Overvoltage protection circuit on an electrical assembly

The novel overvoltage protection circuit using a bipolar transistor and Zener diode for vehicles efficiently addresses the limitations of existing methods by providing fast and cost-effective protection against overvoltage and high initial currents, enhancing component availability and reducing development costs.

DE102024134635A1Pending Publication Date: 2026-05-28STILL GMBH
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Patent Information

Application Number
DE102024134635
Authority / Receiving Office
DE · DE
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2024-11-25
Publication Date
2026-05-28

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing methods for overvoltage protection in electrical systems, such as those in vehicles, are either expensive due to component design for maximum expected transient overvoltage or require complex and costly circuitry for rapid shutdown, and both methods are limited by component availability and cost.

Method used

A novel overvoltage protection circuit using a bipolar transistor and a threshold element, such as a Zener diode, to detect and respond to overvoltage by disconnecting the electrical assembly from the supply, combined with an inrush current limiting circuit to protect against both overvoltage and high initial currents.

Benefits of technology

The solution provides fast and reliable overvoltage protection with reduced complexity and cost, allowing the use of less expensive components and increasing component selection, while ensuring rapid shutdown and reduced development costs.

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Abstract

The invention relates to a protective circuit for overvoltage limitation of an electrical assembly that can be connected to a supply voltage terminal via a power switch. The protective circuit comprises a bipolar transistor with a base, an emitter, and a collector, wherein, during operation of the protective circuit, the emitter is connected to the supply voltage terminal and the collector is connected to a control terminal of the power switch. The protective circuit includes a threshold element connected to the base of the bipolar transistor, configured to become conductive when an overvoltage occurs at the supply voltage terminal, so that the bipolar transistor carries a base current and thus also an emitter-collector current, which drives the control terminal of the power switch to disconnect the electrical assembly from the supply voltage terminal.
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