Switching circuit
First Claim
1. A circuit for operatively switching utilization means to a power supply source wherein the utilization means includes a controlled switching device series connected to load means such when the switching device is operative the load means is coupled to the power supply source, comprising:
- a current source responsive to an input signal applied to an input of the circuit for providing a current of a predetermined magnitude, said current source being coupled to the interconnection point between the switching device and the load means; and
a regulating loop responsive to said input signal for both rendering the switching device operative and for regulating the potential at said interconnection point to a predetermined voltage when the current flowing through the load means exceeds the magnitude of said current provided by said current source and non-regulating said potential when said current through the load means is less than said current of said current source.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A low impedance load is switched between a power supply source and ground through a series connected power MOSFET the conduction of which is controlled by a switching circuit. The switching circuit includes a linear loop that regulates the switch voltage to a minimum value to produce current flow through the load and the MOSFET. In addition, the switching circuit includes a current supply placed in parallel to the MOSFET which is set to supply a minimum predetermined current that is representative of the value of current flow through the load under an open load condition. If the load current falls below this set current value an open load status flag is provided by the switching circuit as the loop is no longer in regulation.
40 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A circuit for operatively switching utilization means to a power supply source wherein the utilization means includes a controlled switching device series connected to load means such when the switching device is operative the load means is coupled to the power supply source, comprising:
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a current source responsive to an input signal applied to an input of the circuit for providing a current of a predetermined magnitude, said current source being coupled to the interconnection point between the switching device and the load means; and a regulating loop responsive to said input signal for both rendering the switching device operative and for regulating the potential at said interconnection point to a predetermined voltage when the current flowing through the load means exceeds the magnitude of said current provided by said current source and non-regulating said potential when said current through the load means is less than said current of said current source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A switching circuit for operatively connecting and disconnecting a load to a power supply source, comprising:
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switching means series connected to the load for electrically connecting the load to the power supply source when rendered operative to produce current flow through the load; a current source responsive to an input signal for providing a current of a predetermined magnitude when the current flowing through the load exceeds said predetermined magnitude as the load is electrically connected to the power supply source, said current source being coupled to the interconnection between said switching means and the load; and a linear regulating loop responsive to said input signal for both rendering said switching means operative and for regulating the magnitude of voltage developed at said interconnection between said switching means and the load to a predetermined value when the load current exceeds said current of said current source. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for sensing the open load status of a load driven by a switching circuit the latter of which includes a transistor the main electrodes of which are series connected to the load and which electrically couples the load to a power supply when switched to a conducting state to provide load current through the load, comprising the steps of:
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rendering the transistor conducting responsive to an input signal being applied to the circuit; regulating the voltage at the series connection between the transistor and the load when the load current exceeds a predetermined magnitude while fully rendering the transistor conductive when the voltage developed at the series interconnection between the transistor and the load exceeds the value of the regulated voltage; and supplying a predetermined current having said predetermined magnitude which is indicative of the load being open.
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Specification