Current control circuit with in parallel transistor modules
First Claim
1. A current control circuit, comprising:
- a first terminal;
a second terminal;
a plurality of transistor modules in parallel with each other between the first terminal and the second terminal, each transistor module comprising;
a main transistor having a main drain, a main source and a main gate, wherein the main source and the main drain define a main source-drain path, the main drain is coupled to the first terminal, the main source is coupled to the second terminal and the main gate is coupled to a local control terminal;
a sense transistor having a sense drain, a sense source and a sense gate, wherein the sense source and the sense drain define a sense source-drain path, the sense drain is coupled to the first terminal, the sense gate is coupled to the local control terminal, and the sense source is configured to provide a local feedback signal;
a local controller configured to;
receive the local feedback signal and a main control signal; and
provide a local control signal to the local control terminal in accordance with the local feedback signal and the main control signal in order to control the current through the main source-drain path and the sense source-drain path.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Consistent with an example embodiment, there is a current control circuit for controlling current flow between a first terminal and second terminal. The current control circuit comprises a current-sensing power MOSFET (metal-oxide semiconductor field effect transistor). Current control is useful for limiting current flow during linear mode operations such as “hotswap”, “soft start” and “eFuse” operations, in particular, the reducing of or the preventing of high current surges due to discharged capacitive loads suddenly being switched into circuit. Such current surges can cause supply interference or cause malfunction of sensitive circuits due to the effects of the noise pulse. In extreme cases, fuses may blow or circuit breakers may trip due to the high current surges, therefore taking one or more systems offline.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A current control circuit, comprising:
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a first terminal; a second terminal; a plurality of transistor modules in parallel with each other between the first terminal and the second terminal, each transistor module comprising; a main transistor having a main drain, a main source and a main gate, wherein the main source and the main drain define a main source-drain path, the main drain is coupled to the first terminal, the main source is coupled to the second terminal and the main gate is coupled to a local control terminal; a sense transistor having a sense drain, a sense source and a sense gate, wherein the sense source and the sense drain define a sense source-drain path, the sense drain is coupled to the first terminal, the sense gate is coupled to the local control terminal, and the sense source is configured to provide a local feedback signal; a local controller configured to; receive the local feedback signal and a main control signal; and provide a local control signal to the local control terminal in accordance with the local feedback signal and the main control signal in order to control the current through the main source-drain path and the sense source-drain path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification