Device for protecting electronic components

• US 20030030072A1
• Filed: 07/19/2002
• Published: 02/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Jacob, Wolfgang, Heinisch, Holger, Topp, Rainer, Krauss, Hans-Reiner
• Granted Patent: US 6,727,555 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 257/200
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48463 the connecting portion on the bonding area of the semiconductor or solid-state body being a ball bond
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/73265 Layer and wire connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/1305 Bipolar Junction Transistor [BJT]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/13091 Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor [MOSFET]
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/067 on occurrence of a load dump control on sudden change of load H02P9/10
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 9/04 responsive to excess voltage lightning arrestors H01C7/12, H01C8/04, H01G9/18, H01T
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 9/041 using a short-circuiting device

Abstract

A device for protecting electronic components against overvoltages of a supply voltage is provided, which device includes at least one semiconductor transistor which is switchable by a trigger circuit when a predetermined overvoltage value is reached, thereby converting electrical energy to thermal energy.

Claims

1. A device for protecting electronic components against overvoltages of a system voltage, comprising:

at least one semiconductor transistor; and

a trigger circuit configured to switch the at least one semiconductor transistor when a predetermined overvoltage value is reached, thereby converting electrical energy to thermal energy.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the trigger circuit and the at least one semiconductor transistor are arranged as integrated circuits on a chip.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a Zener diode connectable in series to the at least one semiconductor transistor.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the at least one semiconductor transistor and the Zener diode are arranged as integrated circuits on two separate chips.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the two separate chips are arranged in a side-by-side configuration.

6. The device of claim 4, further comprising:

at least one heat removal device, wherein the heat removal device at least partially surrounds the two chips.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the at least one heat removal apparatus includes at least one of a metal body, a casting compound and a metal receptacle.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the casting compound includes an epoxy compound.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one semiconductor transistor includes a MOSFET transistor.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein the MOSFET transistor includes a vertical power MOSFET transistor and an integrated trigger circuit.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one semiconductor transistor includes a vertical bipolar transistor having an integrated trigger circuit.

12. The device of claim 6, further comprising:

electrical connections, the electrical connections including at least one of soldered connections and direct die bonding connections.

13. The device of claim 3, further comprising:

a rectifier diode, the rectifier diode being connected in series to the Zener diode.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the Zener diode and the rectifier diode are integrated into a three-layer semiconductor element.

15. An electronic system of a motor vehicle for protecting electronic components against electrical overvoltages, comprising:

a protection device including at least one semiconductor transistor and a trigger circuit, the trigger circuit being configured to switch the at least one semiconductor transistor when a predetermined overvoltage value is reached, thereby converting electrical energy to thermal energy.

16. A method of protecting electronic components against electrical overvoltages, comprising:

providing at least one semiconductor transistor; and

switching the at least one semiconductor transistor by means of a trigger circuit when a predetermined overvoltage value is reached, thereby converting electrical energy to thermal energy.