Method for detecting a short circuit across a load

A method for a circuit that includes a load, a high-side path in which a high-side switch is connected between a first potential connection and a first connection of the load, and a low-side path in which a low-side switch is connected between a second potential connection and a second connection of the load, the method comprising:

• determining a first voltage value in the high-side path and a second voltage value in the low-side path;
• responsive to a determination that one of the first and second voltage values exceeds a threshold value for at least a duration of a predefined time interval, checking whether the other of the first and second voltage values currently exceeds the threshold value;
• and
• either:
• responsive to a result of the checking being that the threshold value is currently exceeded by the other voltage value, determining that there is a short circuit across the load;
• or
• responsive to the result of the checking being that the threshold value is not currently exceeded by the other voltage value, determining that there is a short circuit in whichever of the paths has the voltage value that had been determined to exceed the threshold value for at least the duration of the predefined time interval.

A device comprising a processor, wherein the processor is programmed to:

• determine a first voltage value that is in a high-side path of a circuit, wherein the circuit also includes a load and wherein the high-side path includes a high-side switch connected between a first potential connection of the circuit and a first connection of the load;
• determine a second voltage value that is in a low-side path of the circuit, wherein the low-side path includes a low-side switch connected between a second potential connection of the circuit and a second connection of the load;
• responsive to a determination that one of the first and second voltage values exceeds a threshold value for at least a duration of a predefined time interval, check whether the other of the first and second voltage values currently exceeds the threshold value;
• and
• perform at least one of the following two steps:
• responsive to a result of the checking being that the threshold value is currently exceeded by the other voltage value, determine that there is a short circuit across the load;
• and
• responsive to the result of the checking being that the threshold value is not currently exceeded by the other voltage value, determine that there is a short circuit in whichever of the paths has the voltage value that had been determined to exceed the threshold value for at least the duration of the predefined time interval.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium on which are stored instructions that are executable by a processor and that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform a method for a circuit that includes a load, a high-side path in which a high-side switch is connected between a first potential connection and a first connection of the load, and a low-side path in which a low-side switch is connected between a second potential connection and a second connection of the load, wherein the instructions include:

• one or more instructions that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to determine a first voltage value in the high-side path and a second voltage value in the low-side path;
• one or more instructions that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to, responsive to a determination that one of the first and second voltage values exceeds a threshold value for at least a duration of a predefined time interval, check whether the other of the first and second voltage values currently exceeds the threshold value;
• and
• at least one of the following two item (a) and (b):
• (a) one or more instructions that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to, responsive to a result of the checking being that the threshold value is currently exceeded by the other voltage value, determine that there is a short circuit across the load;
• and
• (b) one or more instructions that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to, responsive to the result of the checking being that the threshold value is not currently exceeded by the other voltage value, determine that there is a short circuit in whichever of the paths has the voltage value that had been determined to exceed the threshold value for at least the duration of the predefined time interval.