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AssigneeDelco Electronics Corporation
InventorsJohn Robert Shreve, Gregg Nelson Francisco, Scott Birk Kesler
Estimating the term…
The ignition coil driver module of the present invention includes a control integrated circuit, formed of a low voltage semiconductor material, and a high current load driver integrated circuit, formed of a high voltage integrated circuit, housed within a common package. The high current load driver integrated circuit is responsive to a low voltage drive signal provided by the control integrated circuit to permit a load current to flow unrestricted through the load driver integrated circuit and an inductive load connected thereto. The control integrated circuit includes a sense resistor which receives the load current from the high current load driver integrated circuit, converts this current to a sense voltage, compares the sense voltage to a reference voltage generated within the control integrated circuit, and forces the low voltage drive signal to drop to a level which will limit the load current to a predetermined current value.
A method of limiting current through a load connected in series with a voltage source and a high voltage load energizing device, the method comprising the steps of:
A load driving circuit having a load current limiting feature comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.