IP Library Granted Patent US 11,431,179
Granted Patent B2
US 11,431,179 · App. 16/616,477 · Granted Aug 30, 2022

Input circuit capable of reducing dark current

Inventors: Joon Heo (Gyeonggi-do, KR); SeungMin Jeon (Gyeonggi-do, KR); ByungGuk Kim (Gyeonggi-do, KR)
Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
H02J7/0032B60L3/0046B60L3/0069B60L58/14B60R16/0238G01R31/3828
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,431,179
App. No.
16/616,477
Granted
Aug 30, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

Various embodiments include an input circuit comprising: a pull-up resistor having one end thereof connected to an input terminal; a switch unit for establishing/blocking a connection between the other end of the pull-up resistor and a battery; and a dark current reduction unit connected between the other end of the pull-up resistor and the switch unit, and enabling different current paths to be formed in a normal mode and in a low power mode. The dark current reduction unit enables a current path in the low power mode to have a higher resistance than a current path in the normal mode.

Claims (20)

1. An input circuit comprising:

a pull-up resistor having one end thereof connected to an input terminal;

a first switch for establishing/blocking a connection between the other end of the pull-up resistor and a battery, wherein a normal mode of operating includes establishing a continuous connection and a low power mode includes establishing an intermittent connection and wherein the pull-up resistor provides the sole path from the battery to the input terminal; and

a dark current reduction unit connected between the other end of the pull-up resistor and the switch, and enabling different current paths to be formed in the normal mode and in the low power mode, the dark current reduction unit including a second switch closed in the normal mode and a second resistor connected in parallel to the second switch;

wherein the dark current reduction unit establishes a low power current path in the low power mode through the second resistor with a higher resistance than a normal current path through the second switch established in the normal mode.

2. The input circuit as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

a protection resistor connected between the input terminal and an output terminal; and

a voltage distribution resistor connected to the output terminal.

3. The input circuit as claimed in claim 2 , further comprising a control unit connected to the output terminal and configured to detect the on/off state of an external switch unit connected between the input terminal and ground.

4. The input circuit as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the control unit is configured to control the operation of the switch unit and the operation of the dark current reduction unit.

5. An input circuit comprising:

a pull-down resistor having one end thereof connected to an input terminal;

a first switch for establishing/blocking a connection between the other end of the pull-down resistor and ground, wherein a normal mode of operating includes establishing a continuous connection and a low power mode include establishing an intermittent connection and wherein the pull-down resistor provides the sole path from the input terminal to ground; and

a dark current reduction unit connected between the other end of the pull-down resistor and the switch, and enabling different current paths to be formed in the normal mode and in the low power mode, the dark current reduction unit including a second switch closed in the normal mode and a second resistor connected in parallel to the second switch;

wherein the dark current reduction unit establishes a low power current path through the second resistor in the low power mode with a higher resistance than a current path through the second switch established in the normal mode.

6. The input circuit as claimed in claim 5 , further comprising:

a protection resistor connected between the input terminal and an output terminal; and

a voltage distribution resistor connected to the output terminal.

7. The input circuit as claimed in claim 6 , further comprising a control unit connected to the output terminal configured to detect the on/off state of an external switch unit connected between the input terminal and a battery.

8. The input circuit as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the control unit is configured to control the operation of the switch unit and the operation of the dark current reduction unit.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 7, 2025
From: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
To: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
Reel/Frame 070441/0899 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 25, 2022
From: HEO, JOON; JEON, SEUNGMIN; KIM, BYUNGGUK
To: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
Reel/Frame 060606/0822 →