# US 9,438,229 B2 · Configurable interface circuit > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,438,229 B2 - Document ID: US9438229B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/565,930 - Filed: 2014-12-10 - Published: 2015-06-11 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2013-12-11 - Assignees: Diehl Aerospace GmbH - Applicants: Diehl Aerospace GmbH - Inventors: Jürgen Späh - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9438229B2 ## CPC - H03K 17/6871: {the output circuit comprising more than one controlled field-effect transistor} - H02M 1/38: Means for preventing simultaneous conduction of switches - H03K 19/017581: {programmable} - H03K 19/01759: {with a bidirectional operation} - H03K 19/1733: {Controllable logic circuits (H03K19/177 takes precedence)} - H03K 2217/0036: Means reducing energy consumption - H03K: PULSE TECHNIQUE (measuring pulse characteristics G01R; modulating sinusoidal oscillations with pulses H03C; transmission of digital information H04L; discriminator circuits detecting phase difference between two signals by counting or integrating cycles of oscillation H03D3/04; automatic control, starting, synchronisation or stabilisation of generators of electronic oscillations or pulses where the type of generator is irrelevant or unspecified H03L; coding, decoding or code conversion, in general H03M) - H02M: APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF (transformers H01F; dynamo-electric converters H02K47/00; controlling transformers, reactors or choke coils, control or regulation of electric motors, generators or dynamo-electric converters H02P) ## Abstract The present invention relates to an interface circuit for intermediate connection between a logic circuit and a power circuit, having a supply connection for connection to a power supply, contains two logic connections, which are configurable as logic input or logic output, and two power connections, which are configurable as power input or power output, and a configuration unit for the corresponding configuration, wherein the power input can be read by the logic output and the power output can be driven by the logic input. The present invention further relates to an interface module, having at least two power connections, contains at least one interface circuit, the power connections of which interface circuit are routed to the power connections of the interface module. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An interface circuit for intermediate connection between a logic circuit and a power circuit, having a supply connection for connection to a power supply, wherein the interface circuit contains two logic connections to the respective connection on the logic circuit, which logic connections are configurable as logic input or logic output, and two power connections to the respective connection on the power circuit, which power connections are configurable as power input or power output, and a configuration unit for configuring the logic connections and the power connections, wherein the power input can be read by the logic output and the power output can be driven by the logic input. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The interface circuit according to claim 1, which interface circuit is designed as half-bridge circuit, having a switching branch, which is routed from a first to a second supply connection and which contains, in a series connection: a first and a second bridge element, which are each configurable by the configuration unit in order to be able to be driven by a logic input or to be able to be read by a logic output, a disconnecting switch, which is arranged between the first and second bridge element and can be switched by the configuration unit, the first power connection, which is arranged between the first bridge element and the disconnecting switch, the second power connection, which is arranged between the second bridge element and the disconnecting switch. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The interface circuit according to claim 2, wherein each of the bridge elements contains at least one series-connected controllable semiconductor switches. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The interface circuit according to claim 3, wherein each of the bridge elements contains at least two series-connected controllable semiconductor switches. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The interface circuit according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the semiconductor switches contains a MOSFET with a parasitic substrate diode. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The interface circuit according to claim 5, in which at least one of the semiconductor switches is set up in a manner connected to the configuration unit such that, by virtue of said semiconductor switch being driven, the electrical properties of its parasite substrate diode as controllable diode are determined in a targeted manner. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The interface circuit according claim 2, wherein the disconnecting switch contains two series-connected controllable semiconductor switches. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The interface circuit according to claim 7, wherein the semiconductor switches in each case contain MOSFETs with respective parasitic substrate diodes, wherein the substrate diodes of said MOSFETs are oriented in reverse bias with respect to the series connection. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) An interface module, having at least two power connections, wherein the interface module contains at least one interface circuit according to claim 1, the power connections of which interface circuit are routed to the power connections of the interface module. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The interface module according to claim 9, having additional power connections, wherein the interface module contains a specific input or output interface for each of the power connections.