Series-Coil Failure Detector Circuit for Parallel Current Imbalance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing unbalanced failure detector circuits for electronic devices are cumbersome and difficult to miniaturize due to their large number of components, making them inefficient for detecting unbalanced failures in semiconductor switching devices.
Innovation Solution
An unbalanced failure detector circuit utilizing a detector unit with coils connected in series to surround current paths, generating a coil sum voltage that is monitored by a controller to detect unbalanced failures, which reduces the number of components required for detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a plurality of gate current detectors, polarity detectors, exclusive OR gates, overcurrent detectors, OR gates, and AND gates are used to detect unbalanced failure, then the detection reliability is improved, but the device complexity and circuit size increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple detection functions (gate current detection, polarity detection, overcurrent detection) into a single integrated detector circuit. Instead of using separate gate current detectors, polarity detectors, and overcurrent detectors as in the prior art, the invention uses one detector circuit with a detector unit that includes multiple coils to perform all detection functions simultaneously, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining detection reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The detector unit is designed as a multi-functional component that can detect multiple types of failures (unbalanced failure, overcurrent, short-circuit) using a single integrated structure. The detector unit with its plurality of coils surrounding different current paths serves multiple detection purposes simultaneously, eliminating the need for separate specialized detectors for each failure mode
2Measurement precision
If multiple detectors and logic gates are added to detect unbalanced failure, then the detection precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the detection functions of multiple separate detectors into a single integrated detector unit. The detector unit contains multiple coils that can detect different parameters (gate current, polarity, overcurrent) simultaneously, achieving high measurement precision without requiring multiple separate detector circuits and associated logic gates
3Device complexity
If a simple detection circuit is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the detection reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The detector unit acts as an intermediary component that provides comprehensive detection capabilities. By placing the detector unit with its multiple coils at a strategic position in the circuit, it can monitor multiple current paths and detect various failure modes without requiring complex distributed detection circuits throughout the system
Solution Approach 2:
The single detector unit is designed to perform multiple detection functions simultaneously, making it a universal detection component that maintains high reliability across different failure scenarios while keeping the overall circuit simple. The detector unit can detect unbalanced failure, overcurrent, and short-circuit conditions using its integrated multi-coil structure
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
Enables the detection of unbalanced failures with fewer components, effectively identifying issues such as resistance differences, short-circuits, and open failures in semiconductor switching devices, while minimizing circuit size.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of coils connected in series and arranged to surround the plurality of current paths, and is configured to output a coil sum voltage which is a sum of induced voltages generated across the plurality of coils by currents flowing through the plurality of current paths
Data Source
AI summary
An unbalanced failure detector circuit according to one aspect of the present disclosure is provided for detecting an unbalanced failure of an electronic device apparatus including electronic devices, and the electronic device apparatus includes a plurality of current paths connected in parallel. The unbalanced failure detector circuit includes a detector unit, and a controller. The detector unit has a plurality of coils connected in series and arranged to surround the plurality of current paths, respectively, and is configured to output a coil sum voltage which is a sum of induced voltages generated across the plurality of coils by currents flowing through the plurality of current paths. The controller is configured to detect the unbalanced failure of the electronic device apparatus when the coil sum voltage outputted from the detector unit exceeds a predetermined value range.