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Adaptive duty-cycle limiting for overload protection of integrated circuits

  • US 5,550,702 A
  • Filed: 11/21/1994
  • Issued: 08/27/1996
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/21/1994
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method of adapting the current flow duty-cycle of an output driver to protect the output driver, comprising the steps of:

  • sensing an overcurrent condition in the current flow of the output driver;

    setting the duty-cycle of the output driver to flow the current at a given on-off duty-cycle upon sensing the overcurrent condition;

    while flowing the current at the given duty-cycle, monitoring the junction temperature of the output driver; and

    controlling the output driver to flow the current at a lower on-off duty-cycle, less than the given on-off duty-cycle, if the junction temperature rises above a thermal sense trip point during continuation of the sensed overcurrent condition.

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