Power Supplies with Overcurrent Protection and Single-Point Fault Protection

A protection method in use of a power supply, wherein the power supply supplies power to a load connected between a high-voltage power terminal and a low-voltage power terminal, the protection method comprising:

• sensing a first output current that the power supply pours to the load to generate a high-side sensing signal;
• sensing a second output current that the power supply drains from the load to generate a low-side sensing signal;
• converting the high-side sensing signal and the low-side sensing signal into high-side sensing value and low-side sensing value respectively;
• comparing the high-side sensing value with the low-side sensing value;
• cutting off at least one of the first and second output currents if a difference between the high-side sensing value and the low-side sensing value reaches a predetermined abnormal threshold.

A power supply for supplying power to a load connected between a high-voltage power terminal and a low-voltage power terminal, comprising:

• a high-side current-sensing unit, connected to the high-voltage power terminal, for sensing a first output current that the power supply pours to the load to generate a high-side sensing signal;
• a low-side current-sensing unit, connected to the low-voltage power terminal, for sensing a second output current that the power supply drains from the load to generate a low-side sensing signal, wherein one of the high-side current-sensing unit and the low-side current-sensing unit includes a power switch;
• and
• a power control circuit, comprising:
• a high-side conversion circuit converting the high-side sensing signal into a high-side sensing value;
• a low-side conversion circuit converting the low-side sensing signal into a low-side sensing value;
• and
• a control unit comparing the high-side sensing value with the low-side sensing value, and turning OFF the power switch if a difference between the high-side sensing value and the low-side sensing value reaches a predetermined abnormal threshold.