Short circuited semiconductor switch detection
AssigneeLutron Electronics Co., Inc.
InventorsRobert C. Newman, Jr., Timothy P. Hulick, Stephen R. Irving, Scott Jurell
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Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided for detecting a short circuited semiconductor switch. The apparatus comprises a semiconductor switching device and a short circuited switch detection device. The semiconductor switching device comprises an input, an output, and a control input for switching the semiconductor switching device. The short circuited switch detection device comprises an input and an output. The input of the short circuited switch detection device is coupled to the semiconductor switching device, wherein the short circuited switch detection device detects a short circuit in the semiconductor switch switching device.
Claims20
An apparatus for detecting a short circuited semiconductor switch, the apparatus comprising:
- a semiconductor switching device comprising an input, an output, and a control input for switching the semiconductor switching device, said semiconductor switching device further comprising a first and a second semiconductor power switch in inverse series connection, and wherein each of said first and second semiconductor power switches comprises a control input that switches each respective semiconductor power switch;
- and
- a short circuited switch detection device comprising an input and an output, the input of the short circuited switch detection device coupled to the semiconductor switching device, wherein the short circuited switch detection device detects a short circuit in one of said first and second semiconductor power switches in the semiconductor switching device.
An apparatus for detecting a short circuited semiconductor switch, the apparatus comprising:
- a semiconductor switching device comprising an input, an output and a control input for switching the semiconductor switching device, said semiconductor switching device further comprising a first and a second semiconductor power switch in inverse series connection and wherein each of said first and second semiconductor power switches comprises a control input that switches each respective semiconductor power switch;
- and
- a short circuited switch detection device comprising an input and an output, the input of the short circuited switch detection device coupled to the semiconductor switching device, said short circuited switch detection device further comprising a dc voltage detection device which detects a short circuit in one of said first and second semiconductor power switches by detecting that the dc voltage across said semiconductor switching device has risen above a predetermined level.
A method for protecting a load from a short circuited semiconductor switch in a semiconductor switching device comprising a first and a second semiconductor power switch, the method comprising:
- detecting a short circuited power switch;
- and
- switching a non-short circuited power switch to full conduction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.