Power Supply Controller Sleep Mode Thermal Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

In power supply controllers with a sleep mode, the power-supply path is not properly protected due to halted functions, which can lead to improper temperature calculation and potential damage from excessive heat.

Innovation Solution

A power supply controller with a sleep mode that includes a switch circuit, a power-supply path protection circuit, and a sleep mode setting circuit, which calculates temperature regardless of power supply and inhibits power when it reaches a predetermined limit, ensuring continuous temperature estimation and protection even when in sleep mode.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If the power supply controller enters sleep mode to reduce current consumption, then power saving is improved, but the ability to detect and protect against power-supply path overheating deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecurrent consumptionVSAvoidpower-supply path protection

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The controller is divided into two functional segments: a sleep mode setting circuit that can be deactivated to save power, and a power-supply path protection circuit that remains active to continuously monitor temperature and protect the system. This segmentation allows the less critical power-saving function to be suspended while maintaining the critical protection function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The protection circuit performs preliminary temperature calculation and assessment before the sleep mode fully activates, ensuring that the system is in a safe state before reducing monitoring intensity. This preliminary action prevents overheating conditions from developing undetected during sleep mode operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Use of energy by moving object

If all functions are halted in sleep mode to maximize power saving, then current consumption is reduced, but temperature calculation accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecurrent consumptionVSAvoidtemperature calculation

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The functional segmentation allows the temperature calculation function to be isolated and maintained in the protection circuit while other functions are halted in sleep mode. This ensures measurement precision is preserved for critical parameters even when non-critical functions are suspended.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The temperature calculation and protection functions continue to operate continuously without interruption even when the controller enters sleep mode. This continuous useful action ensures that temperature monitoring never stops, maintaining measurement precision regardless of the power-saving state.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Reliability

If the power supply controller continuously monitors temperature to ensure safety, then protection reliability is improved, but current consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower-supply path protectionVSAvoidcurrent consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments monitoring functions by priority: high-priority temperature monitoring of the power-supply path continues uninterrupted to ensure safety, while lower-priority general control functions are halted during sleep mode. This selective segmentation maintains protection reliability while minimizing current consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The continuous monitoring is applied locally and selectively only to the power-supply path where overheating poses the greatest risk, rather than monitoring all system parameters continuously. This localized approach ensures critical protection while reducing overall energy consumption compared to comprehensive continuous monitoring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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

The solution effectively protects the power-supply path by ensuring proper temperature calculation and preventing overheating, maintaining the balance between power saving and reliability.

Implementation Method 1

calculating a temperature based on heat generation in the power-supply path due to the electrical current and heat dissipation from the power-supply path

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Data Source

PatentUS8918222B2Controlling and protecting power-supply paths from thermal overloads

Publication Date: 2014.12.23 AUTONETWORKS TECH LTD

AI summary

A power supply controller is connected between a power source and a power-supply path, and includes a switch circuit, a power-supply path protection circuit, and a sleep mode setting circuit. The switch circuit is configured to permit and inhibit power supply from the power source to the load. The protection circuit controls switching operation of the switch circuit according to a power-supply command signal commanding start or stop of the power supply to the load, calculates a temperature of the power-supply path regardless of whether power is supplied to the load, do not calculate the temperature of the power-supply path in a sleep mode, and inhibits power supply to the switch circuit according to the calculated temperature reaching an upper limit. The sleep mode setting circuit sets the power supply controller to the sleep mode according to the power-supply path satisfying a temperature condition.