Power controller
First Claim
1. A power controller comprising:
- an input power terminal;
an output power terminal;
a power switching circuit comprising a first power field-effect transistor having a drain connected to the input power terminal and a gate connected to a control device, and a second power field-effect transistor having a gate connected to the control device and a source connected to the output power terminal;
a detection circuit connected to the power switching circuit that measures a load current and a current squared time (I2t) value between the input power terminal and the output power terminal, wherein the detection circuit comprises;
one or more resistors connected in series between a source of the first power field-effect transistor and a drain of the second power field effect transistor, such that a first voltage across the one or more resistors is proportional to the load current, anda RC circuit connected in parallel with the one or more resistors such that a second voltage across the RC circuit is proportional to the current squared time value;
one or more data interfaces; and
the control device connected to the power switching circuit, the detection circuit and the one or more data interfaces that automatically turns the power switching circuit “
OFF”
whenever the load current exceeds a first value or the current squared time value exceeds a second value or an “
OFF”
signal is received from the one or more data interfaces, and automatically turns the power switching circuit “
ON”
whenever an “
ON”
signal is received from the one or more data interfaces.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A power controller includes an input power terminal, an output power terminal, a power switching circuit connected between the input power terminal and the output power terminal, a detection circuit connected to the power switching circuit, one or more data interfaces, and a control device connected to the detection circuit and the one or more data interfaces. The detection circuit measures a load current and a current squared time (I2t) value between the input power terminal and the output power terminal. The control device automatically turns the power switching circuit “OFF” whenever the load current exceeds a first value or the current squared time value exceeds a second value or an “OFF” signal is received from the one or more data interfaces, and automatically turns the power switching circuit “ON” whenever an “ON” signal is received from the one or more data interfaces.
64 Citations
77 Claims
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1. A power controller comprising:
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an input power terminal; an output power terminal; a power switching circuit comprising a first power field-effect transistor having a drain connected to the input power terminal and a gate connected to a control device, and a second power field-effect transistor having a gate connected to the control device and a source connected to the output power terminal; a detection circuit connected to the power switching circuit that measures a load current and a current squared time (I2t) value between the input power terminal and the output power terminal, wherein the detection circuit comprises; one or more resistors connected in series between a source of the first power field-effect transistor and a drain of the second power field effect transistor, such that a first voltage across the one or more resistors is proportional to the load current, and a RC circuit connected in parallel with the one or more resistors such that a second voltage across the RC circuit is proportional to the current squared time value; one or more data interfaces; and the control device connected to the power switching circuit, the detection circuit and the one or more data interfaces that automatically turns the power switching circuit “
OFF”
whenever the load current exceeds a first value or the current squared time value exceeds a second value or an “
OFF”
signal is received from the one or more data interfaces, and automatically turns the power switching circuit “
ON”
whenever an “
ON”
signal is received from the one or more data interfaces. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A power controller comprising:
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an enclosure; an input power terminal accessible from an exterior of the enclosure; an output power terminal accessible from an exterior of the enclosure; a power switching circuit disposed within the enclosure and connected in series between the input power terminal and the output power terminal, the power switching circuit comprising one or more power field-effect transistors; a detection circuit disposed within the enclosure and connected to the power switching circuit, the detection circuit comprising a load current detection circuit having one or more resistors connected in series between one of the one or more power field-effect transistors and one of the power terminals, or between two of the one or more power field-effect transistors, such that a first voltage across the one or more resistors is proportional to the load current, a current squared time (I2t) detection circuit having a RC circuit connected in parallel with the one or more resistors such that a second voltage across the RC circuit is proportional to a current squared time (I2t) value, and a load voltage detection circuit that measures a load voltage between the input power terminal and the output power terminal; one or more data interfaces accessible from an exterior of the enclosure; an isolation circuit disposed within the enclosure and connected to the one or more data interfaces; a control device disposed within the enclosure and connected to the power switching circuit, the detection circuit and the isolation circuit that automatically turns the power switching circuit “
OFF”
whenever the load current exceeds a first value or the current squared time value exceeds a second value or an “
OFF”
signal is received from the one or more isolated data interfaces, and automatically turns the power switching circuit “
ON”
whenever an “
ON”
signal is received from the one or more isolated data interfaces;an isolated control power supply disposed within the enclosure and connected to at least the control device and the detection circuit; one or more external control power source terminals accessible from an exterior of the enclosure; and a filter circuit disposed within the enclosure and connected between the one or more external control power source terminals and the isolated control power supply. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. A method for controlling a power from a power supply to a load comprising the steps of:
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providing a power controller comprising an input power terminal, an output power terminal, a power switching circuit comprising a first power field effect transistor having a drain connected to the input power terminal and a gate connected to a control device, and a second power field-effect transistor having a gate connected to the control device and a source connected to the output power terminal, a detection circuit connected to the power switching circuit, one or more data interfaces, the control device connected to the power switching circuit, the detection circuit and the one or more data interfaces, and wherein the power controller is series connected between the power supply and the load using the input power terminal and the output power terminal, and wherein the detection circuit comprises; one or more resistors connected in series between a source of the first power field-effect transistor and a drain of the second power field effect transistor, such that a first voltage across the one or more resistors is proportional to the load current, and a RC circuit connected in parallel with the one or more resistors such that a second voltage across the RC circuit is proportional to the current squared time value; measuring a load current and a current squared time (I2t) value between the input power terminal and the output power terminal using the detection circuit; automatically turning the power switching circuit “
OFF”
using the control device whenever the load current exceeds a first value or the current squared time value exceeds a second value or an “
OFF”
signal is received from the one or more data interfaces; andautomatically turning the power switching circuit “
ON”
using the control device whenever an “
ON”
signal is received from the one or more data interfaces. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77)
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Specification