Current limiter

A current limiter comprising:

• a) a power switch for receiving input power from a power source and passing at least a portion of said input power to an output;
• b) a current sense mechanism coupled to said power switch for sensing current flowing through said current limiter and for providing a current flow signal related to the current flow through said current limiter;
• c) a control mechanism coupled to said power switch;
• d) a voltage sense mechanism coupled to said output and said control mechanism, said voltage sense mechanism sensing the voltage at said output and providing a voltage drop between said input and said output and providing a voltage drop between said input and said output that is regulated;
• e) a temperature sensing mechanism coupled to said control mechanism and providing a first temperature signal related to a monitored temperature;
• f) a timing mechanism coupled to said control mechanism and providing timing signal;
• g) a surge voltage protection mechanism coupled to said output, said surge voltage protection mechanism blocking at least a portion of high voltage transmitted from said output to said current limiter;
• and
• h) short circuit protection means for sensing that said current flow exceeds a second current flow level and providing a second current flow signal to said control mechanism indicating that said second current flow level has been exceeded;
• and
• (i) wherein said control mechanism causes said power switch to reduce said current flow when said current flow signal indicates that said current flow exceeds a first current flow level, said control mechanism causes said power switch mechanism adjust the voltage level at said output based on said voltage output signal, said control mechanism causes said power switch to block power transmission when said temperature signal indicates that said monitored temperature exceeds a first temperature level, said control mechanism causes said power switch to block power transmission to said output based on said timing signal, and said control mechanism causes said power switch to reduce current flow below said second current flow level.

A current limiter comprising:

• a) a power switch for receiving input power from a power source and passing at least a portion of the input power to an output;
• b) a current sense mechanism that is coupled to said power switch and that is operative to sense current flowing through the current limiter, said current sense mechanism being operative to provide a first current flow signal and a second current flow signal wherein said first current flow signal is related to the current flow through the current limiter and said second current flow signal indicates when the current flow exceeds a second current flow level;
• and
• c) a control mechanism coupled to said power switch, said control mechanism being operative to cause said power switch to reduce the current flow when said first current flow signal indicates that said current flow exceeds a first current flow level, said control mechanism also being operative to cause said power switch to reduce current flow below said second current flow level in response to said second current flow signal.

A current limiter comprising:

• a) power switch means for receiving input power from a power source and passing at least a portion of the input power to an output;
• b) current sense means for sensing current flowing through the current limiter and for providing a first current flow signal related to the current flow through the current limiter;
• c) control means for causing said power switch means to reduce the current flow when said first current flow signal indicates that the current flow exceeds a first current flow level;
• and
• d) temperature sensing means for providing a temperature signal related to a monitored temperature, wherein said control means causes said power switch means to block power transmission when said temperature signal indicates that the monitored temperature exceeds a first temperature level, and wherein said control means causes said power switch means to cease blocking power when said temperature signal indicates that the monitored temperature has fallen below a second temperature level.

A current limiter comprising:

• a) power switch means for receiving input power from a power source and passing at least a portion of the input power to an output;
• b) current sense means for sensing current flowing through the current limiter and for providing a first current flow signal related to the current flow through the current limiter;
• and
• c) control means for causing said power switch means to reduce the current flow when said first current flow signal indicates that said current flow exceeds a first current flow level, wherein said current sense means further senses that said current flow exceeds a second current flow level and provides a second current flow signal to said control means indicating that said second current flow level has been exceeded and wherein said control means causes said power switch to limit the peak amount of said current flow to a level below said second current flow level.

A power distribution system for providing power from a central power supply to a remotely located electronic device comprising:

• a) a power source;
• b) a current limiter, the current limiter comprising:
• (i) power switch means for receiving input power from said power source and passing at least a portion of the input power to an output;
• (ii) current sense means for sensing current flowing through the current limiter and for providing a first current flow signal related to the current flow through the current limiter;
• and
• (iii) control means for causing said power switch means to reduce the current flow when said first current flow signal indicates that said current flow exceeds a first current flow level, wherein said current sense means further senses that said current flow exceeds a second current flow level and provides a second current flow signal to said control means indicating that said second current flow level has been exceeded and wherein said control means causes said power switch to reduce the current flow below said second current flow level;
• and
• c) a remote electronic device for receiving power from the output.

A power distribution system for providing power from a central power supply to a remotely located electronic device comprising:

• a) a power source;
• b) a current limiter, the current limiter comprising:
• (i) a power switch for receiving input power from a power source and passing at least a portion of the input power to an output;
• (ii) a current sense mechanism that is coupled to said power switch and that is operative to sense current flowing through the current limiter, said current sense mechanism being operative to provide a first current flow signal and a second current flow signal wherein said first current flow signal is related to the current flow through the current limiter and said second current flow signal indicates when the current flow exceeds a second current flow level;
• and
• (iii) a control mechanism coupled to said power switch, said control mechanism being operative to cause said power switch to reduce the current flow when said first current flow signal indicates that said current flow exceeds a first current flow level, said control mechanism also being operative to cause said power switch to reduce current flow below said second current flow level in response to said second current flow signal.