Switch Trigger Precharge Circuit for Inrush Current Suppression

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional switch control methods suffer from increased heat losses, switch damage, and inability to turn off immediately due to prolonged switching durations, which affect efficiency and protection capabilities.

Innovation Solution

A switch trigger that reduces voltage variation by precharge, suppressing inrush current and enabling zero-voltage switching with short-circuit protection, utilizing components like MOSFETs and BJTs to control switching times.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If soft start of switches is used to suppress inrush current, then inrush current is suppressed, but the duration for turning on the switch increases causing more heat losses and reduced efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinrush currentVSAvoidheat losses
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-charging the capacitor through a charging circuit before the main switch is turned on. This pre-charging process gradually raises the voltage across the capacitor to match the input voltage, so when the main switch closes, there is no voltage difference and thus no inrush current. The charging circuit is disconnected after pre-charging, allowing the main switch to turn on instantly without prolonged conduction time, thereby avoiding heat losses while still suppressing inrush current.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Object-affected harmful factors

If soft start of switches is used to suppress inrush current, then inrush current is suppressed, but the switch becomes more susceptible to damage due to prolonged exposure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinrush currentVSAvoidswitch damage susceptibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-charging the capacitor through a charging circuit before the main switch is turned on. This pre-charging process gradually raises the voltage across the capacitor to match the input voltage, so when the main switch closes, there is no voltage difference and thus no inrush current. The charging circuit is disconnected after pre-charging, allowing the main switch to turn on instantly without prolonged conduction time, thereby avoiding heat losses while still suppressing inrush current.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the duration for turning on the switch is increased, then inrush current is suppressed, but the duration for turning off the switch also increases causing inability to turn off immediately for protection

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinrush currentVSAvoidswitch turn-off time
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-charging the capacitor through a charging circuit before the main switch is turned on. This pre-charging process gradually raises the voltage across the capacitor to match the input voltage, so when the main switch closes, there is no voltage difference and thus no inrush current. The charging circuit is disconnected after pre-charging, allowing the main switch to turn on instantly without prolonged conduction time, thereby avoiding heat losses while still suppressing inrush current.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Device complexity

If conventional switch control is used, then switching is simple, but efficiency is reduced due to heat losses

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveswitch control simplicityVSAvoidheat losses
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-charging the capacitor through a charging circuit before the main switch is turned on. This pre-charging process gradually raises the voltage across the capacitor to match the input voltage, so when the main switch closes, there is no voltage difference and thus no inrush current. The charging circuit is disconnected after pre-charging, allowing the main switch to turn on instantly without prolonged conduction time, thereby avoiding heat losses while still suppressing inrush current.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4510453B1Switch trigger for suppressing inrush current
Publication Date: 2026.03.25 DELTA ELECTRONICS INC(CN)
  • EP4510453B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4510453B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4510453B1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

A switch trigger (1) is provided. The switch trigger (1) includes input and output terminals (11, 12), first and second switches (Q1, Q2), a bypass resistor (R1), an output capacitor (Co), a diode (D), a discharging resistor (R2), and first and second divider resistors (R3, R4). The first switch (Q1) has two terminals respectively and electrically connected to the input and output terminals (11, 12). The bypass resistor (R1) is electrically connected to the input and output terminals (11, 12). The diode (D) has an anode electrically connected to the input terminal (11). The second switch (Q2) has two terminals respectively and electrically connected to a cathode of the diode (D) and a third terminal of the first switch (Q1). The discharging resistor (R2) is electrically connected to the third terminal of the first switch (Q1) and the ground terminal. The first and second divider resistors (R3, R4) are electrically connected in series between the output and ground terminals, and a connection node therebetween is electrically connected to a third terminal of the second switch (Q2).