Abstract: A switching circuit protector switches a semiconductor device (11) provided in a switching circuit connecting a power supply (VB) to a load (RL), from a PWM drive state to a DC drive state when an estimated temperature of a cable of the switching circuit estimated by a temperature estimator (22) exceeds a threshold temperature (Tth), in the state where the semiconductor device (11) is controlled to operate in the PWM drive state to drive the load (RL). Therefore, when an overcurrent is caused in the cable, the estimated temperature exceeds the threshold temperature (Tth) so as to break the semiconductor device (11). Accordingly, the switching circuit can surely be protected by the switching circuit protector.

Abstract: A protector for an electricity supply circuit includes: a power switch capable to switch between connection and disconnection of the electricity supply circuit; a controller configured to output a switching command signal to the power switch in accordance with an input signal; and a current detector for detecting current flowing to the electricity supply circuit. The controller includes: a timer for counting the time that passes after a load has been turned off, when the load is turned off by the power switch; and a mode switching unit configured to switch the controller to a sleep mode when a predetermined time is counted by the timer.

Abstract: When a power switch is turned off, a protection device for an electricity supply circuit starts keeping time using a timer and turns on a disconnection flag. Then the protection device turns off the disconnection flag when the timer has counted a predetermined time. When the power switch is turned off, the disconnection flag does not subsequently turn off until the predetermined time has passed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent an excessive temperature increase in the power switch and prevent damage to the power switch.

Abstract: Two semiconductor switches are arranged in parallel in a load circuit for connecting a power source with a load. Further, the semiconductor switches are controlled so as to be alternately tuned on and off. As a result, since a current flows through only either of the semiconductor switches, an offset error detected by current sensors includes only an offset error of either of the semiconductor switches, the detection of current with high accuracy can be accomplished. Therefore, when performing the control of shutting off the circuit to cope with the occurrence of an overcurrent flowing through the load, the shutoff control with high accuracy can be accomplished.

Abstract: A controller 43 turns on a semiconductor switch 41 in a normal mode, and turns off the semiconductor switch 41 in a sleep mode. A bypass resistor 5 is connected in parallel to the semiconductor switch 41. A resistance value of the bypass resister 5 is so large as that in the sleep mode, a dark current is supplied to an electronic device 3 via the bypass resistor 5, and if an electric wire downstream of the bypass resistor is short-circuited, an electric current more than a permissive current is prevented from flowing to the electric wire.

Abstract: A load circuit protective device calculates increasing temperature of wire of a load circuit with a first predetermined sampling period (dt1) determined by a clock signal for normal operation when a semiconductor relay (Q1) is on to estimate the temperature of the wire. The temperature of the wire is therefore estimated with high accuracy. Moreover, when the semiconductor relay (Q1) is off, the load circuit protective device calculates decreasing temperature of the wire of the load circuit with a second predetermined sampling period (dt2) to estimate the temperature of the wire. The second predetermined sampling period (dt2) is determined by a clock signal for power-saving operation and is longer than the first predetermined sampling period (dt1). Accordingly, the calculation times of the temperature can be reduced, and the power consumption is therefore reduced.

Abstract: A load circuit disconnection detector includes: a current sensor (16) for detecting current flowing through a wire (W1) of a load circuit; and a protective device (100) for estimating temperature of the wire (W1) based on the detected current and forcibly turning off a semiconductor switch (Q1) if the estimated temperature of the wire reaches threshold temperature. The load circuit disconnection detector determines that there is a connection failure in the load circuit if a temperature increase calculated by a temperature calculation unit (24) is zero even a predetermined time (P1) after the semiconductor switch (Q1) is turned on.

Abstract: An electric power distribution device sets a first threshold and a second threshold for a threshold temperature of main wires, and sets a third threshold and a fourth threshold for a threshold temperature of branch wires. In the case where a temperature of each of the main wires reaches the first threshold, all of branch wire switches provided in a branch wire distributor are shut off. Thereafter, in the case where the temperature of the main wire reaches the second threshold, each of the main wire switches, which is provided a main wire distributor, is shut off. In the case where a temperature of a certain branch wire reaches the third threshold, the corresponding branch wire switch is subjected to PWM control. Thereafter, in the case where the temperature of the branch wire reaches the fourth threshold, the corresponding branch wire switch is shut off.

Abstract: A controller 43 turns on a semiconductor switch 41 in a normal mode, and turns off the semiconductor switch 41 in a sleep mode. A bypass resistor 5 is connected in parallel to the semiconductor switch 41. A resistance value of the bypass resister 5 is so large as that in the sleep mode, a dark current is supplied to an electronic device 3 via the bypass resistor 5, and if an electric wire downstream of the bypass resistor is short-circuited, an electric current more than a permissive current is prevented from flowing to the electric wire.

Abstract: A lamp driving apparatus includes a controller, generating a control signal for lighting at least one of plural sets of lamps, each set having at least a first lamp and a second lamp, and generating a switching signal; and a lamp driver, supplying power to the at least one of sets of lamps in accordance with both of the control signal and the switching signal. The switching signal causes the lamp driver to apply voltage to the first lamp and the second lamp of each of the at least one of sets of lamps with a shift of a prescribed time.

Abstract: A lamp driving apparatus includes a controller, generating a control signal for lighting at least one of plural sets of lamps, each set having at least a first lamp and a second lamp, and generating a switching signal; and a lamp driver, supplying power to the at least one of sets of lamps in accordance with both of the control signal and the switching signal. The switching signal causes the lamp driver to apply voltage to the first lamp and the second lamp of each of the at least one of sets of lamps with a shift of a prescribed time.

Abstract: In a casing (2), there are accommodated a power-source side bus-bar (5) connected to a power source, a plurality of load side bus-bars (7) having respective terminals connected to respective electrical loads, a plurality of power devices (8) interposed between the power-source side bus-bar (5) and the load side bus-bars (7) to control power supply for the electrical loads; and a circuit base plate (9) having a built-in driver circuit for transmitting control signals to the power devices (8). In the form of bare tips, the power devices (8) are arranged on and connected to the load side bus-bars (7) respectively. The power devices (8) are connected to the circuit baseplate (9) through wire bondings (11). The power devices (8) are also connected to the power-source side bus-bar (5) through wire bondings (12). Each load side bus-bar (7) has a tuning-fork type terminal (6) allowing an insertion of a plate-shaped terminal (50a) of a fuse (50).

Abstract: A current detection device, a power supply system and a method for detecting electric current is disclosed as including an electric conductor 10 which has first, second and third conductor components 11, 12, 13 extending from a diverging point O in three orientations with a given angle with respect to one another, first and second magnet-electric transducer elements 21, 22 located at both sides of the first conductor component in positions equally spaced from the first conductor component and in the vicinity of the diverging point, and a calculation processor circuit responsive to a differential value between first and second electric signals produced by the first and second transducer elements for thereby detecting electric current flowing through the first conductor component.

Abstract: This invention provides a current detecting apparatus including three conductors disposed radially from a branch point such that they are branched, three hall devices disposed between conductors adjacent of the three conductors, and an operation processing circuit for detecting a current flowing through each of the three conductors based on an operation output obtained by a predetermined operation based on electric signals from the respective hall devices.

Abstract: A first battery 12 is for supply of power at a first voltage. A second battery 13 is for supply of power at a second voltage to a load 14. A converter 120 is between the first battery 12 and the second battery 13. The converter 120 is for conversion of power between the first voltage and the second voltage in magnitude. A controller 110 is for operation of the converter 120 in dependent on a first current in magnitude through the load 14 and a second current in magnitude at an output terminal of the second battery 13.

Abstract: In a casing (2), there are accommodated a power-source side bus-bar (5) connected to a power source, a plurality of load side bus-bars (7) having respective terminals connected to respective electrical loads, a plurality of power devices (8) interposed between the power-source side bus-bar (5) and the load side bus-bars (7) to control power supply for the electrical loads; and a circuit baseplate (9) having a built-in driver circuit for transmitting control signals to the power devices (8). In the form of bare tips, the power devices (8) are arranged on and connected to the load side bus-bars (7) respectively. The power devices (8) are connected to the circuit baseplate (9) through wire bondings (11). The power devices (8) are also connected to the power-source side bus-bar (5) through wire bondings (12). Each load side bus-bar (7) has a tuning-fork type terminal (6) allowing an insertion of a plate-shaped terminal (50a) of a fuse (50).

Abstract: A current detection switch comprising a measured conductor into which a measured current flows, a plurality of magnetoelectric devices placed sandwiching the measured conductor so as to have magneto-sensitive faces on sides to which a magnetic flux generated by the measured current is input, each of the magnetoelectric devices for outputting a magnetoelectric signal when the magnetic flux exceeds a predetermined value, and a computation section for outputting a logical multiplication of the magnetoelectric signals from the plurality of magnetoelectric devices as a detection signal.

Abstract: A current sensor including a cabinet 10, a sensor conductor 20 partially accommodated in the cabinet 10 and secured to the cabinet 10 and having opposite ends pulled out from the cabinet 10, and a Hall element 30 accommodated in the cabinet 10 and secured to the cabinet 10, and disposed in the vicinity of the sensor conductor 20. An electric circuit including the current sensor, and a wire conductor 60 used for wiring of the electric circuit and having fitting portions 61 to be fitted to terminals 1 and 2 of the sensor conductor 20 of the current sensor.

Abstract: A current detector includes; a conductor to be measured in which a through hole is formed, the conductor to be measured having a first branch path and a second branch path for dividing a current flowing into two portions; a first magnetic-electric conversion element being arranged in the through hole of the conductor to be measured, the first magnetic-electric conversion element being provided for detecting a disturbance; and a second magnetic-electric conversion element being arranged outside of the first branch path and the second branch path formed in the conductor to be measured.

Abstract: A CPU (31) captures an on control signal for low-voltage loads (26 to 28) in LAN multiplex transmission, controls low-voltage switching devices (36 to 38) to be turned on in order to supply a power to the low-voltage loads (26 to 28), and performs a DC supply from a low-voltage battery (29) to the low-voltage loads (26 to 28). In this case, immediately after the on control signal for the low-voltage loads (26 to 28) is captured, the CPU (31) controls a voltage converter (32) which is not operating, so as to be activated, thereby performing a DC supply to the low-voltage battery (29) and the low-voltage loads (26 to 28).