Power supply controller and semiconductor device
AssigneesAutonetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
InventorsSeiji Takahashi, Masayuki Kato, Masahiko Furuichi, Isao Isshiki
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A voltage-dividing circuit 60, which is formed of serially connected voltage-dividing resistors R1, R2, R3, is disposed between the source terminal S of a power MOSFET 15 and the ground. The divided voltage Va at a connecting point A is applied to one of the input terminals of a comparator 62, while the divided voltage Vb at a connecting point B is applied to one of the input terminals of a comparator 64. The other input terminals of the comparators 62, 64 are connected to the connecting line between an external terminal P4, to which an external resistor 12 is connected, and an FET 30.
Claims11
A power supply controller disposed between a power source and a load, and configured to control power supply from said power source to said load, said power supply controller comprising:
- a semiconductor switching element disposed on a current supply line from said power source to said load;
- a current detecting circuit configured to detect a load current passing through said semiconductor switching element;
- a voltage generator circuit configured to generate a voltage according to an output-side voltage of said semiconductor switching element;
- and
- an anomaly detecting circuit configured to output an anomaly signal based on a detection signal from said current detecting circuit and a generated voltage of said voltage generator circuit, if a load current passing through said semiconductor switching element exceeds a threshold current corresponding to said generated voltage.
A semiconductor device configured to control power supply using a power FET, wherein:
- said power FET, a sense FET through which a sense current corresponding to a current amount of said power FET passes, an anomaly detecting circuit configured to detect an anomaly of a current passing through said power FET based on a level of said sense current, and a voltage-dividing circuit configured to divide a source voltage of said power FET are provided as a single chip or a plurality of chips housed in a package;
- an external terminal, to which a current path of said sense current is connected and an external resistor is externally connectable, is provided, and said sense current passes to said external resistor through said external terminal;
- and
- said anomaly detecting circuit is configured to output an anomaly signal based on comparison of a terminal voltage of said external resistor with a divided voltage from said voltage-dividing circuit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.