Abstract: A fast-acting power protection system and a related method of power protection are disclosed. The fast-acting power protection system includes a current limiting block capable of reducing or blocking an unwanted current or voltage surge at an input terminal of the fast-acting power protection system. The fast-acting power protection system can include an NMOS-based power switch unit, a current-limiting block control unit, and an NMOS-based active Zener clamp, which may be separated or combined on hybrid substrates of a single semiconductor package for improved design and manufacturing scalability, cost efficiency, and reliability. Depending on design preferences, the NMOS-based active Zener clamp may be integrated into the current-limiting block control unit or remain separate. The fast-acting power protection system protects an electrical device connected to an output terminal of the fast-acting power protection system from an unwanted voltage surge by rapidly clamping an output voltage to a clamp voltage.

Abstract: A novel fuse device incorporates electrically-conductive metal-filled vias that vertically connect frontside metal pads with backside metal pads through an electrically-insulated base substrate. The vias are initially created by drilling through the base substrate and then completed by filling the drilled vias with an electrically highly-conductive metallic substance. The vertical electrical connection between the frontside metal pads and the backside metal pads, established by the vias in the fuse structure, enables packageless integration of the novel fuse device to an electronic circuit by eliminating the structural need for wire bond pads and conventional leadframe or cavity packages. Preferably, each frontside metal pad of the novel fuse device is connected to an electrical terminal of the electronic circuit requiring fuse-based power protection, and each backside metal pad is attached to a printed circuit board (PCB) containing the electronic circuit for seamless direct mounting of the fuse structure.

Abstract: A fast-acting power protection system and a related method of power protection are disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, the fast-acting power protection system includes a current limiting block capable of reducing or shutting down an unwanted current or voltage surge at an input terminal of the fast-acting power protection system. The fast-acting power protection system also integrates an output voltage clamp and the current limiting block in one piece of monolithic semiconductor material, wherein the output voltage clamp protects an electrical device connected to an output terminal of the fast-acting power protection system from an unwanted voltage surge by rapidly clamping an output voltage to a clamp voltage. Furthermore, the fast-acting power protection system also protects from a reverse polarity input voltage and dielectrically isolates a MOSFET for reverse polarity protection from other current-limiting MOSFET's inside the current limiting block.