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Non-intrusive short-circuit protection for power supply devices

  • US 10,193,326 B2
  • Filed: 04/21/2016
  • Issued: 01/29/2019
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2016
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method of protecting a power source, having an output voltage, from a short circuit, the method comprising:

  • providing to a first input of a voltage comparator, a power source voltage minus a voltage drop across a first, forward-biased, non-ideal diode carrying electric current from the power source to a load;

    providing to a second input of the voltage comparator, the power source voltage minus a voltage drop across a second, forward-biased, non-ideal diode, which is also coupled to the power source and which carries a reference current, to a second input of the voltage comparator; and

    providing a control voltage signal, which is output from the voltage comparator, to a switching device located between the power source and the first forward-biased non-ideal diode, the control voltage signal and switching device being selected and configured to disconnect the power source when a power supply voltage drop across the first forward-biased, non-ideal diode exceeds a predetermined threshold relative to a power supply voltage drop across the second forward-biased, non-ideal diode.

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