IP Library Granted Patent US 9,312,684
Granted Patent B2
US 9,312,684 · App. 14/327,119 · Granted Apr 12, 2016

Solid state switch

Inventor: William E. Bowman (Fishers, IN)
Assignee: REMY TECHNOLOGIES, LLC.
H02H7/08H03K17/08142H03K17/122
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 9,312,684
App. No.
14/327,119
Granted
Apr 12, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A solid-state switch includes a plurality of transistors connected in parallel and a plurality of fuses. Each fuse is connected in series with a separate one of the plurality of transistors. A combination of current ratings of the plurality of fuses is greater than a load current of a load connected to the plurality of transistors and the plurality of fuses, and a current rating of each separate fuse of the plurality of fuses is less than the load current.

Claims (34)

1. A solid-state switch, comprising:

a plurality of transistors connected in parallel;

a plurality of fuses, each fuse of the plurality of fuses connected in series with a separate one of the plurality of transistors;

wherein a combination of current ratings of the plurality of fuses is greater than a load current of a load connected to the plurality of transistors and the plurality of fuses, and

a current rating of each separate fuse of the plurality of fuses less than the load current.

2. The solid-state switch of claim 1 , wherein a combined current rating of at least two of the plurality of fuses, less than all of the plurality of fuses, is greater than the load current.

3. The solid-state switch of claim 1 , wherein the load is a motor, and

the solid-state switch activates a solenoid switch to supply the load current to the load.

4. The solid-state switch of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fuses includes wires bonding a die including the plurality of transistors to a semiconductor chip package.

5. The solid-state switch of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fuses includes wiring of a predetermined width and length on a substrate.

6. The solid-state switch of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of transistors and plurality of fuses are configured such that the load current is divided among the plurality of transistors based on an activation voltage being supplied to a shared gate connection of the plurality of transistors, and the load current flows through a first transistor of the plurality of transistors to open a first fuse of the plurality of fuses based on the first transistor being stuck in an activated state while the activation voltage is removed from the shared gate connection of the plurality of transistors.

7. The solid-state switch of claim 1 , wherein a first fuse among the plurality of fuses is configured to be opened while the remaining fuses among the fuses are configured to remain intact based on a first transistor of the plurality of transistors remaining in an activated stated while an activation voltage is removed from a shared gate of the plurality of transistors.

8. The solid-state switch of claim 7 , wherein the remaining transistors other than the first transistor are configured to pass the load current based on the activation voltage being re-applied to the shared gate of the plurality of transistors after the first fuse is opened.

9. A solid-state switch, comprising:

a first transistor;

a first fuse connected to one of a source and a drain of the first transistor and to a common node;

a second transistor having a gate connected to a gate of the first transistor;

a second fuse connected to one of a source and a drain of the second transistor and to the common node;

a third transistor having a gate connected to the gates of the first and second transistors; and

a third fuse connected to one of a source and a drain of the third transistor and to the common node,

wherein the first transistor and first fuse are connected in parallel with the second transistor and the second fuse, and with the third transistor and the third fuse,

a current rating of each of the first, second and third fuses is less than a load current of a load connected to the first, second and third transistors, and

a combination of the current ratings of the first, second and third fuses is greater than the load current.

10. The solid-state switch of claim 9 , wherein a combined current rating of any two of the first, second and third fuses is greater than the load current.

11. The solid-state switch of claim 9 , wherein the first, second and third fuses include wires bonding a die including the first, second and third transistors to a semiconductor chip package.

12. The solid-state switch of claim 9 , wherein the first, second and third fuses include wiring of a predetermined width and length on a substrate.

13. A motor assembly, comprising:

a battery;

a load configured to operate at a load current; and

a solid-state switch connected between the battery and the load, the solid-state switch comprising a plurality of transistors connected in parallel between the battery and the load and a plurality of fuses connected in series with the plurality of transistors, such that each one of the plurality of fuses is connected in series with a separate one of the plurality of transistors, the plurality of transistors and the plurality of fuses configured such that a first fuse of the plurality of fuses is opened to prevent current flow through a first transistor based on the rest of the transistors being turned off and the first transistor remaining on.

14. The motor assembly of claim 13 , wherein a combined current rating of the plurality of fuses is greater than the load current, and

a current rating of each one of the plurality of fuses is less than the load current.

15. The motor assembly of claim 13 , wherein a combined current rating of at least two of the plurality of fuses is greater than the load current.

16. The motor assembly of claim 13 , wherein the load is a motor connected to the solid-state switch via a solenoid switch.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 14, 2017
From: REMY TECHNOLOGIES, L.L.C.
To: BORGWARNER INC.
Reel/Frame 043539/0619 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 28, 2015
From: BOWMAN, WILLIAM E.
To: REMY TECHNOLOGIES, LLC.
Reel/Frame 037365/0765 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61844210 · Jul 9, 2013
Related Publication 20150015998A1 · Jan 15, 2015