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:
Jul. 29, 2003
Filed:
Dec. 15, 2000
John Wendell Oglesbee, Watkinsville, GA (US);
Philip Henry Burrus, IV, Lilburn, GA (US);
Motorola, Inc., Schaumburg, IL (US);
Abstract
This invention includes a circuit that approximates the thermal behavior of a fuse or other electronic device that is coupled in series with the circuit. In one preferred embodiment, the circuit protects a fuse coupled in series with a rechargeable battery from clearing during soft short conditions. Thus, when the instantaneous current is temporarily above the current rating of the fuse, yet the root mean squared current is below the current rating of the fuse, the circuit works to estimate the heating of the fuse element and limit the current to a root mean squared value that is less than the current rating of the fuse. One embodiment includes a programmable comparator that actuates a counter which, in turn, increments to estimate heating of the element when the current exceeds a predetermined threshold.