Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a circuit for driving an electronic switch includes a control circuit configured to trigger a switch-on and a switch-off of the electronic switch in accordance with an input signal, wherein the control circuit is further configured to trigger the switch-off of the electronic switch in response to an under-voltage signal signaling an under-voltage state; and an under-voltage detection circuit configured to signal the under-voltage state when a supply voltage received at a supply node is below an under-voltage threshold value, wherein the under-voltage threshold value depends on a load current passing through the electronic switch.

Abstract: A controller circuit is configured to receive, from a first device, a first node voltage measured at a first node by the first device at a first time when a first current flows between the first node and a second node and receive, from a second device, a second node voltage measured at a second node by the second device at a second time when a second current flows between the first node and the second node, wherein the first time is different from the second time. The controller circuit is further configured to, responsive to a determination that the first current corresponds to the second current, calculate, using the first node voltage and the second node voltage, a resistance value for one or more electrical components electrically connecting the first node and the second node.

Abstract: A method is disclosed. The method includes measuring at least one electrical parameter (R, L, C) of at least one wire (10) in a motor vehicle (100) at a certain time instance (ti) to obtain measurement data (M(ti)); comparing the measurement data (M(ti)) with comparative data (C(ti)) held in a data storage (5); and taking a predefined action (63) dependent on the comparing.

Abstract: A controller circuit is configured to receive, from a first device, a first node voltage measured at a first node by the first device at a first time when a first current flows between the first node and a second node and receive, from a second device, a second node voltage measured at a second node by the second device at a second time when a second current flows between the first node and the second node, wherein the first time is different from the second time. The controller circuit is further configured to, responsive to a determination that the first current corresponds to the second current, calculate, using the first node voltage and the second node voltage, a resistance value for one or more electrical components electrically connecting the first node and the second node.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a current monitoring circuit includes a signal shaping unit configured to receive a current sense signal and provide a modified current signal; a filter configured to receive the modified current signal and to provide a respective filtered signal; a comparator configured to receive the filtered signal and a threshold value and to indicate when the filtered signal exceeds the threshold value. The signal shaping unit is configured to calculate a level of the modified current signal from a corresponding level of the current sense signal in accordance with non-linear function.

Abstract: A circuit for controlling electrical power is described herein. In accordance with one embodiment, the circuit comprises: a circuit node operably connected to a pass element configured to be switched on and off in accordance with a drive signal applied at the circuit node; a communication interface configured to receive data from an external controller operably connected to the communication interface; and a control circuit configured to generate, in a first mode of operation, the drive signal dependent on parameters of a first parameter set and based on data received via the communication interface, and to generate, in a second mode of operation, the drive signal dependent on parameters of a second parameter set while discarding data received via the communication interface.

Abstract: In some examples, a device includes a memory configured to store a pre-warning threshold level for a parameter of a power switch. The device also includes a logic circuit configured to receive a signal from a controller and set the pre-warning threshold level in response to receiving the signal from the controller. The logic circuit is also configured to determine that a magnitude of the parameter of the power switch does not satisfy the pre-warning threshold level. The logic circuit is further configured to output an alert to the controller in response to determining that the magnitude of the parameter does not satisfy the pre-warning threshold level.

Abstract: An integrated circuit that may be employed as a smart switch is described herein. In accordance with one embodiment the integrated circuit includes a power transistor coupled between a supply pin and an output pin and further includes a control circuit configured to trigger a switch-on and a switch-off of the power transistor in accordance with an input signal. The control circuit is configured to trigger a switch-off of the power transistor when a load current passing through the power transistor is at or above a predetermined current and a supply voltage received at the supply pin is at or below a predetermined threshold voltage.

Abstract: In some examples, a device includes a memory configured to store a pre-warning threshold level for a parameter of a power switch. The device also includes a logic circuit configured to receive a signal from a controller and set the pre-warning threshold level in response to receiving the signal from the controller. The logic circuit is also configured to determine that a magnitude of the parameter of the power switch does not satisfy the pre-warning threshold level. The logic circuit is further configured to output an alert to the controller in response to determining that the magnitude of the parameter does not satisfy the pre-warning threshold level.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a circuit for driving an electronic switch includes a control circuit configured to trigger a switch-on and a switch-off of the electronic switch in accordance with an input signal, wherein the control circuit is further configured to trigger the switch-off of the electronic switch in response to an under-voltage signal signaling an under-voltage state; and an under-voltage detection circuit configured to signal the under-voltage state when a supply voltage received at a supply node is below an under-voltage threshold value, wherein the under-voltage threshold value depends on a load current passing through the electronic switch.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a current monitoring circuit includes a signal shaping unit configured to receive a current sense signal and provide a modified current signal; a filter configured to receive the modified current signal and to provide a respective filtered signal; a comparator configured to receive the filtered signal and a threshold value and to indicate when the filtered signal exceeds the threshold value. The signal shaping unit is configured to calculate a level of the modified current signal from a corresponding level of the current sense signal in accordance with non-linear function.

Abstract: A method is disclosed. The method includes measuring at least one electrical parameter (R, L, C) of at least one wire (10) in a motor vehicle (100) at a certain time instance (ti) to obtain measurement data (M(ti)); comparing the measurement data (M(ti)) with comparative data (C(ti)) held in a data storage (5); and taking a predefined action (63) dependent on the comparing.

Abstract: A circuit for controlling electrical power is described herein. In accordance with one embodiment, the circuit comprises: a circuit node operably connected to a pass element configured to be switched on and off in accordance with a drive signal applied at the circuit node; a communication interface configured to receive data from an external controller operably connected to the communication interface; and a control circuit configured to generate, in a first mode of operation, the drive signal dependent on parameters of a first parameter set and based on data received via the communication interface, and to generate, in a second mode of operation, the drive signal dependent on parameters of a second parameter set while discarding data received via the communication interface.

Abstract: Circuits, systems and methods are provided wherein a bypass circuit provides an auxiliary current path to supply current from a power supply line to an electrical load. The bypass circuit is used during a low-power mode, and consumes less quiescent power than a main current path that provides current from the power supply line to the electrical load during normal operation. The bypass circuit includes a current limiter and a comparator, and generates a high-current detection signal responsive to the comparator detecting that a current through the current limiter exceeds a maximum allowed or expected current.

Abstract: An integrated circuit that may be employed as a smart switch is described herein. In accordance with one embodiment the integrated circuit includes a power transistor coupled between a supply pin and an output pin and further includes a control circuit configured to trigger a switch-on and a switch-off of the power transistor in accordance with an input signal. The control circuit is configured to trigger a switch-off of the power transistor when a load current passing through the power transistor is at or above a predetermined current and a supply voltage received at the supply pin is at or below a predetermined threshold voltage.

Abstract: A method of operating a power system includes connecting an external load to a power outlet of the power system while a power switch of the power system is turned off, where the power switch is coupled between a power supply of the power system and the power outlet; measuring one or more electrical characteristics of the external load while the power switch is turned off; determining, based on the measured one or more electrical characteristics of the external load, whether a demagnetization energy of the external load is within a safe operation range for the power system; and in response to determining that the demagnetization energy of the external load is within the safe operation range, turning on the power switch.

Abstract: A method of operating a power system includes connecting an external load to a power outlet of the power system while a power switch of the power system is turned off, where the power switch is coupled between a power supply of the power system and the power outlet; measuring one or more electrical characteristics of the external load while the power switch is turned off; determining, based on the measured one or more electrical characteristics of the external load, whether a demagnetization energy of the external load is within a safe operation range for the power system; and in response to determining that the demagnetization energy of the external load is within the safe operation range, turning on the power switch.

Abstract: A driver and protection circuit for driving a power switch is disclosed. The driver and protection circuit includes a fault detection block configured to detect a discrepancy between a reference drive signal and a measured voltage at a gate of the power switch. The driver and protection circuit also includes a short circuit detection block configured to detect a gate-to-source short circuit or a gate-to-drain short circuit of the power switch. The driver and protection circuit further includes a latch coupled to the fault detection block and the short circuit detection block to selectively turn off an output driver coupled to the gate of the power switch when a fault or a short circuit is detected, and wherein the latch is configured to send a diagnostic signal when the fault or the short circuit is detected.

Abstract: Circuits, systems and methods are provided wherein a bypass circuit provides an auxiliary current path to supply current from a power supply line to an electrical load. The bypass circuit is used during a low-power mode, and consumes less quiescent power than a main current path that provides current from the power supply line to the electrical load during normal operation. The bypass circuit includes a current limiter and a comparator, and generates a high-current detection signal responsive to the comparator detecting that a current through the current limiter exceeds a maximum allowed or expected current.

Abstract: A circuit includes a first feedforward path configured to determine a state of a first power switch using a first gate control voltage from a gate driver and a source voltage of the first power switch, and to apply a gate driving voltage to a gate of the first power switch based on the determined state of the first power switch; and a first feedback path configured to provide a scaled value of a drain voltage of the first power switch and a scaled value of the source voltage of the first power switch to the gate driver, where the first feedforward path and the first feedback path are configured to provide a bi-directional gate interface coupled between the gate driver and the first power switch.