Integrated Overcurrent and Overvoltage Protection via Thermal Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing power protection systems for input power ports often experience unpredictable interactions between overcurrent and overvoltage protection devices, leading to irregular failure modes and potential damage to downstream components.

Innovation Solution

An integrated apparatus comprising an overcurrent protection device and an overvoltage protection device, where the overvoltage protection device's breakdown voltage increases with temperature, triggering the overcurrent protection device to switch to a current-limiting state, thereby protecting the system from excessive current and voltage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If overvoltage protection device breakdown voltage increases with temperature, then thermal stability is improved, but coordination with overcurrent protection becomes challenging

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebreakdown voltage thermal stabilityVSAvoidcoordination complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control circuit (120) continuously monitors the voltage across the overvoltage protection device (130) and provides feedback signals to the overcurrent protection device (110), enabling dynamic coordination that adapts to temperature-induced breakdown voltage changes without increasing device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The control circuit (120) acts as an intermediary between the overvoltage protection device (130) and overcurrent protection device (110), translating voltage conditions into appropriate current protection responses and simplifying the coordination mechanism through a dedicated control interface

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 ensures coordinated protection against overcurrent and overvoltage conditions, reducing the risk of component damage and improving system reliability by integrating feedback mechanisms to manage power effectively.

Implementation Method 1

an overvoltage protection device coupled to the overcurrent protection device and configured to cause the overcurrent protection device to decrease a current through the overvoltage protection device after a breakdown voltage of the overvoltage protection device increases in response to heat

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTemperature-dependent breakdown voltage:

Data Source

PatentUS8861164B2Integrated overdrive and overvoltage protection device

Publication Date: 2014.10.14 SEMICON COMPONENTS IND LLC

AI summary

In one general aspect, an apparatus can include an overcurrent protection device. The apparatus can include an overvoltage protection device coupled to the overcurrent protection device and configured to cause the overcurrent protection device to decrease a current through the overvoltage protection device after a breakdown voltage of the overvoltage protection device increases in response to heat.