Power switch device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016204593-A1
Application number	US-201514597077-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 14, 2015
Priority date	Jan 14, 2015
Publication date	Jul 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Devices and methods comprising a switch and an overload detection are disclosed. When an overload detection is detected, a first retry scheme followed by a second retry scheme different from the first retry scheme may be applied. If the overload condition persists, the switch may be disabled.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A device, comprising:
a switch, an overload detection circuit associated with the switch, and a controller, the controller being configured to, when an overload state is detected by the overload detection circuit when the switch is to be closed, to open the switch, wherein, upon detection of the overload, the controller is further configured to repeatedly retry closing the switch according to a first retry scheme, if an overload condition remains at an end of the first retry scheme, to repeatedly retry closing the switch according to at least a second retry scheme different from the first retry scheme, and if an overload condition remains at an end of at least the second retry scheme, disable the switch.

2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the first retry scheme comprises a first maximum number of retry attempts, and wherein the second retry scheme comprises a second maximum number of retry attempts.

3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the first retry scheme comprises closing the switch again when no overload condition is detected, and opening the switch again when an overload condition occurs after closing the switch.

4 . The device of claim 3 , wherein the second retry scheme comprises waiting a predetermined time before a next closing of the switch.

5 . The device of claim 4 , wherein the predetermined time is longer than a time interval between closings of the switch during the first retry scheme.

6 . The device of claim 4 , wherein the next closing of the switch comprises repeatedly closing the switch when no overload condition is detected and opening the switch when an overload condition occurs after closing the switch.

7 . The device of claim 1 , wherein at least some time intervals between closings of the switch in the second retry scheme are longer than a longest time interval between closings of the switch during the first retry scheme.

8 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to re-enable the switch after the disabling in response to a reset.

9 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the reset comprises at least one of a control signal controlling the switch being in a state indicating that the switch is to opened for a predetermined time or applying a logical high-low signal to a diagnosis pin while applying a logical low signal value to a control pin controlling opening and closing of the switch.

10 . The device of claim 1 , wherein repeatedly retrying closing the switch according to at least a second retry scheme comprises repeatedly retry closing the switch according to the second retry scheme followed by at least one further retry scheme.

11 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the overload condition comprises at least one of an overcurrent, an overtemperature or a temperature rise above a predetermined threshold.

12 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the device is adapted to output a signal indicating an error after the overload has occurred at least upon receiving a diagnosis enable signal and at least until a reset has been applied or a predetermined time after the switch has been closed without an overload occurring.

13 . A device, comprising:
a power switch transistor, an overload detection circuit, and a controller, wherein the controller is adapted to open the switch when an overload condition is detected, wherein the controller is further configured to, upon opening the switch due to an overload condition, repeatedly close the switch up to a first predetermined number of times as soon as no overload condition is determined any longer after opening the switch,
when the overload condition persists after the first predetermined number of times, waiting a predetermined time, and closing the switch for up to a second predetermined number of times, wherein the waiting and the closing the switch for up to the second predetermined number of times is repeated a third predetermined number of times,
and disabling the switch if the overload condition persists after the third predetermined number of times.

14 . A method, comprising:
opening a switch when detecting an overload condition, repeatedly retrying to close the switch according to a first retry scheme, if an overload condition remains at an end of the first retry scheme, repeatedly retrying to close the switch according to at least a second retry scheme different from the first retry scheme, and if an overload condition remains at an end of the second retry scheme, disabling the switch.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the first retry scheme comprises a first maximum number of retry attempts, and wherein the second retry scheme comprises a second maximum number of retry attempts.

16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the first retry scheme comprises closing the switch again when no overload condition is detected, and opening the switch again when an overload condition occurs after closing the switch, and
wherein the second retry scheme comprises waiting a predetermined time before a next closing of the switch.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the predetermined time is longer than a time interval between closings of the switch during the first retry scheme.

18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the next closing of the switch comprises repeatedly closing the switch when no overload condition is detected and opening the switch when an overload condition occurs after closing the switch.

19 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising re-enabling the switch after the disabling in response to a reset.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the reset comprises at least one of a control signal controlling the switch being in a state indicating that the switch is to opened for a predetermined time or applying a logical high-low signal to a diagnosis pin while applying a logical low signal value to a control pin controlling opening and closing of the switch.

Assignees

• Infineon Technologies Ag

Inventors

• Djelassi Christian
• Kreuter Hans-Peter
• Illing Robert
• Mayer Alexander
• Petruzzi Luca
• Auer Bernhard
• Ladurner Markus
• Zanardi Alberto

Classifications

• H02H3/08 Primary

  responsive to excess current (responsive to abnormal temperature caused by excess current H02H5/04) · CPC title

• H03K2017/0806

  against excessive temperature · CPC title

• H03K17/08 Primary

  Modifications for protecting switching circuit against overcurrent or overvoltage · CPC title

• H02H3/07 Primary

  and with permanent disconnection after a predetermined number of reconnection cycles · CPC title