Power switch temperature control device and method
AssigneeInfineon Technologies AG
InventorsMarkus Ladurner, Robert Illing, Paolo Del Croce, Bernhard Auer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An embodiment method for power switch temperature control comprises monitoring a power transistor for a delta-temperature fault, and monitoring the power transistor for an over-temperature fault. If a delta-temperature fault is detected, then the power transistor is commanded to turn off. If an over-temperature fault is detected, then the power transistor is commanded to turn off, and delta-temperature hysteresis cycling is disabled.
Claims20
A method of controlling a power switch, the method comprising:
- monitoring a local temperature of a power transistor disposed on a semiconductor chip;
- monitoring a reference temperature of the semiconductor chip remote from the power transistor;
- comparing the local temperature with the reference temperature;
- comparing the local temperature with an over-temperature threshold;
- if the local temperature exceeds the reference temperature by more than a delta-temperature threshold, then activating a delta-temperature transistor off signal;
- and
- if the local temperature exceeds the over-temperature threshold, then
- (a) activating an over-temperature transistor off signal, and
- (b) disabling hysteresis cycling of the delta-temperature off signal.
A semiconductor device comprising:
- a power transistor;
- a device temperature sensor disposed in or near the power transistor;
- a remote temperature sensor disposed on or in a portion of a semiconductor substrate remote from the power transistor;
- a delta-temperature comparator comprising
- (a) a first input coupled to the device temperature sensor,
- (b) a second input coupled to the remote temperature sensor,
- (c) a delta-temperature transistor off output coupled to a gate of the power transistor, and
- (d) a delta-temperature hysteresis cycling disable input;
- and
- an over-temperature comparator comprising
- (a) a first input coupled to the device temperature sensor,
- (b) a second input coupled to an over-temperature threshold reference, and
- (c) an over-temperature transistor off output coupled to the gate of the power transistor and to the hysteresis cycling disable input of the delta-temperature comparator.
A method for power switch temperature control, the method comprising:
- monitoring a power transistor for a delta-temperature fault;
- monitoring the power transistor for an over-temperature fault;
- if a delta-temperature fault is detected, then commanding the power transistor to turn off;
- and
- if an over-temperature fault is detected, then commanding the power transistor to turn off, and disabling delta-temperature hysteresis cycling.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.