System and method for driving an electronic switch dependent on temperature

A method for driving an electronic switch connected in series with a load, the method comprising:

• operating the electronic switch in a first operation mode for a first time period after a signal level of an input signal has changed from an off-level to an on-level, wherein operating the electronic switch in the first operation mode comprises driving the electronic switch dependent on a voltage across the load and dependent on a temperature of the electronic switch;
• operating the electronic switch in a second operation mode after the first time period, wherein operating the electronic switch in the second operation mode comprises driving the electronic switch dependent on the temperature according to a hysteresis curve;
• wherein operating the electronic switch in the first operation mode comprises operating the electronic switch in a first current limiting mode in which current through the electronic switch is limited to a first current limit;
• and
• wherein operating the electronic switch in the first operation mode further comprises operating the electronic switch in a second current limiting mode in which the current through the electronic switch is limited to a second current limit higher than the first current limit, when in the first current limiting mode, the temperature rises above a first temperature threshold and the voltage across the load meets a first condition.

A method for driving an electronic switch connected in series with a load, the method comprising:

• operating the electronic switch in a first operation mode for a first time period after a signal level of an input signal has changed from an off-level to an on-level, wherein operating the electronic switch in the first operation mode comprises
• switching the electronic switch off when a temperature of the electronic switch reaches a first temperature threshold,
• operating the electronic switch in a first current limiting mode in which the current through the electronic switch is limited to a first current limit, and
• operating the electronic switch in a second current limiting mode in which the current through the electronic switch is limited to a second current limit, the second current limit different from the first current limit;
• and
• operating the electronic switch in a second operation mode after the first time period, wherein operating the electronic switch in the second operation mode comprises driving the electronic switch dependent on the temperature according to a hysteresis curve, wherein the electronic switch is switched off when the temperature of the electronic switch reaches a second temperature threshold that is lower than the first temperature threshold, and operating the electronic switch in the first operation mode further comprises operating the electronic switch in the second current limiting mode in which the current through the electronic switch is limited to a second current limit that is higher than the first current limit, when in the first current limiting mode, the temperature rises above a third temperature threshold and a load voltage meets a first condition.

An electronic circuit comprising:

• an electronic switch comprising a control terminal and a load path configured to have a load connected thereto;
• and
• a drive circuit coupled to the control terminal of the electronic switch, the drive circuit configured to receive an input signal and configured to
• operate the electronic switch in a first operation mode for a first time period, wherein the first time period comprises a time period that starts from when a signal level of the input signal has changed from an off-level to an on-level and ends after an expiration of a first predetermined delay time after the first time period starts, wherein the first operation mode comprises driving the electronic switch dependent on a voltage across the load and dependent on a temperature of the electronic switch;
• and
• operate the electronic switch in a second operation mode after the first time period ends, wherein the second operation mode comprises driving the electronic switch dependent on the temperature according to a hysteresis curve.

An electronic circuit comprising:

• an electronic switch comprising a control terminal and a load path configured to have a load connected thereto;
• and
• a drive circuit coupled to the control terminal of the electronic switch, the drive circuit configured to receive an input signal and configured to
• operate the electronic switch in a first operation mode for a first time period after a signal level of the input signal has changed from an off-level to an on-level, wherein the first operation mode comprises driving the electronic switch dependent on a voltage across the load and dependent on a temperature of the electronic switch;
• and
• operate the electronic switch in a second operation mode after the first time period, wherein the second operation mode comprises driving the electronic switch dependent on the temperature according to a hysteresis curve,
• wherein the drive circuit in the first operation mode is configured to operate the electronic switch in a first current limiting mode in which the current through the electronic switch is limited to a first current limit, and
• wherein the drive circuit in the first operation mode is further configured to operate the electronic switch in a second current limiting mode in which current through the electronic switch is limited to a second current limit higher than the first current limit, when in the first current limiting mode, the temperature rises above a first temperature threshold and a load voltage meets a first condition.

An electronic circuit comprising:

• an electronic switch comprising a load path configured to have a load connected thereto and a control terminal;
• and
• a drive circuit coupled to the control terminal of the electronic switch, the drive circuit configured to receive an input signal and configured to
• operate the electronic switch in a first operation mode for a first time period after a signal level of the input signal has changed from an off-level to an on-level, wherein the first operation mode comprises switching the electronic switch off when a temperature of the electronic switch reaches a first temperature threshold, wherein the drive circuit is further configured in the first operation mode to
• operate the electronic switch in a first current limiting mode in which current through the electronic switch is limited to a first current limit, and
• operate the electronic switch in a second current limiting mode in which current through the electronic switch is limited to a second current limit different from the first current limit;
• and
• operating the electronic switch in a second operation mode after the first time period, wherein the second operation mode comprises driving the electronic switch dependent on the temperature according to a hysteresis curve, wherein the electronic switch is switched off when the temperature of the electronic switch reaches a second temperature threshold lower than the first temperature threshold, and the drive circuit is further configured in the first operation mode to operate the electronic switch in the second current limiting mode in which current through the electronic switch is limited to a second current limit higher than the first current limit, when in the first current limiting mode, the temperature rises above a third temperature threshold and a load voltage meets a first condition.