Control of a power load

• US 20030179033A1
• Filed: 03/20/2003
• Published: 09/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: STMicroelectronics SA (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Original Assignee: STMicroelectronics SA (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Inventors: Pavlin, Antoine, Bienvenu, Philippe
• Application Number:
  US10/393,048
• Publication Number:
  US 20030179033A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 327/427
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 3/245 producing a voltage or current as a predetermined function of the temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/0822 in field-effect transistor switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2017/0806 against excessive temperature

Abstract

A load supply control circuit comprising an integrated switch and its control circuit within a same package, and circuitry for controlling the level of the current flowing through the switch according to a difference in instantaneous temperature between the switch and its environment.

Claims

1. A load supply control circuit, said circuit comprising an integrated switch and its control circuit in a same package, comprising means for controlling the level of the current flowing through said switch as a function of a difference in instantaneous temperature between the switch and its environment.

2. The circuit of claim 1, wherein said temperature difference is measured by a first sensor integrated to the switch and a second sensor integrated in its control circuit.

3. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the switch and its control circuit are integrated on a same semiconductor chip.

4. The circuit of claim 1, wherein said controlling means comprise a comparator receiving signals representative of temperatures of the switch and of its environment.

5. The circuit of claim 1, comprising a drive circuit capable of providing a control signal to the switch, said driver circuit being provided with heat protection means modifying the control reference point of the switch when the temperature thereof exceeds a temperature threshold, wherein said means modify the value of said temperature threshold according to said temperature difference.

6. The circuit of claim 1, comprising a limiter of the current in the switch with respect to a limitation threshold, wherein said means modify the value of said limitation threshold according to said temperature difference.

7. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the control is linear.

8. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the control is in all or nothing.

9. The circuit of claim 1, wherein said switch is attached on a same frame as said circuit, and wherein said means are capable of comparing the temperature of said switch and the temperature of said frame close to the control circuit.