IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0727814
(2000-11-30)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Hennig, Bruce
- Mazer, Lawrence S.
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
1 인용 특허 :
2 |
초록
▼
The present invention provides an apparatus and method for preventing damage to a system due to runaway current and provides for the reactivation of the system. The shutdown and reactivation method and apparatus includes a driving circuit which supplies an output current to a load. If a runaway curr
The present invention provides an apparatus and method for preventing damage to a system due to runaway current and provides for the reactivation of the system. The shutdown and reactivation method and apparatus includes a driving circuit which supplies an output current to a load. If a runaway current condition occurs in the system the shutdown and reactivation apparatus is activated by triggering a shutdown signal which deactivates the driving circuit such that the output current is no longer supplied to the load. The shutdown signal activates a charging circuit, which supplies a charging current to the load. A first monitoring circuit is coupled with the load, and configured to monitor an output voltage across the load when the shutdown and reactivation apparatus is in the active state. The first monitoring circuit signals the shutdown and reactivation apparatus to transition to a deactivated state when the output voltage is at least equal to a predefined voltage threshold, and further the first monitoring circuit signals the driving circuit to again begin to supply the output current to the load.
대표청구항
▼
1. A reactivation circuit coupled with a system having a protection mechanism which prevents runaway current, the reactivation circuit comprising:a charging circuit coupled with a storage element, the charging circuit configured to supply a charging a current to the storage element, once the protect
1. A reactivation circuit coupled with a system having a protection mechanism which prevents runaway current, the reactivation circuit comprising:a charging circuit coupled with a storage element, the charging circuit configured to supply a charging a current to the storage element, once the protection mechanism is activated to prevent the supplying of the output current;a monitoring circuit coupled with the system, the storage element, and the charging circuit, the monitoring circuit configured to monitor the voltage across the storage element and to signal the system when voltage across the storage element exceeds a predefined threshold and further configured to deactivate the charging circuit when the voltage across the storage element exceeds the predefined threshold; anda latch coupled between the monitoring circuit and both the charging circuit and the system, configured to receive a signal from the monitoring circuit,the latch further configured to maintain the charging circuit in at least a deactivated state as signaled by the monitoring circuit. 2. The reactivation circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein:the storage element coupled in parallel with a load such that the voltage across the storage element is substantially equal to a voltage across the load. 3. The reactivation circuit as claimed in claim 2, wherein:the storage element includes a capacitance. 4. A system configured to supply an output current to a load and having shutdown protection, the system comprising:a shutdown signal configured to signal the system to stop supplying the load with the output current;a first monitoring circuit coupled with the load, the monitoring circuit configured to monitor an output voltage across the load and to signal the system to again supply the output current to the load when the output voltage exceeds a predetermined voltage threshold;a charging circuit coupled with the shutdown signal and the load, the charging circuit configured to supply the load with a charging current when signaled by the shutdown signal; anda latch coupled between the first monitoring circuit and the charging circuit;the latch configured to maintain the charging circuit in a deactivated and active state as signaled by the first monitoring circuit. 5. The system as claimed in claim 4, wherein:the load includes at least a capacitive load configured to receive the charging current. 6. The system as claimed in claim 5, wherein:the capacitive load is configured to receive the charging current when a short circuit across the load has been removed. 7. The system as claimed in claim 4, further comprising:a driving circuit coupled with the load, and configured to supply the load with the output current. 8. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein:the driving circuit includes at least one switch having at least a first and second state, such that the driving circuit delivers the output current to the load when the switch is in the first state and the driving circuit is prevented from delivering the output current to the load when the switch is in the second state. 9. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein:the driving circuit includes at least a first transistor coupled with a second transistor;the first transistor further coupled with the first monitoring circuit such that the first monitoring circuit signals the first transistor to toggle from a first state to a second state; andthe first transistor configured to toggle the second transistor to a third state when first transistor is toggled to the second state and to toggle the second transistor to a fourth state when the first transistor is toggled to the first stale such that the driving circuit conducts the output current to the load when second transistor is in the third state and the driving circuit does not conduct the output current to the load when the second transistor is in the fourth state. 10. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein:not activating the driving circuit until a system temperatu re is at least equal to a lower predefined temperature. 11. A system configured to supply an output current to a load and having shutdown protection, the system comprising:a shutdown signal configured to signal the system to stop supplying the load with the output current;a first monitoring circuit coupled with the loud, the monitoring circuit configured to monitor an output voltage across the load and to signal the system to again supply the output current to the load when the output voltage exceeds a predefined voltage threshold;a charging circuit coupled with the shutdown signal and the load, the charging circuit configured to supply the load with a charging current when signaled by the shutdown signal; anda latch further coupled between the shutdown signal and the charging circuit,the latch configured to maintain the charging circuit in an active or deactivated state as signaled by the shutdown signal. 12. The system as claimed in claim 11, wherein:the latch is further configured to maintain the charging circuit in the active state to supply one of a plurality of charging currents such that each one of the plurality of charging current has a different predefined current level. 13. The system as claimed in claim 11, wherein:the load includes at least a capacitive load configured to receive the charging current. 14. The system as claimed in claim 13, wherein:the capacitive load is configured to receive the charging current when a short circuit across the load has been removed. 15. The system as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:a driving circuit coupled with the load, and configured to supply the load with the output current. 16. The system as claimed in claim 15, wherein:the driving circuit includes at least one switch having at least a first and second state, such that the driving circuit delivers the output current to the load when the switch is in the first state and the driving circuit is prevented from delivering the output current to the load when the switch is in the second state. 17. The system as claimed in claim 15, wherein:the driving circuit includes at least a first transistor coupled with a second transistor;the first transistor further coupled with the first monitoring circuit such that the first monitoring circuit signals the first transistor to toggle from a first state to a second state; andthe first transistor configured to toggle the second transistor to a third state when first transistor is toggled to the second state and to toggle the second transistor to a fourth state when the first transistor is toggled to the first state such that the driving circuit conducts the output current to the load when second transistor is in the third state and the driving circuit does not conduct the output current to the load when the second transistor is in the fourth state. 18. The system as claimed in claim 15, wherein:not activating the driving circuit until a system temperature is at least equal to a lower predefined temperature. 19. A system configured to supply an output current to a load and having shutdown protection, the system comprising:a shutdown signal configured to signal the system to stop supplying the load with the output current;a first monitoring circuit coupled with the load, the monitoring circuit configured to monitor an output voltage across the load and to signal the system to again supply the output current to the load when the output voltage exceeds a predefined voltage threshold;a charging circuit coupled with the shutdown signal and the load, the charging circuit configured to simply the load with a charging current when signaled by the shutdown signal; anda second monitoring circuit coupled with the shutdown signal and the charging circuit, the second monitoring circuit configured to monitor the shutdown signal and to signal the charging circuit when the shutdown signal transitions from a first state to a second state. 20. The system as claimed in claim 19, wherein:the first monitori ng circuit includes at least a first edge detector configured to detect a transition of the output voltage when the output voltage is at least equal to the predefined threshold voltage. 21. The system as claimed in claim 20, wherein:the second monitoring circuit includes at least a second edge detector configured to detect a transition of the shutdown signal signaling the system temperature is at least equal to a predefined temperature threshold. 22. The system as claimed in claim 19, further comprising:a driving circuit coupled with the load, and configured to supply the load with the output current. 23. The system as claimed in claim 22, wherein:the driving circuit includes at least one switch having at least a first and second state, such that the driving circuit delivers the output current to the load when the switch is in the first state and the driving circuit is prevented from delivering the output current to the load when the switch is in the second state. 24. The system as claimed in claim 22, wherein:the driving circuit includes at least a first transistor coupled with a second transistor;the first transistor further coupled with the first monitoring circuit such that the first monitoring circuit signals the first transistor to toggle from a first state to a second state; andthe first transistor configured to toggle the second transistor to a third state when first transistor is toggled to the second state and to toggle the second transistor to a fourth state when the first transistor is toggled to the first state such that the driving circuit conducts the output current to the load when second transistor is in the third state and the driving circuit does not conduct the output current to the load when the second transistor is in the fourth state. 25. The system as claimed in claim 22, wherein:not activating the driving circuit until a system temperature is at least equal to a lower predefined temperature. 26. A method of reactivating a system following deactivation due to runaway current, comprising:receiving a shutdown signal;deactivating a driving circuit configured to supply an output current to a load after receiving the shutdown signal;supplying a charging current to a storage element;monitoring a voltage across the storage elementreactivating the system when the voltage across the storage element is at least equal to a predefined voltage threshold; andmaintaining the driving circuit in a deactivated state and maintaining the charging circuit in an active stateincluding latching the driving circuit in the deactivated state and the charging circuit in an active state, until the voltage across the storage element is at least equal to the predefined threshold voltage. 27. The method as claimed in claim 26, wherein:the act of supplying the storage element with the charging current wherein the storage element includes a capacitance and the charge current is supplied to the capacitance. 28. The method as claimed in claim 26, further comprising:halting the supply of the charging current when the output voltage is at least equal to the predefined voltage threshold. 29. The method as claimed in claim 26, further comprising:supplying a load with an output current prior to the step of receiving a shutdown signal; andhalting the supply of the output current to the load following the step of receiving a shutdown signal.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.