Pre-charge current control device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11824397-B2
Application number	US-201816960173-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 3, 2018
Priority date	Jan 3, 2018
Publication date	Nov 21, 2023
Grant date	Nov 21, 2023

Abstract

A device for controlling a pre-charge current generated when electrically connecting a first terminal and a second terminal, according to one embodiment of the present invention, may comprise: a switch for controlling a magnitude of a current flowing between the first terminal and the second terminal; a first resistor for generating a base voltage of a first transistor in proportion to a magnitude of the pre-charge current flowing between the first terminal and the second terminal; the first transistor for limiting the magnitude of the pre-charge current when a voltage generated by the first resistor is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold voltage; a photocoupler for receiving, in a state insulated from a first power source, an optical signal from the first power source and supplying power; a capacitor charged by the power supplied by the photocoupler; a second transistor for controlling the magnitude of the pre-charge current on the basis of a charging voltage of the capacitor; and a second resistor for controlling an operating time of the second transistor along with the capacitor.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A device for controlling a pre-charge current generated when electrically connecting a first terminal and a second terminal, the device comprising:
a switch for controlling a magnitude of a current flowing between the first terminal and the second terminal;
a first resistor for generating a base voltage of a first transistor in proportion to a magnitude of the pre-charge current flowing between the first terminal and the second terminal;
the first transistor for limiting the magnitude of the pre-charge current when a voltage generated by the first resistor is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold voltage;
a photocoupler for receiving, in a state insulated from a first power source, an optical signal from the first power source and supplying power;
a capacitor charged by the power supplied by the photocoupler;
a second transistor for controlling the magnitude of the pre-charge current on a basis of a charging voltage of the capacitor; and
a second resistor for controlling an operating time of the second transistor along with the capacitor.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein:
the charging voltage of the capacitor generates a base voltage of the second transistor, and
as the capacitor is charged by the power supplied by the photocoupler, the second transistor decreases a current flowing through the second transistor so as to increase a gate voltage of the switch.

3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the second transistor decreases the current flowing through the second transistor so as to linearly increase the gate voltage of the switch.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the switch increases a magnitude of a current flowing through the switch in proportion to a gate voltage of the switch.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein, when the voltage generated by the first resistor is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold voltage, the first transistor decreases a gate voltage of the switch so as to limit the magnitude of the pre-charge current.

6. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a third resistor for preventing a short circuit,
wherein the third resistor electrically connects the photocoupler and the second resistor.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein:
a second power source is electrically connected to the first terminal, and
a load is electrically connected to the second terminal.

8. The device of claim 7 , wherein the load comprises a capacitive element for generating the pre-charge current.

9. The device of claim 8 , wherein:
when charging of the capacitive element is completed, the pre-charge current is decreased,
when charging of the capacitive element is completed, a gate voltage of the switch is maintained at a predetermined voltage by the power supplied by the photocoupler, and
the switch maintains a short-circuit state of the first terminal and the second terminal by the gate voltage maintained at the predetermined voltage.

Assignees

• Samsung Sdi Co Ltd

Inventors

• Moon Soodeok
• Jeon Peelsik
• Park Kyunghoon

Classifications

• H02J7/60 Primary

  including safety or protection arrangements · CPC title

• H02J7/345 Primary

  using capacitors as storage or buffering devices · CPC title

• H01H9/542

  Contacts shunted by static switch means · CPC title

• H02H1/043

  to inrush currents (H02H1/046 takes precedence; differential protection of transformers H02H7/045) · CPC title

• H02H1/046

  upon detecting saturation of current transformers (for differential protection H02H3/283) · CPC title