IP Library › Granted Patent US 12683377
Granted Patent B2
US 12683377 · App. 18/752,754 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Device, semiconductor apparatus, gate driver, and power module

Inventor: Masashi Akahane (Matsumoto-city, JP)
Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
H02H3/08H02M7/08
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12683377
App. No.
18/752,754
Granted
Jul 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided is a device including a series circuit in which a rectifying element and a fuse element are connected in series, in which one end on an anode side of the rectifying element in the series circuit is connected to a first connection point having a reference potential, and another end on a cathode side of the rectifying element in the series circuit is connected to a second connection point that is to have a potential higher than the reference potential. The device may further include a parallel circuit in which a plurality of the series circuits is connected in parallel. A rectifying characteristic of the rectifying element in at least one of the series circuits connected in parallel may be different from a rectifying characteristic of the rectifying element in at least another one of the series circuits connected in parallel.

Claims (20)

1 . A device comprising:

a parallel circuit in which a plurality of series circuits is connected in parallel, each of the plurality of series circuits having a resistive element and a fuse element connected in series and having a different time period for the fuse element to melt by an overcurrent, wherein

one end in the parallel circuit is connected to a first connection point having a reference potential, and another end in the parallel circuit is connected to a second connection point that is to have a potential higher than the reference potential; and

a determination circuit connected between the first connection point and the second connection point configured to count the number of the fuse elements in the series circuits connected in parallel that have melted based on comparing voltage or current measurements with a plurality of threshold values, each of the plurality of threshold values based on a case where a cumulative number of the fuse elements, each having the different time period to melt, have melted.

2 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein

an electrical resistance of the resistive element in at least one of the series circuits connected in parallel is different from an electrical resistance of the resistive element in at least another one of the series circuits connected in parallel.

3 . The device according to claim 2 , wherein

a melting characteristic of the fuse element in the at least one of the series circuits is the same as a melting characteristic of the fuse element in the at least another one of the series circuits.

4 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein

a melting characteristic of the fuse element in at least one of the series circuits connected in parallel is different from a melting characteristic of the fuse element in at least another one of the series circuits connected in parallel.

5 . The device according to claim 4 , wherein

an electrical resistance of the resistive element in the at least one of the series circuits is the same as an electrical resistance of the resistive element in the at least another one of the series circuits.

6 . A semiconductor apparatus on which the device according to claim 1 is mounted.

7 . A gate driver on which the semiconductor apparatus according to claim 6 is mounted.

8 . A power module on which the gate driver according to claim 7 is mounted.

9 . A device comprising:

a parallel circuit in which a plurality of series circuits is connected in parallel, each of the plurality of series circuits having a resistive element and a fuse element connected in series and having a different time period for the fuse element to melt by an overcurrent, wherein

one end in the parallel circuit is connected to a first connection point having a reference potential, and another end in the parallel circuit is connected to a second connection point that is to have a potential higher than the reference potential, and

a melting characteristic of the fuse element in at least one of the series circuits connected in parallel is the same as a melting characteristic of the fuse element in at least another one of the series circuits connected in parallel; and

a determination circuit connected between the first connection point and the second connection point configured to count the number of the fuse elements in the series circuits connected in parallel that have melted based on comparing voltage or current measurements with a plurality of threshold values, each of the plurality of threshold values based on a case where a cumulative number of the fuse elements, each having the different time period to melt, will have melted.