Smart electronic switch

2:

• The device of claim 1,
• wherein the monitoring circuit is configured to determine an overcurrent signal based on the current sense signal and at least one wire parameter.

3:

• The device of claim 2,
• wherein the wire parameter characterizes a wire connected between the output node and an electric load during operation of the device.

4:

• The device of claim 1,
• wherein the control circuit is configured to change from the diagnosis mode into the normal mode when the idle mode condition is not fulfilled anymore.

5:

• The device of claim 1, further comprising:
• a diagnosis circuit configured to output, dependent on a logic level of the diagnosis enable signal, a signal that is based on the current sense signal.

6:

• The device of claim 3,
• wherein the monitoring circuit is configured to estimate a property of the wire, wherein the overcurrent signal depends on the estimated property.

7:

• The device of claim 3,
• wherein the control circuit is configured to restore, when changing to the normal mode, a register value of a register of the monitoring circuit, the register value representing an estimated property of the wire.

8:

• The device of claim 7,
• wherein the register value is reset when the monitoring circuit becomes inactive due to a change into the idle mode.

9:

• The device of claim 6,
• wherein the estimated property of the wire represents a temperature difference between a wire temperature and ambient temperature.

10:

• The device of claim 1,
• wherein the idle mode condition is fulfilled if at least the following criteria are met:
• the load current is below a given current threshold, the electronic switch is switched on, and a temperature of the electronic switch is below a given temperature threshold.

11:

• The device of claim 10,
• wherein the idle mode condition is fulfilled if a preset combination of the criteria are met.

12:

• The device of claim 1,
• wherein the control circuit is configured to change from the normal mode to the idle mode based on the idle mode condition but not before remaining in the normal mode for a defined time period.

13:

• The device of claim 1,
• wherein the control circuit is configured to change from the normal mode to the idle mode when the idle mode condition is fulfilled for a defined time period.

15:

• The method of claim 14, wherein a change from the normal mode to the idle mode is not performed before operating in the normal mode for a defined time period.