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:
Jan. 15, 2008
Filed:
May. 17, 2005
Kevin M. Thevenet, La Roque d'Antheron, FR;
Kevin M. Thevenet, La Roque d'Antheron, FR;
International Rectifier Corporation, El Segundo, CA (US);
Abstract
A current limiting driver circuit for a semiconductor power switch and a switching device including same. The driver circuit includes a sensing circuit for providing a signal representing the current flowing through the semiconductor power switch, a driver circuit for the power switch, a driver circuit for the sensing circuit, and a comparator circuit having a first input provided by an output of the sensing circuit, a second input provided by a reference signal, and an output provided as a signal input for the first and second driver circuits. A first charge pump provides the supply voltage for the driver circuits, and a second charge pump provides the supply voltage for the comparator, which is higher than the supply voltage for the power switch and the sensing circuit, so that the first and second driver circuits limit the current through the power switch and the sensing circuit even when the output of the sensing circuit approaches the value of the reference signal.