NON-INTRUSIVE SHORT-CIRCUIT PROTECTION FOR POWER SUPPLY DEVICES
First Claim
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1. A method of protecting a power source, having an output voltage, from a short circuit, the method comprising:
- providing to a first input of a voltage comparator, the power source voltage minus the voltage drop across a first, forward-biased, non-ideal diode carrying electric current from the power source to a load;
providing to a second input of the voltage comparator, the power source voltage minus the voltage drop across a second, forward-biased, non-ideal diode, which is also coupled to the power source and which carries a reference current, to a second input of a voltage comparator; and
providing a control voltage signal, which is output from the comparator, to a switching device located between the power source and the first forward-biased non-ideal diode, the control voltage signal and switch being selected and configured to disconnect the power source when the power supply voltage drop across the first forward-biased, non-ideal diode exceeds a predetermined threshold relative to the power supply voltage drop across the second forward-biased, non-ideal diode.
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Abstract
Non-ideal diodes have a non-zero resistance across a PN junction when the junction is forward biased. When a diode comprising a power supply has a voltage drop across the junction that exceeds a predetermined threshold, the threshold-exceeding voltage drop trips a comparator, the output of which controls a switch between a power supply and a load.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of protecting a power source, having an output voltage, from a short circuit, the method comprising:
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providing to a first input of a voltage comparator, the power source voltage minus the voltage drop across a first, forward-biased, non-ideal diode carrying electric current from the power source to a load; providing to a second input of the voltage comparator, the power source voltage minus the voltage drop across a second, forward-biased, non-ideal diode, which is also coupled to the power source and which carries a reference current, to a second input of a voltage comparator; and providing a control voltage signal, which is output from the comparator, to a switching device located between the power source and the first forward-biased non-ideal diode, the control voltage signal and switch being selected and configured to disconnect the power source when the power supply voltage drop across the first forward-biased, non-ideal diode exceeds a predetermined threshold relative to the power supply voltage drop across the second forward-biased, non-ideal diode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A non-intrusive short circuit protection apparatus for a power supply device, the apparatus comprising:
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a voltage comparator having first and second inputs and an output; a first, non-ideal diode having an anode coupled to the power supply device and a cathode coupled to a load requiring electric current, the cathode being additionally coupled to the first input of the voltage comparator, the first non-ideal diode carrying the electric current required by the load; a second, non-ideal diode having an anode coupled to the power supply device and a cathode coupled to the second input of the voltage comparator; and a switching device having an input terminal, an output terminal and a control signal terminal, the switching device input terminal being coupled to the power source, the switching device output terminal being coupled to the anodes of both the first and second non-ideal diodes, the control signal terminal being coupled to the output of the voltage comparator; wherein a voltage signal provided to the control signal terminal of the switching device from the output of the voltage comparator causes the switching device to disconnect the power source from the first diode when a difference between the first cathode voltage and the second cathode voltage exceeds a first, predetermined threshold. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification