Daimler Chrysler Ag

Siliconix Incorporated

Daimler-Benz Ag

Peter Hille

Richard Kent Williams

Robert G Wrathall

Alf Blessing

Thomas Ganser

Rainer M&auml;ckel

Rainer Maeckel

Nils Hein

An arrangement for overload protection of a switch to which a load circuit and a control circuit are connected, wherein: the control circuit includes at least one logic circuit, a gate drive connected between an output of the logic circuit and a control input of the switch, a comparator, and a temperature sensor. The comparator compares a voltage drop across the switch to a predetermined threshold value, and the temperature sensor is a discrete component relative to at least the switch and has an associated threshold-value recognition. The logic circuit is responsive to the output of the comparator and the temperature sensor to cause the gate driver to switch off the switch when at least one limit value for the voltage drop across the switch, or a limit value for the permissible switch temperature, is exceeded. Moreover, the temperature sensor has its temperature-measurement point on an external electrical connection of the switch, with this electrical connection simultaneously serving for the thermal coupling of the temperature sensor and the switch.

Arrangement and method for measuring a temperature

A method for operating an electromagnetically actuatable adjustment member, in particular a periodically operated valve for an internal combustion engines, as well as a/an apparatus for carrying out the method, wherein a path or position sensor is provided to measure the position of the adjustment member, and the current flow through the electromagnets of the device is adjusted such that the adjustment member moves along a predetermined position/speed characteristic curve.

Electromagnetically actuatable adjustment device and method of operation

The invention relates to a circuit for protecting consumers from damage caused by polarity reversal in an electrical system, comprising a limiter and a tripping device, wherein the system voltage supply is limited when polarity is reversed and the voltage source connected with reversed polarity can be disconnected.

Circuit for the protection of electrical devices

An overvoltage protective arrangement to protect an electrical installation against overvoltages, which installation has an onboard power supply system fed by an electrical D.C. generator (9) and electrical devices connected thereto. The overvoltage protective arrangement is provided with a limiting device whose threshold value is above the rated generator voltage.

Device and method for overvoltage protection

A battery monitoring unit is provided with a semiconductor power switch, which is looped into the battery lead and can serve for interrupting the battery current in a controlled manner. The battery monitoring unit comprises a sense FET circuit arrangement, which determines the battery current bidirectionally and the power FET part of which forms the semiconductor power switch, which is looped into the battery lead. Aside from the controllable interruption of battery current, a bidirectional determination of battery current and, with that, a continuous monitoring of the charge state of the battery is possible with this circuit arrangement, and can be used for monitoring vehicle batteries.

Battery monitoring unit having a sense FET circuit arrangement

An electrostatic discharge (ESD) device includes a pair of depletion mode MOSFETs connected drain-to-drain in a series path between an input terminal and an output terminal, the gate of each MOSFET being connected to its source. A first diode having a relatively high breakdown voltage is connected between ground and the common drain terminal of the MOSFETs, and a second diode having a relatively low breakdown voltage is connected between ground and the output terminal of the device. The second diode breaks down during a relatively low, long-lived voltage spike (in an automobile, sometimes referred to as a 'load dump'), while the second MOSFET saturates, limiting the size of the current through the second diode. The first diode breaks down during a large voltage spike of short duration, such as occurs from an ESD.

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Darmstadt, Germany

Peter Hille