Hiccup Driver Circuit for DC Source Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional protection devices for direct current sources face significant conduction loss issues when the electronic switch is short-circuited, as they lack sufficient drive voltage to maintain the switch in an operational state, leading to inefficient energy consumption and potential failure.
Innovation Solution
A hiccup driver circuit and switching device configuration that stores energy from the direct current source, generates a driving signal based on an enable signal, and periodically switches the switching device on and off to short-circuit the output voltage, ensuring it remains within a safe range and minimizing conduction losses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the output voltage of the direct current source is maintained at a minimum required voltage to drive the electronic switch, then the electronic switch can be driven to switch on, but the conduction loss increases and the device cannot work for a long time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-charging a capacitor to a first voltage value before the switching event. This stored energy in the capacitor provides the necessary drive voltage for the electronic switch without requiring the direct current source to maintain a continuous minimum voltage, thereby reducing conduction losses while ensuring reliable switch operation.
2Reliability
If the electronic switch is short-circuited to limit output voltage to a safe range, then protection is provided, but there is no sufficient drive voltage to drive the electronic switch without an additional power supply
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by using the direct current source itself to charge the capacitor that provides drive voltage for the electronic switch. The system uses its own output voltage to pre-charge the capacitor before switching, eliminating the need for an external additional power supply while maintaining protection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The capacitor is pre-charged to a first voltage value before the switching event occurs. This preliminary charging action stores the necessary energy in the capacitor, which then provides sufficient drive voltage for the electronic switch when it needs to operate, solving the drive voltage availability issue without adding complexity.
3Reliability
If the electronic switch remains continuously on to provide protection, then the output voltage is limited to a safe range, but the conduction loss is large and the switch cannot work for a long time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by using the electronic switch in a pulsed or intermittent manner rather than continuously. The capacitor provides drive voltage for periodic switching events, allowing the switch to remain operational for longer durations while maintaining effective voltage limitation during each switching event, thereby reducing overall conduction losses.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution effectively reduces conduction losses by periodically short-circuiting the output voltage, maintaining it within a safe range and preventing continuous voltage drain, thus enhancing the operational efficiency and reliability of the direct current source protection.
Implementation Method 1
the voltage limiting circuit is configured to store the electric energy from the direct current source and generate a supply voltage based on the electric energy stored internally
Implementation Method 2
A Zener diode V1 limits the voltage across C to the value of its Zener voltage
Implementation Method 3
the switching device is configured to be periodically switched on according to the driving signal... to short-circuit the output voltage
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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Figure 5~6
AI summary
A device for protecting a direct current source and method are provided. Electric energy outputted from the direct current source is stored and an enable signal is received by the hiccup drive circuit. In a case that the enable signal is an OFF-ENABLE signal, the driving signal is generated based on the electric energy stored internally. By periodically switching on the switching device based on the driving signal, the output voltage of the direct current source is periodically short-circuited. Therefore, the issue of a large conduction loss in the conventional art is avoided, which is caused by the fact that a minimum required voltage for driving the electronic switch is required to be continuously provided by the output voltage of the direct current source.