IP Library Granted Patent US 10,326,265
Granted Patent B2
US 10,326,265 · App. 15/765,131 · Granted Jun 18, 2019

Method for limiting the current in devices of “H-bridge” type

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,326,265
App. No.
15/765,131
Granted
Jun 18, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for limiting the current in a device of “H-bridge” type having a plurality of transistors including the following steps: detection of a failure in a transistor from among the plurality of transistors; disabling of the transistor in which a failure has been detected; detection in the transistors opposite to the transistor, of the discharging of the energy accumulated at output; and disabling of the other transistors of the plurality of transistors. A system for limiting the current in a device of “H-bridge” type having a plurality of transistors is also disclosed.

Claims (23)

1. A method for limiting the current in an ‘H-bridge’ device including a plurality of transistors (T 1 , T 2 , T 3 , T 4 ), the method comprising:

detecting a failure on one transistor from among said plurality of transistors;

turning off said transistor on which a failure has been detected;

after said transistor is turned off, detecting, on the transistors opposite said transistor, the discharge of the accumulated output power; and

turning off the other transistors of said plurality of transistors.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said failure is linked to a current having an excessively high magnitude.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said failure is linked to a thermal phenomenon.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said detection, on the transistors opposite said transistor, of the discharge of the accumulated output power is performed by a current detector on the opposite transistors.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said detection, on the transistors opposite said transistor, of the discharge of the accumulated output power is performed by a voltage detector on the opposite transistors.

6. A system for limiting the current in an ‘H-bridge’ device including a plurality of transistors (T 1 , T 2 , T 3 , T 4 ), comprising means for:

detecting a failure on one transistor from among said plurality of transistors;

turning off said transistor on which a failure has been detected;

after said transistor is turned off, detecting, on the transistors opposite said transistor, the discharge of the accumulated output power; and

turning off the other transistors of said plurality of transistors.

7. The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein said detection, on the transistors opposite said transistor, of the discharge of the accumulated output power is performed by a current detector on the opposite transistors.

8. The method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein said detection, on the transistors opposite said transistor, of the discharge of the accumulated output power is performed by a current detector on the opposite transistors.

9. The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein said detection, on the transistors opposite said transistor, of the discharge of the accumulated output power is performed by a voltage detector on the opposite transistors.

10. The method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein said detection, on the transistors opposite said transistor, of the discharge of the accumulated output power is performed by a voltage detector on the opposite transistors.

11. A method for limiting the current in an ‘H-bridge’ device including a plurality of transistors (T 1 , T 2 , T 3 , T 4 ), the method comprising:

detecting a failure on a transistor from among said plurality of transistors;

turning off said transistor on which a failure has been detected, while maintaining other transistors of said plurality of transistors ON;

detecting, on the other transistors of said plurality of transistors, the discharge of the accumulated output power; and

in response to detecting the discharge, turning off the other transistors of said plurality of transistors.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 29, 2025
From: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
To: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
Reel/Frame 072774/0843 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 24, 2023
From: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH; VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
To: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
Reel/Frame 063425/0149 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 25, 2023
From: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE FRANCE S.A.S.; CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
To: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH; CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
Reel/Frame 062492/0737 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 21, 2018
From: BAVOIS, THIERRY
To: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE FRANCE; CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
Reel/Frame 046161/0909 →