Resettable electronic fuse for high-power devices

A device including a path for passing electric current, the device comprising:

• a terminal;
• and
• a resettable electronic fuse electrically connected to the terminal, the resettable electronic fuse including:
• a first semiconductor switch including a conductive state and a nonconductive state,
• a second semiconductor switch including a conductive state and a nonconductive state,
• a driver circuit configured to control the first semiconductor switch into either the conductive state or the nonconductive state and to control the second semiconductor switch into either the conductive state or the nonconductive state,
• a sensing circuit configured to sense a parameter of the device, and
• a comparing circuit configured to compare the parameter of the device to a reference value for the parameter,
• wherein the driver circuit is configured to control at least one of the first semiconductor switch and the second semiconductor switch into the nonconductive state when the parameter of the device is greater than or equal to the reference value for the parameter.

A device including a path for passing electric current from a power source, the device comprising:

• a terminal connected to the power source in the path for passing electric current;
• and
• a resettable electronic fuse, comprising:
• a semiconductor switch connected to the terminal and including a conductive state and a nonconductive state,
• a driver circuit configured to control the semiconductor switch into either the conductive state or the nonconductive state,
• a sensing circuit configured to sense the electric current from the power source, and
• a comparing circuit configured to compare the electric current to a first reference value,
• wherein the driver circuit is configured to control the semiconductor switch into the nonconductive state when the electric current is greater than or equal to the first reference value.