EFuse for use in high voltage applications
An eFuse for use in high voltage applications is disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a solid-state switch having source and drain terminals connected to switch a load current from a high voltage source through a high voltage load. The apparatus also includes a sense circuit that senses a voltage between the switch source and drain terminals and turns off the switch when the voltage exceeds a selected voltage level.
1. An apparatus comprising:
a switch that switches a load current from a high voltage source through a high voltage load, wherein the switch is controlled to turn off when a voltage at a voltage sense terminal exceeds a selected voltage level;
a diode coupled to the voltage sense terminal;
a capacitor coupled to the voltage sense terminal; and
a temperature sensing element coupled to the voltage sense terminal, wherein the temperature sensing element couples to the voltage sense terminal via a resistor.
2. An apparatus comprising:
a switch that switches a load current from a high voltage source through a high voltage load, wherein the switch is controlled to turn off when a voltage at a voltage sense terminal exceeds a selected voltage level;
a diode coupled to the voltage sense terminal;
a capacitor coupled to the voltage sense terminal;
a temperature sensing element coupled to the voltage sense terminal; and
an adjustable voltage reference coupled to the voltage sense terminal.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the temperature sensing element is also coupled to a reference node VREF of the adjustable voltage reference.
4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein a voltage drop across the adjustable voltage reference is set by at least one temperature sensing element.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the switch is a solid-state switch.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the selected voltage level is selected to correspond to a desired load current level.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a sense circuit that selectively turns on and off the switch.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the sense circuit senses a voltage between two terminals of the switch and turns off the switch based on the voltage.
9. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the sense circuit includes a comparator having a first input terminal, a second input terminal, and an output terminal, wherein the first input terminal is connected to the voltage sense terminal, wherein the second input terminal is connected to a reference voltage, and wherein the output terminal outputs a fault indicator.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is an electronic fuse (eFuse).
11. An apparatus comprising:
a solid-state switch that switches a load current from a high voltage source through a high voltage load, wherein the solid-state switch is controlled to turn off when a voltage at a voltage sense terminal exceeds a selected voltage level;
a diode coupled to the voltage sense terminal;
a capacitor coupled to the voltage sense terminal; and
a temperature sensing element coupled to the voltage sense terminal, wherein the temperature sensing element couples to the voltage sense terminal via a resistor.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the apparatus is an electronic fuse (eFuse).
13. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the selected voltage level is selected to correspond to a desired load current level.
14. The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising:
a sense circuit that selectively turns on and off the solid-state switch.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the sense circuit senses a voltage between two terminals of the solid-state switch and turns off the solid-state switch based on the voltage.
16. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the sense circuit includes a comparator having a first input terminal, a second input terminal, and an output terminal, wherein the first input terminal is connected to the voltage sense terminal, wherein the second input terminal is connected to a reference voltage, and wherein the output terminal outputs a fault indicator.