US 2026/0163362 A1 · SYSTEMS, METHODS, APPARATUS, AND ARTICLES OF MANUFACTURE TO PROTECT CIRCUITS DURING AVALANCHE CURRENT

Abstract

An example apparatus includes a first transistor having a control terminal, a first terminal adapted to be coupled to a first resistor, and a second terminal adapted to be coupled to a second resistor. The apparatus includes a second transistor having a control terminal, a first terminal, and a second terminal, the control terminal adapted to be coupled to a ground terminal, the first terminal coupled to the first terminal of the first transistor. The apparatus includes a driver having a supply terminal, an input, and an output, the supply terminal coupled to the second terminal of the second transistor, the output coupled to the control terminal of the first transistor. The apparatus includes a temperature-based control circuit having a supply terminal coupled to the second terminal of the second transistor and an output coupled to the input of the driver, the temperature-based control circuit capable of: monitoring a temperature sensor to determine a measured temperature indicative of a temperature of the first transistor; responsive to the measured temperature being greater than or equal to a fault threshold, providing a first signal to the driver, the driver to control the first transistor responsive to the first signal; responsive to the measured temperature being less than a lower threshold, providing a second signal to the driver, the driver to control the first transistor responsive to the second signal; and responsive to the measured temperature being greater than or equal to an upper threshold, providing a third signal to the driver, the driver to control the first transistor responsive to the third signal, the upper threshold being less than the fault threshold.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An apparatus comprising:

a first transistor having a control terminal, a first terminal adapted to be coupled to a first resistor, and a second terminal adapted to be coupled to a second resistor;
a second transistor having a control terminal, a first terminal, and a second terminal, the control terminal adapted to be coupled to a ground terminal, the first terminal coupled to the first terminal of the first transistor;
a driver having a supply terminal, an input, and an output, the supply terminal coupled to the second terminal of the second transistor, the output coupled to the control terminal of the first transistor;
and
a temperature-based control circuit having a supply terminal coupled to the second terminal of the second transistor and an output coupled to the input of the driver, the temperature-based control circuit capable of:
monitoring a temperature sensor to determine a measured temperature indicative of a temperature of the first transistor;
responsive to the measured temperature being greater than or equal to a fault threshold, providing a first signal to the driver, the driver to control the first transistor responsive to the first signal;
responsive to the measured temperature being less than a lower threshold, providing a second signal to the driver, the driver to control the first transistor responsive to the second signal;
and
responsive to the measured temperature being greater than or equal to an upper threshold, providing a third signal to the driver, the driver to control the first transistor responsive to the third signal, the upper threshold being less than the fault threshold.

7 more elements

A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that cause at least one programmable circuit to:

monitor a temperature sensor to determine a measured temperature indicative of a temperature of a transistor;
responsive to the measured temperature being greater than or equal to a fault threshold, provide a first signal to a driver, the driver to control the transistor responsive to the first signal;
responsive to the measured temperature being less than a lower threshold, provide a second signal to the driver, the driver to control the transistor responsive to the second signal;
and
responsive to the measured temperature being greater than or equal to an upper threshold, provide a third signal to the driver, the driver to control the transistor responsive to the third signal, the upper threshold being less than the fault threshold.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Systems, methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to protect circuits during avalanche current

Life of this patent

Systems, methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to protect circuits during avalanche current

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20