Electronic Circuit Breaker with Dynamic Current Limiting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic circuit breakers with semiconductor switches, particularly MOSFETs, are often oversized to handle power losses during inrush currents and capacitive charging, leading to increased costs and space requirements, while existing control methods are complex and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A voltage-controlled current source circuit with a controllable semiconductor switch, where the control unit sets the output current to maintain power within a maximum value, using a differential signal to adjust the switch and limit current during overloads or short circuits, allowing the switch to operate within a safe power range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the semiconductor switch is oversized to handle power losses during inrush currents and capacitive charging, then the switch can bear the power loss, but the costs and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control of the semiconductor switch through a control unit that continuously monitors current and adjusts the switch's operating state in real-time. This dynamic adjustment allows the switch to handle transient power losses during inrush currents and capacitive charging without requiring an oversized design, thereby reducing space requirements while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit changes the operating parameters of the semiconductor switch based on the electrical load conditions. By monitoring current flow and adjusting the switch's conduction state accordingly, the system enables a smaller switch to handle transient power losses that would otherwise require a much larger switch design
2Reliability
If the semiconductor switch is oversized to handle power losses during inrush currents and capacitive charging, then the switch can bear the power loss, but the costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic control approach allows the use of a smaller, less expensive semiconductor switch by actively managing its operating conditions. The control unit adjusts the switch's state in real-time to prevent excessive power dissipation, enabling cost-effective design without sacrificing the ability to handle transient loads
3Reliability
If active current limitation is implemented, then current can be limited during overloads, but the control becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs feedback control where the control unit continuously monitors the current through a current sensor and adjusts the semiconductor switch's operation based on the measured values. This feedback mechanism provides automatic current limitation during overloads while keeping the control logic relatively simple through direct comparison with reference values
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to an electronic circuit breaker (1) comprising a control unit (5) and comprising a controllable semiconductor switch (3) which is connected in a current path (4) between a voltage input (6) and a load output (7), wherein the semiconductor switch (3) is integrated into a voltage-controlled current source circuit (2), the output current (IL) of said current source circuit when the load (L) is connected being adjusted by means of the control unit (5) in such a way that the power of the semiconductor switch (2) is lower than or equal to a maximum power value (Pmax), and wherein the control unit (5) outputs a setpoint value (Iset) to the voltage-controlled current source circuit (2) and receives a difference value (S) from said voltage-controlled current source circuit, which difference value is formed from a deviation of an actual value (Iact), which represents the output current (IL), from the setpoint value (Iset) and is supplied to the semiconductor switch (3) as a control signal for driving said semiconductor switch.