Power Supply Controller Counter Merging for Switch Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional power supply controllers require multiple counters to manage switch element protection, leading to increased size and weight due to the need for retry operation counting and clear time management.
Innovation Solution
A power supply controller that uses a microcomputer to perform switch and wire protection operations based on current and temperature thresholds, eliminating the need for dedicated counters by adding a value to temperature increases when current exceeds a threshold, allowing for restricted power supply and automatic reset without additional counters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple counters are used to manage switch element protection (retry operation counting and clear time management), then the protection reliability is improved, but the circuit size and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple protection functions (retry operation counting and clear time management) into a single counter. The counter serves dual purposes: counting retry operations and managing clear time intervals, thereby reducing the number of separate counters needed and decreasing circuit weight while maintaining protection reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The counter is designed to perform multiple functions within the power supply controller. It not only counts the number of retry operations but also manages the clear time period, making a single component universal for multiple protection-related tasks, thus reducing overall circuit complexity and weight
2Reliability
If multiple counters are used to manage switch element protection, then the protection functionality is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functionality of multiple counters into a single counter unit. By combining retry operation counting and clear time management into one counter, the circuit complexity is reduced while preserving all necessary protection functionalities
Solution Approach 2:
The counter operates with different parameter interpretations at different times. The same counter can count retry operations during one phase and measure clear time intervals during another phase, utilizing parameter changes to reduce the number of physical counters needed and simplify the overall device structure
Data Source
AI summary
The power supply controller performs the power-supply-path protection operation to restrict power supply through the switch element if a value of temperature increase of the power supply path W with respect to the reference temperature To exceeds the temperature threshold value and remove the restriction if the temperature decreases to the temperature threshold value or lower. And the controller performs the switch protection operation to restrict the power supply through the switch element if the value of the flowing current exceeds the current threshold value and remove the restriction after the reference time H elapses. And also the controller adds the additional value F to the value of temperature increase on condition that the value of the flowing current exceeds the current threshold value in the power supply protection operation and compares a post-addition temperature to the temperature threshold value.