Power device temperature monitor
First Claim
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1. A power device temperature monitor, comprising:
- an amplifier coupled to at least one of a plurality of inductors of the power device;
an analog-to-digital converter coupled to an output of the amplifier coupled to the at least one of a plurality of inductors of the power device; and
a computing device that receives an output of the analog-to-digital converter, the computing device configured to derive a temperature of the power device based on a comparison of a value associated with a voltage drop across the at least one of a plurality of inductors with characterization data that is accessed by the computing device.
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Abstract
A power device temperature monitor is provided. The power device temperature monitor includes a power device having a control terminal and an output terminal, where the output terminal is configured to output a current as directed by a voltage of the control terminal. The power device temperature monitor includes an inductor coupled to the output terminal of the power device and an amplifier coupled to the inductor. The power device temperature monitor includes a computing device that receives an output of the amplifier, the computing device is configured to derive a temperature of the power device based upon the output of the amplifier.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A power device temperature monitor, comprising:
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an amplifier coupled to at least one of a plurality of inductors of the power device; an analog-to-digital converter coupled to an output of the amplifier coupled to the at least one of a plurality of inductors of the power device; and a computing device that receives an output of the analog-to-digital converter, the computing device configured to derive a temperature of the power device based on a comparison of a value associated with a voltage drop across the at least one of a plurality of inductors with characterization data that is accessed by the computing device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A temperature monitor for power transistors, comprising:
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an analog-to-digital converter coupled to an output of an amplifier coupled to at least one of a plurality of inductors associated with the power transistors; and a processor in communication with the analog-to-digital converter, the processor configured to execute instructions for computing temperature information relating to the power transistors based upon an analog-to-digital conversion of the output of the amplifier. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for monitoring temperature of a power transistor, the method comprising:
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measuring a voltage across an inductor coupled to an output of the power transistor, versus time; deriving an estimate of an operating temperature of the power transistor based on a comparison of a value associated with the measured voltage across the inductor with characterization data accessed by the processor; and storing data prior to measuring the voltage across the inductor, the data relating operating temperature of a power transistor to delay times of the power transistor or to switching times of the power transistor, wherein the deriving the estimate of the operating temperature of the power transistor is further based upon the data stored prior to measuring the voltage across the inductor. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification