POWER SUPPLY SYSTEM

• US 20130241286A1
• Filed: 03/08/2013
• Published: 09/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: YAMAZAKI, Shunpei
• Application Number:
  US13/789,714
• Publication Number:
  US 20130241286A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/38
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/08 Three-wire systems; Systems having more than three wires
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/46 for ICE-powered road vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 4/00 Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks not specified as ac or dc

Abstract

A power supply system which consumes less power by reducing leak current that flows through a switch is provided. The power supply system includes a command unit and a plurality of components each including a power supply line, a load, and a switch which switches electrical connection between the power supply line and the load. The command unit separately controls on/off of the switches, and the switches are transistors including a semiconductor having a wider band gap than silicon in channel formation regions.

Claims

1. A power supply system comprising:

a command unit; and

a plurality of components each comprising a power supply line, a load, and a switch,

wherein the command unit is operationally connected to the switch in each of the plurality of components,

wherein a first terminal of the switch is electrically connected to the load,

wherein a second terminal of the switch is electrically connected to the power supply line, and

wherein the switch is a transistor comprising a semiconductor having a wider band gap than silicon in a channel formation region.

2. The power supply system according to claim 1, wherein the command unit is electrically connected to a sensor circuit.

3. The power supply system according to claim 2, wherein the sensor circuit comprises at least one of an optical sensor, a pressure sensor, and a temperature sensor.

4. The power supply system according to claim 1, wherein the semiconductor is an oxide semiconductor.

5. The power supply system according to claim 1, wherein a band gap of the semiconductor is greater than or equal to 2 eV.

6. The power supply system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of components comprise at least one of an electricity-controlled device incorporated in a car, a lighting device, an electric heater, an air cleaner, a computer, a detector, a television, a CPU, a memory, a HDD, a printer, and a monitor.

7. A power supply system comprising:

a first command unit;

a plurality of second command units; and

a plurality of components each comprising a power supply line, a load, and a switch,

wherein the first command unit is operationally connected to the plurality of second command units,

wherein one of the plurality of second command units is operationally connected to the switch in each of the plurality of components,

wherein a first terminal of the switch is electrically connected to the load,

wherein a second terminal of the switch is electrically connected to the power supply line, and

wherein the switch is a transistor comprising a semiconductor having a wider band gap than silicon in a channel formation region.

8. The power supply system according to claim 7, wherein the first command unit is electrically connected to a sensor circuit.

9. The power supply system according to claim 8, wherein the sensor circuit comprises at least one of an optical sensor, a pressure sensor, and a temperature sensor.

10. The power supply system according to claim 7, wherein the semiconductor is an oxide semiconductor.

11. The power supply system according to claim 7, wherein a band gap of the semiconductor is greater than or equal to 2 eV.

12. The power supply system according to claim 7, wherein the plurality of components comprise at least one of an electricity-controlled device incorporated in a car, a lighting device, an electric heater, an air cleaner, a computer, a detector, a television, a CPU, a memory, a HDD, a printer, and a monitor.

13. A power supply system comprising:

a command unit;

a plurality of first components each comprising a first power supply line, a first load, and a first switch;

a second component comprising a second power supply line diverged from the first power supply line, a second load, and a second switch; and

a third component comprising a third power supply line diverged from the second power supply line, a third load, and a third switch,

wherein a first terminal of the first switch is electrically connected to the first load,

wherein a second terminal of the first switch is electrically connected to the first power supply line,

wherein a first terminal of the second switch is electrically connected to the second load,

wherein a second terminal of the second switch is electrically connected to the second power supply line,

wherein a first terminal of the third switch is electrically connected to the third load,

wherein a second terminal of the third switch is electrically connected to the third power supply line,

wherein the command unit is operationally connected to the first switch in each of the plurality of first components, and

wherein each of the first switch, the second switch, and the third switch is a transistor comprising a semiconductor having a wider band gap than silicon in a channel formation region.

14. The power supply system according to claim 13, wherein the command unit is electrically connected to a sensor circuit.

15. The power supply system according to claim 14, wherein the sensor circuit comprises at least one of an optical sensor, a pressure sensor, and a temperature sensor.

16. The power supply system according to claim 13, wherein the semiconductor is an oxide semiconductor.

17. The power supply system according to claim 13, wherein a band gap of the semiconductor is greater than or equal to 2 eV.

18. The power supply system according to claim 13, wherein the plurality of first components comprise at least one of an electricity-controlled device incorporated in a car, a lighting device, an electric heater, an air cleaner, a computer, a detector, a television, a CPU, a memory, a HDD, a printer, and a monitor.