Abstract: This disclosure describes circuits and techniques for determining inductance on an electrical line. In some examples, a method comprises charging a capacitor in time steps to a voltage level; counting a number of the time steps to the voltage level, wherein the number of the time steps defines a coarse measurement inductance of the electrical line; measuring a charging rate associated with charging the capacitor within a measurement window that is defined at the voltage level, wherein the charging rate associated with charging the capacitor within the measurement window defines a fine measurement of the inductance of the electrical line; and outputting an indication of the number of time steps and an indication of the charging rate associated with charging the capacitor within the measurement window.

Abstract: A driver circuit is configured control one or more bypass transistors. The driver circuit includes a primary supply input connection configured to supply the driver circuit with power from a set of battery cells. The set of battery cells is configured to supply power to a load via a power delivery circuit. The driver circuit also includes one or more secondary supply input connections. The driver circuit is configured to receive information indicating whether an error condition is present in the power delivery circuit and control, based on the error condition being present in the power delivery circuit, the one or more bypass transistors to define a bypass current path. The driver circuit is also configured to receive, via a secondary supply input connection of the one or more secondary supply input connections, power from the bypass current path.

Abstract: A driver circuit is configured control one or more bypass transistors. The driver circuit includes a primary supply input connection configured to supply the driver circuit with power from a set of battery cells. The set of battery cells is configured to supply power to a load via a power delivery circuit. The driver circuit also includes one or more secondary supply input connections. The driver circuit is configured to receive information indicating whether an error condition is present in the power delivery circuit and control, based on the error condition being present in the power delivery circuit, the one or more bypass transistors to define a bypass current path. The driver circuit is also configured to receive, via a secondary supply input connection of the one or more secondary supply input connections, power from the bypass current path.

Abstract: A driver circuit is configured control one or more bypass transistors. The driver circuit includes one or more supply connections configured to supply power from a set of battery cells. The set of battery cells is configured to supply power to a load via a power delivery circuit. The driver circuit is configured to receive information indicating whether an error condition is present in the set of battery cells that prevents the driver circuit from receiving power via the one or more supply connections from a primary driver circuit supply path across the set of battery cells. The driver circuit is also configured to receive, via the one or more supply connections, power from a secondary driver circuit supply path across one or more battery cells of the set of battery cells. Current flows through the secondary driver circuit supply path without reaching the error condition.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a method includes: operating a driver circuit in an idle mode in which portion of the driver circuit are deactivated, wherein the driver circuit is coupled to a first transistor and a second transistor coupled between a supply node and a first circuit node configured to be connected to a load, and operating the driver circuit in the idle mode comprises the driver circuit switching off the first transistor, switching on the second transistor; detecting a change in a voltage across the first transistor; and in response to the change in voltage being detected, activating the inactive portions of the driver circuit to switch on the first transistor and leave the idle mode.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a method includes: generating a gate voltage for a field-effect transistor in response to an input signal; generating a pulse signal with a pulse length that corresponds to the time that it takes until the gate voltage attains a specific level transition in response to a corresponding level transition in the input signal; and monitoring the pulse signal to detect whether the pulse length is outside a specific range.

Abstract: This disclosure describes circuits and techniques for determining inductance on an electrical line. In some examples, a method comprises charging a capacitor in time steps to a voltage level; counting a number of the time steps to the voltage level, wherein the number of the time steps defines a coarse measurement inductance of the electrical line; measuring a charging rate associated with charging the capacitor within a measurement window that is defined at the voltage level, wherein the charging rate associated with charging the capacitor within the measurement window defines a fine measurement of the inductance of the electrical line; and outputting an indication of the number of time steps and an indication of the charging rate associated with charging the capacitor within the measurement window.

Abstract: A power module package may comprise a first metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET), wherein the first MOSFET is configured to operate in a linear mode of operation when the first MOSFET is ON; a second MOSFET, wherein the second MOSFET is configured to operate in a non-linear mode of operation when the second MOSFET is ON, and wherein the first MOSFET and the second MOSFET are arranged in parallel; and a third MOSFET, wherein the third MOSFET is arranged to perform one or more sensing operations. The first MOSFET, the second MOSFET, and the third MOSFET may be arranged within a molding compound of the power module package.

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.