Resistor Sensor Patents (Class 361/93.7)
  • Publication number: 20150002104
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for adjusting a load current during operation of a load which is connected to a supply line of a power supply system via load connections. An internal resistance of the power supply system effective on the load connections is determined and used for adjusting the load current. The basic idea of the present invention is based on the determination and monitoring of the internal resistance of the supplying power grid so as to early recognize potential risks and to initiate appropriate measures. From the determined internal resistance value, a statement can be made with regard to the quality of the power supply system, such as a building installation, from the main power distribution to the supply line in the supplying cable outlet to the load connections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventor: Winfried Moell
  • Publication number: 20140347776
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to a package module of a battery protection circuit, and the package module of the battery protection circuit according to the present invention comprises: a first internal connection terminal area and a second internal connection terminal area, which are respectively disposed at both edge parts thereof, and in which first and second internal connection terminals connected to a battery can provided with a bare cell are respectively disposed; an external connection terminal area, which is adjacent to the first internal connection terminal area, and in which a plurality of external connection terminals are disposed; and a protection circuit area comprising a device area in which a plurality of passive devices forming the battery protection circuit are disposed and a chip area, which is adjacent to the device area, and in which a protection IC and a dual FET chip forming the battery protection circuit are disposed, are disposed between the external connection terminal area and the
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: ITM SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD
    Inventors: Hyeok-Hwi Na, Young-Seok Kim, Sang-Hoon Ahn, Sung-Beum Park, Seung-Wook Park, Hyun-Mok Cho, Sun-Bok Park, Jae-Goo Park, Ho-Suk Hwang
  • Patent number: 8879227
    Abstract: An exemplary aspect of the present invention is a current limiting circuit including: an output transistor that controls a current flowing to a load from a power supply; a current sense transistor through which a current dependent on a current flowing through the output transistor flows; a sense resistor connected in series with the current sense transistor; a potential difference detection unit that detects a potential difference generated between both ends of the sense resistor; a constant current generation unit that supplies a constant current to the potential difference detection unit; and a control unit that controls a conduction state of the output transistor based on a control voltage generated based on the potential difference and the constant current, in which the sense resistor is disposed so as to surround the potential difference detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Akihiro Nakahara
  • Patent number: 8879226
    Abstract: A high side switch circuit includes a switch electrically connected between input and output terminals, a gate control unit, and an over-current sensor unit. The over-current sensor unit includes a resistive element and a comparator. The comparator senses an over-current if a voltage of the resistive element exceeds a threshold voltage. The comparator is adjusted in advance such that the detected voltage at the time of over-current exceeds the threshold voltage. Even if accuracy of resistance value of the resistive element is not high, accuracy of detecting over-current can be improved by adjusting the comparator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Esumi, Yuzo Mizushima, Daisaku Shugo
  • Patent number: 8854782
    Abstract: An overcurrent protection device includes a power input terminal, a power output terminal, a first signal terminal, a second signal terminal, a testing circuit, and a switch element. The power input terminal and the first signal terminal are connected to a power supply. The power output terminal and the second signal terminal are connected to a computer motherboard. If the first and second terminals are disconnected from each other when the computer motherboard works, the power supply stops working. The testing circuit includes a fixed resistor and a control chip parallel connected between the power input and output terminal. The control chip stores a predetermined voltage threshold, and detects voltage between the two terminals of the fixed resistor, and compares the measured voltage with the predetermined voltage threshold. The switch element disconnects the first and second signal terminals when the measured voltage is greater than the predetermined voltage threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Qi-Yan Luo, Song-Lin Tong, Peng Chen
  • Patent number: 8760095
    Abstract: To prevent demagnetization of a permanent magnet synchronous rotating machine, a rotating machine control device according to the present invention is a rotating machine control device comprising: a power converter having a switch part on each of a positive side and a negative side for each phase; and short circuit detection unit for detecting a short circuit of the switch part, wherein a command to turn on positive-side switches and negative-side switches of a plurality of phases of the switch part is issued in the case where the short circuit detection unit detects the short circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Iwaji, Daigo Kaneko, Kento Mochizuki, Takeshi Shinomiya, Daisuke Kori, Seikichi Masuda
  • Publication number: 20140146432
    Abstract: A surface mountable over-current protection device comprises one PTC material layer, first and second conductive layers, first and second electrodes, and an insulating layer. The PTC material layer comprises crystalline polymer and conductive filler dispersed therein. The first and second conductive layers are disposed on first and second planar surfaces of the PTC material layer, respectively. The first and second electrodes are electrically connected to the first and second conductive layers. The insulating layer is disposed between the first and the second electrodes for insulation. At the melting point of the crystalline polymer, the CTE of the crystalline polymer is greater than 100 times the CTE of the first or second conductive layer, and the first and/or second conductive layers has a thickness which is large enough to obtain a resistance jump value R3/Ri less than 1.4.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Inventors: DAVID SHAU CHEW WANG, WEN FENG LEE, EN TIEN YANG, CHUN TENG TSENG, YI AN SHA
  • Patent number: 8717032
    Abstract: A protection switching system in a power supply distribution system, comprises at least one protection switch (25) comprising a controllable semiconductor arranged to conduct current through the power supply line in a normal mode, a control unit (27) arranged to place the at least one protection switch in a test mode in which the current is reduced compared to the normal mode, registration means (28, 29) for registering a test mode value of at least one electrical characteristic in the power supply line that will be affected when the test mode is applied, a monitoring unit (30; 47) arranged to evaluate the at least one electrical characteristic and determine, based on the evaluation, whether or not an action should be taken. If a malfunction is detected an alarm is issued to indicate to service personnel that the protection switch should be replaced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (publ)
    Inventors: Johan Horman, Hans Kramer
  • Patent number: 8699195
    Abstract: Devices, such as mobile devices, may be exposed to short circuit and output overload events. To protect against such events, mobile devices typically include current limit circuits. Some current limit circuits may involve user programmable function. User programmable function may need accurate current limit detectors. Various embodiments of the present invention include devices and methods for detecting one or more programmed current limits. Some embodiments allow for a user application to select among parallel or serial configurations of current detection circuitry. Each such configuration may include multiple resistive devices of different resistive values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Advanced Analogic Technologies Incorporated
    Inventor: John So
  • Patent number: 8693155
    Abstract: A constant voltage power supply circuit includes an output voltage dependent over-current protection circuit unit and a drooping over-current protection circuit unit. The output voltage dependent over-current protection circuit unit reduces, when an output current which is output from an output terminal of an output control transistor exceeds a first set value which is determined in advance, the output current from the first set value in a manner dependent on a reduction of an output voltage which is output from the output terminal. The drooping over-current protection circuit unit detects, with an external resistor, the output current which is output from the output terminal of the output control transistor, and reduces, when the detected output current exceeds a second set value which is determined in advance and which has a lower value than the first set value, the output voltage while maintaining the output current at the second set value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventor: Keizou Mizui
  • Patent number: 8687336
    Abstract: An over-current protection device is disposed on a circuit board and configured to protect a battery. The over-current protection device includes a resistive device, at least one insulation layer and a weld electrode layer. The resistive device exhibits positive temperature coefficient behavior. The insulation layer has a thickness of at least 0.03 mm. The weld electrode layer is configured to weld a strip interconnect member to electrically coupled to the battery, and has a thickness of at least 0.03 mm. The insulation layer and the resistive device are disposed between the weld electrode layer and the circuit board. The circuit board, the resistive device and the weld electrode layer are electrically coupled in series. The association of the resistive device and the weld electrode layer has a thermal mass capable of withstanding welding the strip interconnect member without significant damage to the over-current protection device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Polytronics Technology Corp.
    Inventors: David Shau Chew Wang, Fu Hua Chu, Chun Teng Tseng
  • Patent number: 8675324
    Abstract: Provided is a short-circuit isolator capable of earlier detection of recovery from short circuit of a disconnected line and reconnecting the line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Nohmi Bosai Ltd.
    Inventor: Takahiro Noguchi
  • Patent number: 8643992
    Abstract: An overcurrent protection apparatus for a load circuit can detect an overcurrent with a high accuracy without being influenced by a deviation ±?Ron of the on-resistance of a semiconductor element (T1). Supposing that a ratio (R3/R1) between a resistor R3 and a resistor R1 is an amplification factor m, a determination voltage generated by resistors R4, R5 is V4 and the average value of the on-resistance of a MOSFET (T1) is Ron, the overcurrent protection apparatus for a load circuit controls either a current I3 flowing through the resistor R3 or a current IR5 flowing through the resister R5 so that the output signal of a compactor CMP1 is inverted when a current having a value of (V4/m/Ron) flows into the MOSFET (T1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Shunzou Ohshima
  • Patent number: 8643993
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a short-circuit detection circuit and a short-circuit detection method. The short-circuit detection circuit detects whether an output node is short-circuited to a first predetermined level. A first switch circuit which is controlled by a control signal is coupled between the output node and a second predetermined level. The short-circuit detection circuit includes: a determination circuit, which is coupled between the output node and the second predetermined level, wherein when the determination circuit is enabled, it generates a determination signal according to whether the output node is short-circuited to the first predetermined level; and a second switch circuit, which generates a short-circuit detection signal according to the determination signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corporation, R.O.C.
    Inventors: Kuo-Chen Tsai, Wei-Lun Hsieh, Tung-Han Tsai, Ming-Jun Hsiao
  • Publication number: 20140029149
    Abstract: Aspects of the innovations herein relate to surge protection devices. Such surge protection devices may have an arrester. The arrester may produce an equalization between different potentials and arrest a surge current during use. A sensor may be provided on the arrester, said sensor generating an electric switch-off signal. A switching device may receive the switch-off signal and separate the arrester from an electric circuit, the switching device and arrester being arranged in a physically separate manner from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: Phoenix Contact GMBH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Joachim Schimanski, Martin Wetter, Gerhard Wolff
  • Patent number: 8619401
    Abstract: A current source regulator for controlling an output device (Mp) of current source, the output device (Mp) providing an output current (Isrc) to a load. The current source regulator comprises a first feedback loop (1) and second feedback loop (2). The first feedback loop (1) includes a first sensing path to provide a first sensing signal (Is1) for comparison with a first reference to generate a first control signal. The second feedback loop (2) comprises a second sensing path to provide a second sensing signal (Is3, Is3?) for comparison with a second reference (Ib5) to generate a charging current signal (Icharge). The charging current signal (Icharge) is applied to the control signal during a transient state of the current source regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: AMS AG
    Inventor: Pramod Singnurkar
  • Patent number: 8614872
    Abstract: A switching power source apparatus includes a high-side MOSFET 11, a ramp signal generator 18 to generate a ramp signal, an amplitude signal generator 2 to generate an amplitude signal Comp corresponding to an amplitude of the ramp signal, a superposing circuit 3 to generate a superposed signal by superposing a second ramp signal on a first reference voltage, a first feedback controller 1 to control the ON timing and ON width of the high-side MOSFET, an overcurrent detector to detect if a current of an output load is an overcurrent, and an OFF timer 26 to determine a period during which the high-side MOSFET 11 is forcibly turned off and generate a forcible OFF signal. If an overcurrent is detected, the controller 1 turns off the high-side MOSFET, and according to the forcible OFF signal, forcibly turns off the high-side MOSFET 11 for the determined period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Sanken Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaru Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8576525
    Abstract: A serial surge suppression and overload protection optimization device has an input terminal, an output terminal and multiple surge suppression units. The surge suppression units are serially connected between the input terminal and the output terminal. Each surge suppression unit has two parallel inductors and multiple surge absorbing elements. Each surge absorbing element is connected to an output end of one of the parallel inductors and has a fuse serially connected therewith. When surge energy is excessively large, the fuse melts to separate the surge absorbing element from a main power loop without causing a short circuit within the main power loop due to the meltdown of the fuse. The optimization device is used with an automatic overload protection unit to normally supply power to equipment connected to the output terminal thereof and ensure electrical safety protection with a bypass circuit design thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Anmax Lightning Technology Corp
    Inventor: Chih-Hua Wang
  • Patent number: 8547079
    Abstract: Provided is a voltage regulator capable of enabling overcurrent protection in a state in which an output current is large even if an input/output voltage difference is small, without waiting until the output voltage decreases. A sense current that a sense transistor flows is detected by a differential amplifier circuit, and hence, in the state in which the input/output voltage difference is small and the output current is large, the overcurrent protection can be enabled even when the output voltage does not decrease. Further, a good fold-back characteristic can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Heng Socheat
  • Patent number: 8547676
    Abstract: Provided are an overcurrent protection device and an overcurrent protection system which can provide time differences among the timings for executing the retry operations among a plurality of overcurrent protection devices connected to a common power supply. When a battery voltage (VBA) becomes a value equal to or lower than a threshold voltage after an FET (Q1) of an IC circuit (51-1) is turned on, all FETs (Q1) of the respective IC circuits are turned off, and a time until the battery voltage (VBA) reduces to a value lower than a threshold voltage after the turning-on of the FET (Q1) is clocked. When the time is smaller than 400 ?sec, the count value N is incremented. Further, turning-on of the FETs (Q1) is repeated after the lapse of the standby time (Tp) set randomly. When the count value N reaches 7, the FET (Q1) of the IC circuit 51-1 is held in the turned-off state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Kazumi Nagasawa, Kaoru Kurita, Masashi Nakayama, Ichiro Toyama, Mitsuaki Maeda, Shigemi Ishima
  • Patent number: 8531810
    Abstract: An over-current protection circuit for preventing a function module from over-current, the function module obtains power from a power source via an input port. The over-current protection circuit includes a path switch, a current detection circuit, a conductor switch, a first control module, and a second control module. The current detection circuit and the path switch form a loop with the input port and the function module. The current detection circuit detects a value of a current of the loop, and produces a first control signal when detecting the current of the loop is equal to or greater than a predetermined current value. The first control module turns off the conductor switch when receiving the first control signal. The second control module turns off the path switch when the conductor switch is turned off, thereby cutting off the loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignees: Fu Tai Hua Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ren-Wen Huang, Qiang You, Tsung-Jen Chuang, Shih-Fang Wong
  • Publication number: 20130215547
    Abstract: An over-current protection device comprises a resistance material with positive or negative temperature coefficient and an upper surface and a lower surface; a first electrode layer having a first groove, disposed on the upper surface; a first surface mount pad disposed on the upper surface; a second electrode layer disposed on the lower surface, electrically connecting to the first surface mount pad; a second surface mount pad disposed on the lower surface, electrically connecting to the first electrode layer; a second groove electrically separating the fist surface mount pad from the first electrode layer; and a third groove electrically separating the second electrode layer from the second surface mount pad. The first groove divides the first electrode layer into two connected regions. The first and second surface mount pads are separated from each other and one end of the first groove connects to the second groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: POLYTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CORP.
    Inventor: POLYTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CORP.
  • Patent number: 8493016
    Abstract: A semiconductor circuit device includes a semiconductor circuit including a switching element, a temperature monitoring unit, and a control unit. The temperature monitoring unit detects or estimates a temperature of a component connected to an inside or an outside of the semiconductor circuit. Here, the temperature of the component changes in accordance with a frequency of a current flowing through the component, and the frequency of the current flowing through the component changes in accordance with a switching frequency of the switching element. The control unit adjusts the switching frequency of the switching element such that the temperature of the component is equal to a target temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Noboru Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 8488289
    Abstract: An intelligent power switch (IPS) circuit providing current protection for a power switch, a gate terminal of the power switch being controlled by a first control signal generated by a gate driver. The IPS circuit includes a first circuit to measure a current in the power switch, determine a first difference between a first voltage and a first reference voltage, and reduce the first control signal if the first difference exceeds a first predetermined limit; and a second circuit to measure the current in the power switch and determine a second difference between the first voltage and a second reference voltage, wherein if the second difference exceeds a second predetermined limit the first control signal is set to turn OFF the power switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventor: Vincent Thiery
  • Publication number: 20130176654
    Abstract: An over-current protection device is disposed on a circuit board and configured to protect a battery. The over-current protection device includes a resistive device, at least one insulation layer and a weld electrode layer. The resistive device exhibits positive temperature coefficient behavior. The insulation layer has a thickness of at least 0.03 mm. The weld electrode layer is configured to weld a strip interconnect member to electrically coupled to the battery, and has a thickness of at least 0.03 mm. The insulation layer and the resistive device are disposed between the weld electrode layer and the circuit board. The circuit board, the resistive device and the weld electrode layer are electrically coupled in series. The association of the resistive device and the weld electrode layer has a thermal mass capable of withstanding welding the strip interconnect member without significant damage to the over-current protection device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: POLYTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CORP.
    Inventors: David Shau Chew WANG, Fu Hua CHU, Chun Teng TSENG
  • Patent number: 8461956
    Abstract: An over-current protection device includes a first conductive member, a second conductive member, a resistive device and a temperature sensing switch. The first conductive member includes a first electrode foil and a second electrode foil those are formed on a same plane. The resistive device is laminated between the first conductive member and the second conductive member and exhibits positive temperature coefficient or negative temperature coefficient behavior. The temperature sensing switch can switch the first electrode foil and the second electrode foil between electrically conductive status and current-restriction status, e.g., open circuit, according to temperature variation. The threshold temperature of the temperature sensing switch is lower than the trip temperature of the resistive device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Polytronics Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Chun Teng Tseng, David Shau Chew Wang
  • Patent number: 8446700
    Abstract: Disclosed is an overcurrent protection circuit for use in a dimmer circuit having a switching device for controlling power delivered to a load. The overcurrent protection circuit comprises means for sensing a load current passing through the load and means for comparing the sensed load current with a threshold, wherein the threshold is a dynamic current threshold. Also disclosed is a dimmer circuit comprising the overcurrent protection circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Clipsal Australia Pty Ltd
    Inventor: James Robert Vanderzon
  • Patent number: 8441767
    Abstract: An overcurrent protection circuit includes a load driver for driving a load, a controller for turning ON and OFF the load driver, a current sensor for measuring a load current flowing through the load, and an add/subtract circuit for performing both an addition operation and a subtraction operation on a previous calculation result or for performing only the subtraction operation on the previous calculation result so as to produce a present calculation result. The addition operation uses an added value depending on the presently measured current. The subtraction operation uses a subtracted value depending on the presently measured current. The controller turns OFF the load driver, when the present calculation result of the add/subtract circuit exceeds a predetermined determination value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Anden Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeyoshi Hisada, Nobutomo Takagi, Shigekazu Sugimoto, Fukuo Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 8437111
    Abstract: A current limiter in one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure has a protection element that protects a current limiting element from excessive power dissipation. The protection element senses a parameter that is indicative of an amount of power being dissipated by the current limiting element. The protection element controls the current limiting element based on the sensed parameter such that power dissipation for the current limiting element is reduced to a safe level during a fault condition thereby protecting the current limiting element from damage during the fault condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: ADTRAN, Inc.
    Inventors: Jared D. Cress, Daniel M. Joffe
  • Patent number: 8432113
    Abstract: A brushless fan motor control circuit assembly consists of a high-frequency filter circuit, a rectifier circuit, a power factor enhancing circuit, a current-limit and voltage regulation circuit and a brushless fan motor driving circuit. By means of the high-frequency filter circuit to suppress high frequency noises, the power factor enhancing circuit to enhance the power factor and to save power consumption, the current-limit and voltage regulation circuit to limit the current and to achieve overload protection, the brushless fan motor control circuit assembly controls the operation of a motor of an electric accurately and safely, avoiding fan vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Inventor: Hsien-Meng Lee
  • Patent number: 8427804
    Abstract: A power amplifier for driving a load connected to an output terminal having an output transistor connected in parallel with a corresponding current detection path between the output terminal and a power supply. The detection path includes a switching device and a resistor connected in series, the switching device is turned on only during an on-state period of the corresponding output transistor, and the presence or absence of over-current generation is detected at the output transistors on the basis of a sensing signal obtained from a point connecting the switching device and the resistor. When over-current is detected, the operation of the output transistors is stopped to protect the amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignees: Sanyo Semiconductor Co., Ltd., Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20130094116
    Abstract: A PTC conductive composite material and the overcurrent protection device made of the material are disclosed. The PTC conductive composite material includes: (a) A matrix of crystalline polymer material at least, occupies 20%-70% of the volume fraction of the PTC conductive composite material, (b) One kind of conductive filler occupies 30%-80% of the volume fraction of the material. The solid solution conductive filler is uniformly dispersed in the polymer material, whose average particle size ranges from 0.1 ?m to 10 ?m, and the volume resistivity is no more than 300 ??·cm. The overcurrent protection device prepared by using the PTC conductive composite material as described above includes two metal foils, which are made into a sandwich, separated by a layer of the PTC conductive composite material. And the advantages of the overcurrent protection device of the invention are low resistance, good reproducibility of resistance and well PTC intensity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Inventors: Quan-quan Yang, Zhengping Liu, Yutang Liu, Daohua Gao, Jun Wang, Congwu Li
  • Publication number: 20130088803
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a power supply apparatus including: a converting unit for converting an applied voltage into a predetermined level; a switching unit opened or closed to control current flowing in the converting unit; a detecting unit for detecting occurrence of overcurrent when a voltage applied to the switching unit is higher than a preset reference voltage; and a control unit for performing a protection operation when the overcurrent is detected more than a predetermined number of times within a predetermined time from when the overcurrent is detected and can prevent malfunction due to noises.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Inventors: Jung Hyun Kim, Jung Chul Gong
  • Publication number: 20130083442
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a sense resistor that converts a sense current flowing through a sense terminal of a switching element to a voltage (sense voltage), and an overcurrent protection circuit that performs a protection operation for the switching element when the sense voltage exceeds a threshold. The overcurrent protection circuit can switch the threshold to a first reference voltage, or to a second reference voltage which is lower than the first reference voltage. The overcurrent protection circuit sets the threshold to the second reference voltage at the time of the switching element being in a steady state, and sets the threshold to the first reference voltage during a mirror period immediately after turning-on of the switching element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuaki HIYAMA
  • Patent number: 8390974
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods and corresponding systems to detect and prevent and/or eliminate overload conditions for a transistor. According to an embodiment, a method includes providing an input signal to a base terminal of a transistor for a first amount of time, determining if an overload condition exists at the transistor, disabling the transistor for a second amount of time when the overload condition exists at the transistor, and providing the communication signal to the base terminal upon expiration of the second amount of time. Additional overload conditions can be checked upon expiration of the second amount of time as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
    Inventor: Thomas Loewe
  • Patent number: 8385037
    Abstract: A protective switching device is disclosed for monitoring the electrical current flow to an electrical user, including a switching functionality, an excess current triggering functionality and a short circuit triggering functionality. In at least one embodiment, the protective switching device includes a first microcontroller with a first input signal filter, wherein the first microcontroller is configured for monitoring the excess current triggering functionality and wherein a second microcontroller is provided with a second input signal filter that is configured for monitoring the short circuit triggering functionality, wherein the two input signal filters are designed differently, and wherein the switching functionality is provided in one of the two microcontrollers. A method is further disclosed for monitoring the electrical current flow to an electrical user by way of a protective switching device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Dirk Graupner, Reinhard Schmid
  • Patent number: 8379360
    Abstract: An overcurrent protection circuit is provided. An overcurrent detecting element is connected between a power source and a load and detects an overcurrent flowing through the load. A main switch element is connected between the load and the overcurrent detecting element and controls flow of current to the load according to a voltage applied between a control end and an input end of the main switch element. The main switch element stops the flow of current to the load when a predetermined time is elapsed after the overcurrent detecting element detects the overcurrent flowing through the load. A first switch element has an output end connected to the control end of the main switch element. A current flows to the first switch when the overcurrent detecting element detects the overcurrent flowing through the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited
    Inventor: Kazuaki Murota
  • Patent number: 8379358
    Abstract: A motor control circuit 1 for controlling driving of a plurality of motors is provided with a plurality of motor driver circuits 7 and 8 for controlling driving of the plurality of motors 3 and 4, a plurality of excess current detection circuits 39 and 40 each for detecting an excess current flowing through corresponding one of the plurality of motors 3 and 4 to determine which motor driver circuit among the plurality of motor driver circuits 7 and 7 caused the excess current. The motor control circuit further includes a nonvolatile memory 46 configured to receive detection results from the plurality of excess current detection circuits 39 and 40 and store information on which motor driver circuit among the plurality of motor driver circuits 7 and 8 caused the excess current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC.
    Inventors: Ryoichi Takahashi, Hiroshi Inoue, Masatoshi Komada
  • Patent number: 8369114
    Abstract: A power supply employs an error detecting circuit to output an error signal when detecting an overvoltage or overcurrent occurred in one of output powers and employs a latch trigger circuit to cause the power supply to enter a latch mode when receiving the error signal. The power supply will keep the latch mode when entering the latch mode until the AC power VAC is removed. In addition, the power supply employs the error detecting circuit to provide the accurate safety threshold value by the constant current source with temperature compensation function and stable constant current output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Top Victory Investments Ltd.
    Inventors: Li-Wei Lin, Kuo-Liang Huang, Chun-Tso Yi
  • Patent number: 8363372
    Abstract: Provided is a protection circuit that is connected between a power supply terminal and an output terminal, and turns off an output transistor when an abnormality occurs in a system, the output transistor outputting a current to a load connected to the output terminal, the protection circuit including: a first discharge unit that is connected between a gate electrode of the output transistor and the power supply terminal, and discharges an electric charge of the gate electrode until a potential of the gate electrode becomes equal to a power supply potential, when an abnormality occurs in the system, and a second discharge unit that is connected between the gate electrode and a source electrode of the output transistor, and discharges the electric charge of the gate electrode until the potential of the gate electrode becomes equal to an output potential, when an abnormality occurs in the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Fukuhara, Tsuyoshi Mitsuda
  • Publication number: 20130021703
    Abstract: An over-current protection device includes a first conductive member, a second conductive member, a resistive device and a temperature sensing switch. The first conductive member includes a first electrode foil and a second electrode foil those are formed on a same plane. The resistive device is laminated between the first conductive member and the second conductive member and exhibits positive temperature coefficient or negative temperature coefficient behavior. The temperature sensing switch can switch the first electrode foil and the second electrode foil between electrically conductive status and current-restriction status, e.g., open circuit, according to temperature variation. The threshold temperature of the temperature sensing switch is lower than the trip temperature of the resistive device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: POLYTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CORP.
    Inventors: David Shau Chew Wang, Chun Teng Tseng
  • Publication number: 20120320478
    Abstract: An overcurrent protection circuit for a high side solenoid switch includes a primary bias circuit and a secondary bias circuit. The secondary bias circuit is operable to alter a source to gate bias voltage of the high side solenoid switch during an overcurrent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Inventor: James A. Gosse
  • Patent number: 8331072
    Abstract: A driver circuit uses a feedback loop having a programmable timer and timer logic to adjust a slew rate delay period used to accommodate slewing current when charging or discharging a load capacitor, and to increase the current limit during the slew rate delay period by selecting a larger input current reference value. Increasing the current limit provides for a faster settling time. The value of each input current reference value can be programmed. The programmable timer and the timer logic can be configured to coordinate the slew rate delay period and the selected input current reference value. The slew rate delay period can be adjusted based on which input current reference value is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Huibo Liu, David Castaneda, Yuanfang Li
  • Publication number: 20120293902
    Abstract: An over-current protection circuit for preventing a function module from over-current, the function module obtains power from a power source via an input port. The over-current protection circuit includes a path switch, a current detection circuit, a conductor switch, a first control module, and a second control module. The current detection circuit and the path switch form a loop with the input port and the function module. The current detection circuit detects a value of a current of the loop, and produces a first control signal when detecting the current of the loop is equal to or greater than a predetermined current value. The first control module turns off the conductor switch when receiving the first control signal. The second control module turns off the path switch when the conductor switch is turned off, thereby cutting off the loop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicants: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD., FU TAI HUA INDUSTRY (SHENZHEN) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: REN-WEN HUANG, QIANG YOU, TSUNG-JEN CHUANG, SHIH-FANG WONG
  • Patent number: 8315028
    Abstract: An overcurrent protection apparatus which, when a layer short or a dead short occurs in a load circuit, interrupts the circuit in accordance with respective situations, whereby the load circuit is protected is provided. The apparatus includes a first overcurrent detecting section for detecting a counter electromotive force generated in a power supply wiring, and a second overcurrent detecting section, disposed in each of the plural load circuits, for detecting that a load current ID becomes an overcurrent. The apparatus includes a delaying section for outputting a delay signal at a first delay time when an overcurrent is detected by the second overcurrent detecting section, and for outputting the delay signal at a second delay time which is shorter than the first delay time when an overcurrent is detected by both of the first overcurrent detecting section and the second overcurrent detecting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Shunzou Ohshima
  • Patent number: 8315027
    Abstract: A first overcurrent detecting circuit outputs a first time-up signal when a time period, in which an electric current flowing into the wire harness is greater than the first threshold, reaches a first duration time, which corresponds to a first threshold. A second overcurrent detecting circuit outputs a second time-up signal when a time period, in which an electric current flowing into the wire harness is greater than the second threshold, reaches a second duration time, which corresponds to a second threshold. The second threshold is less than the first threshold. The second duration time is longer than the first duration time. A determination circuit determines that an overcurrent flows into the wire harness and cause a control circuit to deactivate the switching element when inputting at least one of the first and second time-up signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Anden Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigekazu Sugimoto, Kazunori Ozawa, Koichi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8310797
    Abstract: A short circuit protection circuit for a power supply device includes a driving transistor, for controlling to output an input voltage to a load according to a first control voltage; a shutdown transistor, coupled with the driving transistor, for controlling a level of the first control voltage according to a second control voltage; and an energy storage module, coupled with the shutdown transistor, for storing energy of the input voltage, to output a specific voltage as the second control voltage in a specific interval after short-circuit occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Anpec Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Hung-Ta Hsu, Chieh-Wen Cheng
  • Publication number: 20120281327
    Abstract: A self-adaptive surge-proof circuit is used in a switching power supply device. The switching power supply device includes an AC input, a filter-rectifier circuit connected to the AC input, and a power converter circuit connected to the filter-rectifier circuit. The self-adaptive surge-proof circuit includes a surge suppression unit connected between the filter-rectifier circuit and the power converter circuit, a switching unit connected in parallel with the surge suppression unit for adjusting an input impedance of the switching power supply device, a sampling unit connected to the filter-rectifier circuit for collecting a surge signal from the filter-rectifier circuit, and a drive-controlling circuit connected to the sampling unit for generating a driving signal for controlling on and off of the switching unit according to the surge signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Inventors: Weiyin Duan, Lixiong Liu
  • Patent number: 8295022
    Abstract: An overstress protection apparatus includes a switch detector. The switch is arranged in a grounding path of a load system. The detector detects the current, voltage or temperature of the load system to determine a signal for controlling the switch, to thereby protect the load system working in normal conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Richtek Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Chien-Fu Tang, Isaac Y Chen, Chi-Hua Lin
  • Patent number: 8295021
    Abstract: To provide an overcurrent protection apparatus for a load circuit which can detect an overcurrent accurately without being influenced by the offset voltage Voff of an amplifier (AMP1). When the amplifier (AMP1) has the offset voltage Voff which is a positive value (Voff>0), a current obtained by subtracting a current Ia from a current I1 flowing through a resistor R1 by conducting a current source IA is flown into a resistor R3. In contrast, when the amplifier (AMP1) has the offset voltage Voff which is a negative value (Voff<0), a voltage drop is generated at a resistor R2 by conducting a current source IB to thereby control so that a voltage Vds becomes same as the voltage generated at the resistor R1. Thus, since a voltage V3 generated at the resistor R3 becomes a voltage from which the influence of the offset voltage Voff is eliminated, it is possible to determine an overcurrent accurately by eliminating the influence of the offset voltage Voff.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Shunzou Ohshima