ELECTRONIC CIRCUIT BREAKER APPARATUS AND SYSTEMS

• US 20100027180A1
• Filed: 07/31/2008
• Published: 02/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Bingel, Thomas, Tran-Vo, Deanne
• Granted Patent: US 8,068,322 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/93.900
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/08 responsive to excess current responsive to abnormal temperature caused by excess current H02H5/04

Abstract

Electronic circuit breakers and systems for isolating a load from a power-supply unit are provided. One electronic circuit breaker includes a current sensor, a switching element coupled to the current sensor, and a switch controller coupled to the current sensor and the switching element. The switch controller is powered by the power-supply unit and is configured to switch OFF the switching element when the current sensor detects an amount of current from the power-supply unit greater than a predetermined amount. An electronic system includes a power-supply unit, a load, and the above-referenced electronic circuit breaker coupled to the power-supply unit and the load.

Claims

1. An electronic circuit breaker configured to isolate a load from a power-supply unit, comprising:

a current sensor configured to be coupled to the power-supply unit;

a first switch coupled to the current sensor and configured to be coupled to the load; and

a switch controller coupled to the current sensor and the first switch, and configured to be coupled to and receive power from the power-supply unit, wherein the switch controller is configured to switch OFF the first switch when the current sensor detects an amount of current from the power-supply unit greater than a predetermined amount.

2. The electronic circuit breaker of claim 1, wherein the switch controller comprises an anti-latch-up circuit configured to be coupled to the power-supply unit, the anti-latch-up circuit configured to enable the switch controller to be ON at start-up.

3. The electronic circuit breaker of claim 2, wherein the anti-latch-up circuit comprises:

a band gap reference including a first cathode and a first anode; and

a diode including a second cathode and a second anode coupled in series with the first anode.

4. The electronic circuit breaker of claim 3, wherein the switch controller further comprises a comparator including:

a first negative terminal;

a first positive terminal coupled to the first cathode; and

a first output terminal coupled to the second cathode.

5. The electronic circuit breaker of claim 4, wherein the switch controller further comprises a second switch coupled to the first output terminal and configured to be coupled to the first switch.

6. The electronic circuit breaker of claim 5, wherein the first switch is a P-channel transistor and the second switch is an N-channel transistor.

7. The electronic circuit breaker of claim 6, further comprising a low-pass filter coupled to the first negative terminal.

8. The electronic circuit breaker of claim 7, wherein the switch controller further comprises:

a first operational amplifier including a second negative terminal, a second output terminal coupled to the second negative terminal and the low-pass filter, and a second positive terminal; and

a second operational amplifier including a third positive terminal configured to be coupled to the power-supply unit, a third output terminal coupled to the second positive terminal, and a third negative terminal coupled to the third output terminal and configured to be coupled to the current sensor.

10. The electronic circuit breaker of claim 5, wherein the switch controller further comprises a current-limiting diode coupled to the second switch and configured to be coupled to a current return coupled to the power-supply unit and the load.

11. The electronic circuit breaker of claim 1, wherein the electronic circuit breaker is capable of being coupled to loads in the range of about 1.0 mA to about 1.0 kA or loads in the range of about 1.0 mV to about 1.2 kV.

19. The system of claim 11, further comprising a current return coupled to the electronic circuit breaker, the load, and the power-supply unit.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the electronic circuit breaker further comprises:

a second switch coupled to the first switch; and

a current-limiting diode coupled to the second switching element, the current return, and the power-supply unit.

12. An electronic system, comprising:

a power-supply unit;

a load; and

an electronic circuit breaker comprising;

a current sensor coupled to the power-supply unit,

a first switch coupled to the current sensor and the load, and

a switch controller coupled to the power-supply unit, the current sensor, and

the first switch, wherein the switch controller is powered by the power-supply unit and is configured to switch OFF the first switch when the current sensor detects an amount of current from the power-supply unit greater than a predetermined amount.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the load is in the range of about 1.0 mA to about 1.0 kA or in the range of about 1.0 mV to about 1.2 kV.

14. The electronic circuit breaker of claim 12, wherein the switch controller comprises an anti-latch-up circuit coupled to the power-supply unit, the anti-latch-up circuit configured to enable the switch controller to be ON at start-up.

15. The electronic circuit breaker of claim 14, wherein the switch controller further comprises a comparator including:

a first negative terminal;

a first positive terminal coupled to the anti-latch-up circuit; and

a first output terminal coupled to the anti-latch-up circuit.

16. The electronic circuit breaker of claim 15, wherein the switch controller further comprises a second switch coupled to the first output terminal and the first switch.

17. The electronic circuit breaker of claim 16, further comprising a low-pass filter coupled to the first negative terminal.

18. The electronic circuit breaker of claim 17, wherein the switch controller further comprises:

a first operational amplifier including a second negative terminal, a second output terminal coupled to the second negative terminal and the low-pass filter, and a second positive terminal; and

a second operational amplifier including a third positive terminal coupled to the power-supply unit, a third output terminal coupled to the second positive terminal, and a third negative terminal coupled to the third output terminal and the current sensor.