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 for operating an electronic switch is described hereinafter. According to one exemplary embodiment, the method (for an electronic switch in the switched on state) comprises detecting whether there is an undervoltage condition at a supply voltage node and providing an undervoltage signal which indicates an undervoltage condition. The method further comprises switching off the electronic switch if the undervoltage signal indicates an undervoltage condition and switching (back) on the electronic switch if the undervoltage signal no longer indicates an undervoltage condition. If the undervoltage signal indicates an undervoltage condition during a switch-on process of the electronic switch, the electronic switch is switched off again and switching back on is prevented for a defined period of time, irrespective of the undervoltage signal. Moreover, a corresponding circuit is described.

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: A circuit includes a monitor circuit. The monitor circuit includes a nonlinear functional unit configured to receive a current sense signal and to generate a power signal representing the power of the current sense signal. The circuit further includes a first filter configured to receive the power signal and to generate a first filtered signal and a second filter configured to receive an input signal that depends on the current sense signal and to generate a second filtered signal. A comparator circuit is configured to receive the first filtered signal and the second filtered signal and to compare the first filtered signal with a first threshold value and the second filtered signal with a second threshold value. The protection signal is indicative of whether the first filtered signal exceeds the first threshold value or the second filtered signal exceeds the second threshold value.

Abstract: In some examples, a device includes a control circuit configured to deliver driving signals to a switch. The device also includes a testing circuit configured to cause the control circuit to toggle the switch at a first instance and determine a parameter magnitude at the switch at a second instance after toggling the switch at the first instance by at least determining a voltage magnitude at the switch at the second instance. The testing circuit is also configured to cause the control circuit to toggle the switch after the second instance and determine a parameter magnitude at the switch at a third instance after toggling the switch after the second instance. The testing circuit is further configured to generate an output based on the determined parameter magnitudes at the switch at the second and third instances.

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 for operating an electronic switch is described hereinafter. According to one exemplary embodiment, the method (for an electronic switch in the switched on state) comprises detecting whether there is an undervoltage condition at a supply voltage node and providing an undervoltage signal which indicates an undervoltage condition. The method further comprises switching off the electronic switch if the undervoltage signal indicates an undervoltage condition and switching (back) on the electronic switch if the undervoltage signal no longer indicates an undervoltage condition. If the undervoltage signal indicates an undervoltage condition during a switch-on process of the electronic switch, the electronic switch is switched off again and switching back on is prevented for a defined period of time, irrespective of the undervoltage signal. Moreover, a corresponding circuit is described.

Abstract: A circuit includes a monitor circuit. The monitor circuit includes a nonlinear functional unit configured to receive a current sense signal and to generate a power signal representing the power of the current sense signal. The circuit further includes a first filter configured to receive the power signal and to generate a first filtered signal and a second filter configured to receive an input signal that depends on the current sense signal and to generate a second filtered signal. A comparator circuit is configured to receive the first filtered signal and the second filtered signal and to compare the first filtered signal with a first threshold value and the second filtered signal with a second threshold value. The protection signal is indicative of whether the first filtered signal exceeds the first threshold value or the second filtered signal exceeds the second threshold value.

Abstract: Voltage supply circuitry includes a high-side pin and a low-side pin configured to couple to a storage element and an output pin. The voltage supply further includes a high-side switching element configured to electrically couple the positive supply pin and the low-side pin based on a high-side control signal and a low-side switching element configured to electrically couple the reference supply pin and the low-side pin based on a low-side control signal. The voltage supply further including driver circuitry configured to generate the high-side control signal and the low-side control signal for operating in a charge pump mode when the storage element is arranged in a charge pump configuration with the voltage supply circuitry and to generate the high-side control signal and the low-side control signal for operating in a boost converter mode when the storage element is arranged in a boost converter configuration with the voltage supply circuitry.

Abstract: In some examples, a device includes at least one input node configured to receive a signal indicating a current through a conductor to a load. The device also includes circuitry configured to determine a first magnitude of the received signal in a first frequency range by applying a first bandpass filter to the received signal. The circuitry is also configured to determine a second magnitude of the received signal in a second frequency range by applying a second bandpass filter to the received signal. The processing circuitry is further configured to determine that an electric arc has occurred on the conductor based on the first magnitude and the second magnitude.

Abstract: Current measurement device and methods are provided. An output signal is provided based on a voltage across a resistive element. A correction circuit is configured to estimate an indication of a temperature change of the resistive element based on the voltage across the resistive element and to correct the output of the current measurement device based on the indication of the temperature change and a measured temperature.

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: Voltage supply circuitry includes a high-side pin and a low-side pin configured to couple to a storage element and an output pin. The voltage supply further includes a high-side switching element configured to electrically couple the positive supply pin and the low-side pin based on a high-side control signal and a low-side switching element configured to electrically couple the reference supply pin and the low-side pin based on a low-side control signal. The voltage supply further including driver circuitry configured to generate the high-side control signal and the low-side control signal for operating in a charge pump mode when the storage element is arranged in a charge pump configuration with the voltage supply circuitry and to generate the high-side control signal and the low-side control signal for operating in a boost converter mode when the storage element is arranged in a boost converter configuration with the voltage supply circuitry.

Abstract: In some examples, a device includes at least one input node configured to receive a signal indicating a current through a conductor to a load. The device also includes circuitry configured to determine a first magnitude of the received signal in a first frequency range by applying a first bandpass filter to the received signal. The circuitry is also configured to determine a second magnitude of the received signal in a second frequency range by applying a second bandpass filter to the received signal. The processing circuitry is further configured to determine that an electric arc has occurred on the conductor based on the first magnitude and the second magnitude.

Abstract: Methods and devices are discussed relating to testing of MOS switch transistors. For example, at least two different test measurements may be performed, and a fault state may be determined based on the at least two test measurements.

Abstract: Current measurement device and methods are provided. An output signal is provided based on a voltage across a resistive element. A correction circuit is configured to estimate an indication of a temperature change of the resistive element based on the voltage across the resistive element and to correct the output of the current measurement device based on the indication of the temperature change and a measured temperature.

Abstract: A line protection device includes terminals to connect the line protection device in series with an electric line. A current sensor of the line protection device senses a value of electric current through the electric line. A digital filter circuit of the line protection device performs digital filtering of the value of electric current. Depending on the digitally filtered value of the electric current, a switch control circuit of the line protection device controls a switch to interrupt flow of the electric current through the line.

Abstract: A line protection device includes a current sensor, a digital filter circuit, a switch control circuit, and a non-volatile memory circuit. The current sensor is adapted to a sense a value of electric current through the electric line. The digital filter circuit is adapted to perform digital filtering of the value of electric current. The switch control circuit is adapted to control a switch to interrupt flow of the electric current through the electric line depending on the digitally filtered value of the electric current. The non-volatile memory circuit is adapted to store a state of the digital filter circuit.