IP Library Granted Patent US 12683378
Granted Patent B2
US 12683378 · App. 19/095,218 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Switch device, electronic device and vehicle

Inventor: Naoki Takahashi (Kyoto, JP)
Assignee: ROHM CO., LTD.
H02H3/08B60R16/03
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12683378
App. No.
19/095,218
Granted
Jul 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A switch device includes: a power supply terminal; an output terminal; a switch element configured to be connected between the above terminals; a signal output terminal configured to output an output current detection signal corresponding to an output current that flows during the on period of the switch element; an overcurrent protection circuit configured to restrict the output current detection signal to an overcurrent restriction value or less during the on period of the switch element; and an output abnormality detection circuit configured to monitor, while switching between a first state where no current is supplied to the output terminal and a second state where a current is supplied to the output terminal during the off period of the switch element, the output voltage of the output terminal in each of the first and second states, and to switch the logic level of the output current detection signal.

Claims (36)

1 . A switch device comprising:

a power supply terminal configured to receive supply of a power supply voltage;

an output terminal configured to connect a load to an outside;

a switch element configured to be connected between the power supply terminal and the output terminal;

a signal output terminal configured to output an output current detection signal corresponding to an output current that flows during an on period of the switch element;

an overcurrent protection circuit configured to restrict the output current detection signal to a predetermined overcurrent restriction value or less during the on period of the switch element; and

an output abnormality detection circuit configured to monitor, while switching between a first state where no current is supplied to the output terminal and a second state where a current is supplied to the output terminal during an off period of the switch element, an output voltage of the output terminal in each of the first and second states, and to switch a logic level of the output current detection signal.

2 . The switch device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the output abnormality detection circuit includes:

a current source configured to generate the current supplied to the output terminal;

a comparator configured to compare a monitoring voltage corresponding to the output voltage and a predetermined threshold voltage to generate an output abnormality detection signal;

an enable control unit configured to enable the comparator during the off period of the switch element and to then switch enabling and disabling of the current source; and

a signal output unit configured to switch the logic level of the output current detection signal according to the output abnormality detection signal.

3 . The switch device according to claim 2 ,

wherein the output abnormality detection circuit further includes: a voltage divider configured to divide the output voltage to generate the monitoring voltage.

4 . The switch device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a temperature protection circuit configured to switch the logic level of the output current detection signal according to whether abnormal heat generation occurs.

5 . The switch device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a first signal input terminal configured to receive an input of an external control signal for switching turning on and off of the switch element; and

a second signal input terminal configured to receive an input of an external enable signal for switching between the first state and the second state.

6 . An electronic device comprising:

the switch device according to claim 1 ; and

a control device configured to receive an input of the output current detection signal.

7 . The electronic device according to claim 6 ,

wherein the control device determines

that the output terminal is in a short-to-power state when the output current detection signal is at a first logic level both in the first state and in the second state during the off period of the switch element, and

that the output terminal is in an open load state when the output current detection signal is at a second logic level in the first state and is at the first logic level in the second state.

8 . The electronic device according to claim 7 ,

wherein the control device determines

that the output terminal is in an output current detection state when the output current detection signal is lower than the overcurrent restriction value during the on period of the switch element, and

that the output terminal is in a ground fault state or an overcurrent restriction state when the output current detection signal is maintained at the overcurrent restriction value.

9 . The electronic device according to claim 8 ,

wherein the switch device further includes a temperature protection circuit configured to raise the output current detection signal above the overcurrent restriction value when abnormal heat generation occurs, and

the control device determines that the output terminal is in an abnormality heat generation state when the output current detection signal is raised above the overcurrent restriction value during the on period of the switch element.

10 . A vehicle comprising:

the electronic device according to claim 6 .