Inrush control with multiple switches
AssigneeLinear Technology Corporation
InventorsJoshua John SIMONSON, David Henry SOO, Christopher Bruce UMMINGER
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A novel system is offered for supplying power from an input node to a load coupled to an output node. The system may have multiple switches coupled between the input node and the output node. One or more limiting circuits may be configured for controlling the switches so as to limit outputs of the switches. For example, the limiting circuits may limit current through the respective switches. One or more timers may set a delay period for indicating a fault condition after the limiting is initiated.
Claims24
A system for limiting in-rush power to a load, comprising:
- a first switch and a second switch arranged to provide a shared power to the load;
- a first control circuit configured to, based on an amount of power provided to the load by the first switch when the first switch is turned on, adjust a first switch control signal provided to the first switch to limit the power provided to the load by the first switch;
- and
- a second control circuit configured to, responsive to a value of the first switch control signal having exceeded a threshold value, initiate switching on the second switch to share at least a portion of the power provided to the load by the first switch.
A method for limiting in-rush power to a load, comprising:
- providing, using a first switch and a second switch arranged in parallel, power to the load;
- adjusting, based on an amount of power provided to the load by the first switch when the first switch is turned on, a first switch control signal provided to the first switch to limit the power provided to the load by the first switch;
- and
- initiating, responsive to a value of the first switch control signal having exceeded a threshold value, switching on the second switch to share at least a portion of the power provided to the load by the first switch.
A system for limiting in-rush power to a load, comprising:
- a first switch and a second switch arranged to provide a shared power to the load;
- a first control circuit configured to, based on a first amount of power provided to the load by the first switch when the first switch is turned on, adjust a first switch control signal provided to the first switch to limit the first amount of power provided to the load by the first switch;
- a second control circuit configured to, based on a second amount of power provided to the load by the second switch, adjust a second switch control signal provided to the second switch to limit a second amount of power provided to the load by the second switch;
- and
- a logic circuit configured to detect when the first amount of power is being limited by the first switch and the second amount of power is being limited by the second switch, and to trigger an overcurrent fault signal responsive to detecting that the first amount of power is being limited by the first switch and the second amount of power is being limited by the second switch.
A method for limiting in-rush power to a load, comprising:
- providing, using a first switch and a second switch arranged in parallel, power to the load;
- adjusting, based on a first amount of power provided to the load by the first switch when the first switch is turned on, a first switch control signal provided to the first switch to limit the first amount of power provided to the load by the first switch;
- adjusting, based on a second amount of power provided to the load by the second switch when the second switch is turned on, a second switch control signal provided to the second switch to limit the second amount of power provided to the load by the second switch;
- detecting when the first amount of power is being limited by the first switch and the second amount of power is being limited by the second switch;
- and
- triggering an overcurrent fault signal responsive to detecting that the first amount of power is being limited by the first switch and the second amount of power is being limited by the second switch.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.