Device and method for supplying electric power to a load

Abstract

An improved electric power supply control device for supplying electric power to a load from a battery is described. The electric power supply control device is composed of a semiconductor switch connected between the electric power source and the load in order to controlling the power supply to the load, an excessive electric current detecting circuit for detecting an excessive electric current flowing through the load, a protection circuit connected to the semiconductor switch for turning off the semiconductor switch if the excessive electric current detecting circuit detects an excessive electric current, and a control circuit for disabling the protection circuit from turning off the semiconductor switch if the rate of increase of the electric current as flowing through the load is smaller than a predetermined rate.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.