IP Library Granted Patent US 9,800,042
Granted Patent B2
US 9,800,042 · App. 14/623,036 · Granted Oct 24, 2017

Electrical load controller with fault detection

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,800,042
App. No.
14/623,036
Granted
Oct 24, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A controller configured to detect fault conditions in a circuit that operates an electrical-load includes a gate-driver and a voltage-detector. The gate-driver is configured to control a gate-current to a switching-device. The gate-current is controlled such that the switching-device is operated in a linear-state when the switching-device transitions from an on-state to an off-state. The voltage-detector is configured to determine a voltage-drop across the switching-device. The controller is configured to indicate a no-fault condition when the voltage-drop is greater than a voltage-threshold for more time than a no-fault interval after the switching device is operated from the on-state to the linear-state.

Claims (5)

1. A controller configured to detect fault conditions in a circuit that operates an electrical-load, said controller comprising:

a gate-driver configured to control a gate-current to a switching-device, wherein the gate-current is controlled such that the switching-device is operated in a linear-state when the switching-device transitions from an on-state to an off-state;

a voltage-detector configured to determine a voltage-drop across the switching-device, wherein the controller is configured to indicate a no-fault condition indicating that neither an open-circuit to the switching-device or a short-to-ground that bypasses the switching-device exists when the voltage-drop is greater than a voltage-threshold for more time than a no-fault interval after the switching device is operated from the on-state to the linear-state.

2. The controller in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to operate the switching-device to the on-state after the no-fault condition is indicated.

3. The controller in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to indicate a fault condition when the voltage-drop is not greater than the voltage-threshold for more time than a fault-interval while the switching device is operated from the on-state to the off-state.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 18, 2024
From: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES IP LIMITED
To: BORGWARNER US TECHNOLOGIES LLC
Reel/Frame 068985/0968 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 19, 2018
From: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES IP LIMITED
Reel/Frame 045097/0048 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 16, 2015
From: ENGELHARDT, MARC R.; GERTISER, KEVIN M.; BALAKRISHNAN NAIR, VIJAYAKUMARAN NAIR; LAUBENSTEIN, PETER A.
To: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 034966/0474 →