode, wherein, for all ranges of voltage dropped across the transistor during operation in the current-limiting mode, the timing module is arranged to control a respective period of time for each range such that the transistor dissipates substantially the maximum amount of energy that it is capable of dissipating without sustaining damage.

1 more element

A method of configuring a current-limiting circuit comprising a transistor connected between an input terminal of the current-limiting circuit and an output terminal of the current-limiting circuit, and a controller-arranged to monitor a current flowing through the transistor and operable in a current-limiting mode to control the transistor based on the monitored current so as to limit the current, wherein a voltage dropped across the transistor varies over a range of values during operation in the current-limiting mode, the method comprising:

determining, for all ranges of voltage dropped across the transistor during operation in the current-limiting mode, a respective period of time for each range, for which period of time the transistor can limit the current while dissipating substantially the maximum amount of energy that it is capable of dissipating without sustaining damage;
and
configuring the controller to control the transistor to limit the current during operation in the current-limiting mode such that, for all ranges of voltage dropped across the transistor during operation in the current-limiting mode, the transistor is controlled to limit the current for a respective determined period of time in each of the voltage ranges.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Current-limiting circuit

Life of this patent

Current-limiting circuit

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15