Integrated protection devices with monitoring of electrical characteristics
First Claim
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1. A device comprising:
- a switching mechanism capable of being coupled between a power supply and a device, the switching mechanism configured to have an on state in which the power supply is coupled to the device or an off state in which the power supply is de-coupled from the device, the on state allowing current to pass from the power supply to the device along a current path; and
a controller including;
a current measuring mechanism having one or more current sensing inputs coupled to sense a current at the current path, anda power measuring mechanism having;
one or more current sensing inputs coupled to sense the current at the current path, and a voltage sensing input coupled to sense a voltage at a node between the switching mechanism and the device, the power measuring mechanism configured to measure a power based on the sensed current and the sensed voltage,the controller operatively coupled to cause the switching mechanism to have the off state in which the power supply is de-coupled from the device responsive to one or more events indicative of a system fault condition, the one or more events including the sensed current meeting or exceeding a current threshold and the measured power meeting or exceeding a designated power threshold, the current threshold being adjustable in relation to changes in the sensed voltage to maintain the designated power threshold, the controller integrated with the switching mechanism on a chip.
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Abstract
Disclosed are systems, devices, circuits, components, mechanisms, and processes in which a switching mechanism can be coupled between components. The switching mechanism is configured to have an on state or an off state, where the on state allows current to pass along a current path. A monitoring mechanism has one or more sensing inputs coupled to sense an electrical characteristic at the current path. The electrical characteristic can be a current, voltage, and/or power by way of example. The monitoring mechanism is configured to output a reporting signal indicating the sensed electrical characteristic. The monitoring mechanism can be integrated with the switching mechanism on a chip.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A device comprising:
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a switching mechanism capable of being coupled between a power supply and a device, the switching mechanism configured to have an on state in which the power supply is coupled to the device or an off state in which the power supply is de-coupled from the device, the on state allowing current to pass from the power supply to the device along a current path; and a controller including; a current measuring mechanism having one or more current sensing inputs coupled to sense a current at the current path, and a power measuring mechanism having;
one or more current sensing inputs coupled to sense the current at the current path, and a voltage sensing input coupled to sense a voltage at a node between the switching mechanism and the device, the power measuring mechanism configured to measure a power based on the sensed current and the sensed voltage,the controller operatively coupled to cause the switching mechanism to have the off state in which the power supply is de-coupled from the device responsive to one or more events indicative of a system fault condition, the one or more events including the sensed current meeting or exceeding a current threshold and the measured power meeting or exceeding a designated power threshold, the current threshold being adjustable in relation to changes in the sensed voltage to maintain the designated power threshold, the controller integrated with the switching mechanism on a chip. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A process comprising:
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sensing, using a current measuring mechanism, a current at a current path between a power supply and a device, a switching mechanism being coupled between the power supply and the device, the switching mechanism configured to have an on state in which the power supply is coupled to the device or an off state in which the power supply is de-coupled from the device, the on state allowing current to pass from the power supply to the device along the current path; sensing a voltage at a node between the switching mechanism and the device; measuring, using a power measuring mechanism, a power based on the sensed current and the sensed voltage; and controlling the switching mechanism to have the off state in which the power supply is de-coupled from the device responsive to the sensed current meeting or exceeding a current threshold and responsive to the measured power meeting or exceeding a designated power threshold, the current threshold being adjustable in relation to changes in the sensed voltage to maintain the designated power threshold. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification