High speed, large-current power control apparatus
First Claim
1. A power control apparatus for controlling supply of electrical power to a load, comprising:
- a switching means for switching a current path between a power supply and the load, the switching means including at least two switching devices connected in series and each switching device having an unsaturated state, in which voltage developed across the switching device increases substantially with increase in current conducted by the switching device, and a saturated state, in which voltage developed across the switching device does not increase substantially with increase in current conducted by the switching device, and the switching means being responsive to a gate signal to change from a conductive state to a non-conducting state,a generating means for generating said gate signal when current through the load exceeds a predetermined value, anda delay means for delaying the gate signal from the generating means by a predetermined period of time to change the switching means to the non-conducting state after all of the switching devices of the switching means are in the saturated state.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A power control apparatus for protecting an electrical circuit from excessive current and in particular for protecting it from a large and fast transition pulse caused by a rapid current polarity transition. At least two switching devices are coupled in series or in parallel between a power supply and a load. A gate signal is generated to change the switching devices from conductive state to nonconducting state in response to detection of an excessive current state. The gate signal is delayed by a predetermined period of time to change the switching devices into the nonconducting state after all of the switching devices are saturated so that the rapid current polarity transition is eliminated.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A power control apparatus for controlling supply of electrical power to a load, comprising:
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a switching means for switching a current path between a power supply and the load, the switching means including at least two switching devices connected in series and each switching device having an unsaturated state, in which voltage developed across the switching device increases substantially with increase in current conducted by the switching device, and a saturated state, in which voltage developed across the switching device does not increase substantially with increase in current conducted by the switching device, and the switching means being responsive to a gate signal to change from a conductive state to a non-conducting state, a generating means for generating said gate signal when current through the load exceeds a predetermined value, and a delay means for delaying the gate signal from the generating means by a predetermined period of time to change the switching means to the non-conducting state after all of the switching devices of the switching means are in the saturated state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A power control apparatus for controlling supply of electrical power to a load, comprising:
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a switching means for switching a current path between a power supply and the load, the switching means including at least two switching devices connected in parallel and each switching device having an unsaturated state, in which voltage developed across the switching device increases substantially with increase in current conducted by the switching device, and a saturated state, in which voltage developed across the switching device does not increase substantially with increase in current conducted by the switching device, and the switching means being responsive to a gate signal to change from a conductive state to a non-conducting state, a generating means for generating said gate signal when current through the load exceeds a predetermined value, and a delay means for delaying the gate signal from the generating means by a predetermined period of time to change the switching means to the non-conducting state after all of the switching devices of the switching means are in the saturated state. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A power control apparatus for controlling supply of electrical power to a load, comprising:
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a switching means for switching a current path between a power supply and the load, the switching means including an array of switching devices in a first plurality of rows and a second plurality of columns, wherein each column is formed by a plurality of switching devices, one from each row, coupled in series so that the columns provide a plurality of parallel current paths between the power supply and the load, and wherein each switching device has an unsaturated state, in which voltage developed across the switching device increases substantially with increase in current conducted by the switching device, and a saturated state, in which voltage developed across the switching device does not increase substantially with increase in current conducted by the switching device, and the switching means being responsive to a gate signal to change from a conductive state to a non-conducting state, a generating means for generating said gate signal when current through the load exceeds a predetermined value, and a delay means for delaying the gate signal from the generating means by a predetermined period of time to change the switching means to the non-conducting state after all of the switching devices of the switching means are in the saturated state. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification