MOSFET Power Switching Paths for Short-Circuit Fault Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power switching circuits fail to maintain operation of non-faulty circuits when one of the circuits experiences a short circuit fault, leading to disruption in power supply.
Innovation Solution
A power switching circuit with multiple paths and a control circuit that dynamically switches power supply between two power sources to ensure uninterrupted operation of non-faulty circuits by controlling the conducting state of MOSFETs and paths, including redundant paths to bypass faulty circuits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a power switching circuit uses a single main path for power supply, then the device complexity is low, but the reliability deteriorates when a circuit experiences a short circuit fault
Solution Approach 1:
The power supply system is divided into multiple independent main paths (first main path and second main path), each dedicated to a specific circuit. This segmentation allows the failure of one path to be isolated without affecting the other paths, thereby maintaining power supply continuity and improving reliability while managing complexity through structured organization.
Solution Approach 2:
The switching paths are pre-configured with MOSFETs in a non-conducting state before faults occur. When a short circuit fault is detected in a circuit, the control circuit immediately activates the corresponding switching path to bypass the faulty circuit and maintain power supply to healthy circuits, eliminating the need for complex real-time reconfiguration and managing complexity through predetermined fault response mechanisms.
2Reliability
If redundant switching paths are added to bypass faulty circuits, then the reliability improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each switching path is designed with specific MOSFETs (first, second, third, and fourth MOSFETs) positioned at localized points within the circuit paths. This local quality approach allows the switching function to be implemented only where needed for fault isolation, rather than requiring complex global switching mechanisms, thereby improving fault tolerance while managing complexity through targeted component placement.
Solution Approach 2:
The control circuit acts as an intermediary that monitors the health status of circuits and dynamically controls the conducting state of MOSFETs in switching paths. This intermediary function enables automatic fault isolation and power supply continuity without requiring complex manual intervention or overly sophisticated switching logic, improving reliability while keeping the control mechanism manageable.
3Reliability
If the control circuit actively manages multiple paths to ensure continuous power supply, then the reliability improves, but the loss of energy increases due to additional switching operations
Solution Approach 1:
The control circuit implements partial switching action by activating MOSFETs only when and where needed for fault isolation. Instead of continuously switching or over-engineering the system for all possible failure modes, the solution applies switching control only to the extent necessary for fault tolerance, thereby maintaining power supply stability while minimizing unnecessary energy loss from excessive switching operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A power switching circuit is connected to a first power supply, a second power supply, a first circuit and a second circuit. The power switching circuit has a first main path, a second main path, a first switching path, and a second switching path. The power switching circuit has a control circuit that forms a power supply path by controlling each of the first main path, the second main path, the first switching path, and the second switching path in either a conducting or non-conducting state. When a failure is generated in one of the first circuit and the second circuit, the control circuit forms a power supply path that does not affect the operation of the other of the first circuit and the second circuit.