Abstract: A circuit for a smart semiconductor switch includes an electronic switch electrically coupled between an output node and a supply node. An overcurrent protective circuit is configured to generate an overcurrent signal in response to a load current flowing through the electronic switch exceeding a first overcurrent threshold, and to cause the electronic switch to be tripped. A control circuit is configured to switch the electronic switch on and off based on an input signal in a first mode, and to drive a load connected to the output node by repeatedly switching the electronic switch on and off in a second mode, and to prevent the electronic switch from being permanently tripped by the overcurrent protective circuit.

Abstract: An electronic fuse circuit includes an electronic switch with a load current path coupled between an output node and a supply node and that connects or disconnects the output node and the supply node in accordance with a drive signal. The circuit includes a control circuit to generate the drive signal based on an input signal. A monitoring circuit is included in the control circuit to receive a current sense signal representing the load current passing through the load current path and to determine a first protection signal based on the current sense signal and a wire parameter. The first protection signal is indicative of whether to disconnect the output node from supply node. The control circuit changes from normal mode to idle mode when the load current is below a given current threshold and another criterion is fulfilled.

Abstract: An integrated circuit may include a power transistor coupled between a supply pin and an output pin; a current sensing circuit configured to sense a load current passing through the power transistor and to provide a respective current sense signal; a first configuration pin; a current output circuit configured to provide a diagnosis current at a current output pin; a diagnosis pin for receiving a diagnosis request signal; and a control circuit configured to: select a characteristic curve representing a current versus time characteristic dependent on a external circuit connected to the first configuration pin; generate a drive signal for the power transistor dependent on the selected characteristic curve and the current sense signal; and control—dependent on a pulse pattern of the diagnosis request signal—the current output circuit to set the value of the diagnosis current such that it represents the load current or the selected characteristic curve.

Abstract: A driver circuit is provided. The driver circuit comprises a power transistor and a gate driver circuit arrangement. The driver circuit is integrated in a package. In addition, the driver circuit comprises a terminal for an external transistor. The external transistor and the power transistor are controlled by the gate driver circuit arrangement in a mutually corresponding manner.

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: 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: 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 a current sensing circuit coupled to the power transistor and configured to generate a current sense signal indicative of a load current passing through the power transistor. The integrated circuit further comprises a monitor circuit configured to receive the current sense signal and to provide a protection signal based on the current sense signal and a threshold value, wherein the monitor circuit includes a filter that is configured to receive a filter input signal that depends on the current sense signal. The filter has a transfer characteristic with two or more time constants.

Abstract: An embodiment electronic circuit includes an electronic switch comprising a load path, and a control circuit configured to drive the electronic switch. The control circuit is configured to operate in one of at least two operation modes. The at least two operation modes comprise a first operation mode and a second operation mode. The control circuit, in the second operation mode, is configured to perform a set of basic functions and, in the first operation mode, is configured to perform the set of basic functions and at least one additional function. The at least one additional function comprises generating a first protection signal based on a current-time-characteristic of a load current of the electronic switch and driving the electronic switch based on the first protection signal.

Abstract: An integrated circuit is described herein. In accordance with one embodiment the circuit includes a transistor coupled between a supply pin and an output pin, a current output circuit configured to provide a diagnosis current at an current output pin, a current sensing circuit coupled to the transistor and configured to generate a first current sense signal indicative of a load current passing through the transistor and a second current sense signal indicative of the load current. The current output circuit is configured to select, dependent on a control signal, one of the following as diagnosis current: the first current sense signal and the second current sense signal.

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: A circuit may include an electronic switch that has a load current path coupled between an output node and a supply node and that is configured to connect or disconnect the output node and the supply node in accordance with a drive signal. Further, the circuit includes a monitoring circuit that is configured to receive a current sense signal, which represents the load current passing through the load current path, and that is further configured to determine a protection signal based on the current sense signal, a state of the monitoring circuit, and at least one wire parameter. The wire parameter characterizes a wire that is—during operation—connected to the output node, and the protection signal is indicative of whether to disconnect the output node from supply node. Further, the circuit includes a protection circuit connected to the monitoring circuit.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a method includes operating a transistor device by a drive circuit in one of a first operating mode and a second operating mode based on an operating mode signal received by the drive circuit. Operating the transistor device in each of the first operating mode and the second operating mode includes switching on the transistor device based on a drive signal received by the drive circuit; monitoring at least one operating parameter of the transistor device; and switching off the transistor device independent of the drive signal when the at least one operating parameter reaches a respective predefined off-threshold. Switching on the transistor device in the second operating mode includes switching on the transistor with a second slew rate that is smaller than a first slew rate in the first operating mode.

Abstract: A method includes monitoring a load path voltage and an operating parameter of the transistor device; operating the transistor device in a normal mode when the operating parameter is below a threshold associated with the operating parameter, where operating the transistor device in the normal mode includes operating the transistor device in one of an on-state or an off-state based on a drive signal; and operating the transistor device in a fault mode upon detecting a fault based on comparing the operating parameter with the threshold. Operating the transistor device in the fault mode includes switching off the transistor device, operating the transistor device in the on-state includes adjusting the threshold in accordance with a first characteristic curve dependent on the load path voltage, and operating the transistor device in the off-state includes adjusting the threshold according to a second characteristic curve different from the first characteristic curve.

Abstract: A driver circuit is provided. The driver circuit comprises a power transistor and a gate driver circuit arrangement. The driver circuit is integrated in a package. In addition, the driver circuit comprises a terminal for an external transistor. The external transistor and the power transistor are controlled by the gate driver circuit arrangement in a mutually corresponding manner.

Abstract: An embodiment electronic circuit includes an electronic switch comprising a load path, and a control circuit configured to drive the electronic switch and configured to operate in one of a first operation mode and a test mode. The control circuit comprises a test mode input and is configured to operate in the test mode based on a test signal received at the test mode input. The control circuit in the first operation mode is configured to generate a first protection signal based on a current-time-characteristic of a load current of the electronic switch and drive the electronic switch based on the first protection signal.

Abstract: An electronic fuse circuit includes an electronic switch with a load current path coupled between an output node and a supply node and that connects or disconnects the output node and the supply node in accordance with a drive signal. The circuit includes a control circuit to generate the drive signal based on an input signal. A monitoring circuit is included in the control circuit to receive a current sense signal representing the load current passing through the load current path and to determine a first protection signal based on the current sense signal and a wire parameter. The first protection signal is indicative of whether to disconnect the output node from supply node. The control circuit changes from normal mode to idle mode when the load current is below a given current threshold and another criterion is fulfilled.

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 a current sensing circuit coupled to the power transistor and configured to generate a current sense signal indicative of a load current passing through the power transistor. The integrated circuit further comprises a monitor circuit configured to receive the current sense signal and to provide a protection signal based on the current sense signal and a threshold value, wherein the monitor circuit includes a filter that is configured to receive a filter input signal that depends on the current sense signal. The filter has a transfer characteristic with two or more time constants.

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: An integrated circuit may include a power transistor coupled between a supply pin and an output pin; a current sensing circuit configured to sense a load current passing through the power transistor and to provide a respective current sense signal; a first configuration pin; a current output circuit configured to provide a diagnosis current at a current output pin; a diagnosis pin for receiving a diagnosis request signal; and a control circuit configured to: select a characteristic curve representing a current versus time characteristic dependent on a external circuit connected to the first configuration pin; generate a drive signal for the power transistor dependent on the selected characteristic curve and the current sense signal; and control—dependent on a pulse pattern of the diagnosis request signal—the current output circuit to set the value of the diagnosis current such that it represents the load current or the selected characteristic curve.

Abstract: A circuit may include an electronic switch that has a load current path coupled between an output node and a supply node and that is configured to connect or disconnect the output node and the supply node in accordance with a drive signal. Further, the circuit includes a monitoring circuit that is configured to receive a current sense signal, which represents the load current passing through the load current path, and that is further configured to determine a protection signal based on the current sense signal, a state of the monitoring circuit, and at least one wire parameter. The wire parameter characterizes a wire that is—during operation—connected to the output node, and the protection signal is indicative of whether to disconnect the output node from supply node. Further, the circuit includes a protection circuit connected to the monitoring circuit.