Short-circuit protection circuit
AssigneeAMP Incorporated
InventorDavid Conway
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A short-circuit protection circuit for use in an arrangement in which a load is connected to a source of electrical power by way of switch, operates to open the switch only when a true short circuit condition exists, the circuit discrminating between a true short circuit condition and short duration high current surges caused, for example, by bouncing of the contacts of the switch or transient characteristics of the load.
Claims12
A short-circuit protection circuit for detecting a high short circuit direct current flowing through an electric switch to a load and opening the switch, comprising a voltage detector connectible to the live side of the load and providing a first predetermined output logic signal when the detected voltage is in the vicinity of zero, the output of the voltage detector being connected to the input of a timing means adapted to provide a second predetermined output logic signal after the first predetermined output logic signal has persisted for a predetermined time, the output of the timing means being connected indirectly to the switch such that the existence of the second predetermined output logic signal opens the switch.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.