OVER-CURRENT PROTECTION SYSTEM OF AND METHOD THEREOF

• US 20130042133A1
• Filed: 12/02/2011
• Published: 02/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wistron Corporation
• Original Assignee: Cheng-Wei Chang, Chun-Lung Hsiao, Yu-Hao Luo
• Inventors: LUO, Yu-Hao, HSIAO, Chun-Lung, CHANG, Cheng-Wei
• Granted Patent: US 8,756,457 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/340
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/28 Supervision thereof, e.g. detecting power-supply failure by out of limits supervision

Abstract

An over-current protection system used in a computer system is disclosed. The computer system includes a current supply module, a processor, and a battery. The over-current protection system commands the processor to disable its boost state if a first current generated by the current supply module when the processor is in the boost state is greater than a second current affordable by the current supply module.

Claims

1. An over-current protection system applied for a computer system, wherein the computer system comprises a current supply module, a processor and a battery;

the over-current protection system commands the processor to disable its boost state if a first current generated by the current supply module under a boost state enabled by the processor becomes greater than a second current affordable by the current supply module;

the over-current protection system comprising;

a charge module electrically connected to the current supply module for charging the battery, and the charge module comprises a detection element used for detecting the first current generated by the current supply module under the boost state, and if the first current becomes greater than the second current affordable by the current supply module, the charge module stops charging and generates a signal; and

a protection circuit electrically connected to the charge module;

when the processor enables the boost state such that the first current increases and becomes greater than the second current affordable by the current supply module, the protection circuit will transmit the signal generated by the charge module to the processor, to command the processor to disable the boost state.

2. The over-current protection system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a control module electrically connected to the charge module and the processor, and the control module used for transmitting the signal to the processor, to command the processor to disable the boost state.

3. The over-current protection system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the protection circuit comprises:

a resistor electrically connected to the current supply module;

a first transistor comprising;

a first gate electrically connected to the charge module;

a first source which is earthed; and

a first drain electrically connected to the resistor; and

a second transistor comprising;

a second gate electrically connected to the resistor;

a second source which is earthed; and

a second drain electrically connected to the processor;

whereby, when the signal is transmitted to the first gate, the first transistor is activated, allowing the second transistor to be activated at the same time, such that the signal is transmitted to the processor to command the processor to disable the boost state.

4. The over-current protection system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the protection circuit comprises an AND gate, and the AND gate comprises:

a first connecting end electrically connected to the charge module;

a second connecting end electrically connected to the current supply module; and

a third connecting end electrically connected to the processor;

whereby, when the signal is transmitted to the first connecting end, the third connecting end outputs the signal, allowing the signal transmit to the processor, to command the processor to disable the boost state.

5. A over-current protection method applied for a computer system, wherein the computer system comprises a current supply module, a processor, and a battery;

the over-current protection method is applied to command the processor to disable the boost state if a first current generated by the current supply module under a boost state enabled by the processor becomes greater than a second current affordable by the current supply module;

the over-current protection method comprising the steps of;

providing a charge module for charging the battery and electrically connecting to the current supply module;

detecting the first current generated under the boost state via the charge module, and if the first current becomes greater than the second current affordable by the current supply module, stopping charging the battery and generating a signal;

providing a protection circuit connected electrically to the charge module and the processor; and

transmitting the signal generated by the charge module to the processor via the protection circuit to command the processor to disable the boost state if the processor enables the boost state such that the first current increases and becomes greater than the second current affordable by the current supply module.

6. The over-current protection method as claimed in claim 5, wherein after the step in which the charge module stops charging the battery and generates the signal, the over-current protection method further comprises the step of:

providing a control module electrically connected to the charge module and the processor for transmitting the signal to the processor, to command the processor to disable the boost state.

7. The over-current protection method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the step of providing the protection circuit further comprises the steps of:

providing a resistor electrically connected to the current supply module;

providing a first transistor, which comprises the steps of;

providing a first gate electrically connected to the charge module;

providing a first source which is earthed; and

providing a first drain electrically connected to the resistor; and

providing a second transistor, which comprises the steps of;

providing a second gate electrically connected to the resistor;

providing a second source which is earthed; and

providing a second drain electrically connected to the processor;

whereby, when the signal is transmitted to the first gate, the first transistor is activated, allowing the second transistor to be activated at the same time, such that the signal is transmitted to the processor to command the processor to disable the boost state.

8. The over-current protection method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the step of providing the protection circuit further comprises the steps of:

providing an AND gate, which comprises the steps of;

providing a first connecting end electrically connected to the charge module;

providing a second connecting end electrically connected to the current supply module; and

providing a third connecting end electrically connected to the processor;

whereby, when the signal is transmitted to the first connecting end, the AND gate conducts, allowing the signal to be transmitted to the processor via the third connecting end, to command the processor to disable the boost state.