The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 02, 1997
Filed:
Mar. 04, 1996
Karienne Ann Yockey, Farmington Hills, MI (US);
Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
In one embodiment of the present invention, across an electrical load to prevent over dissipation semiconductor switch in the event of a short circuit. The system includes a microprocessor with a terminal which is alternatively configurable as an input and as an output. When the terminal is configured as an output, the microprocessor can turn the electrical load ON and OFF via a transistor, under software control. Once the microprocessor turns the load ON, the microprocessor reconfigures its terminal to be an input. The system automatically latches the electrical load ON until a short circuit occurs or until the microprocessor turns the load OFF. When a short circuit occurs, the system automatically turns the load OFF. With the microprocessor terminal configured as an input, the microprocessor can detect when the system has automatically turned the load OFF due to a short circuit, thus being able to set a diagnostic code or take other appropriate action. A low-pass filter can be added between the microprocessor terminal and the transistor, reducing the inductive voltage spike which may occur when the load is turned OFF.