An electric-wire protection device includes a voltage adjustment unit that adjusts the voltage to a load, and a controller that includes a temperature calculation unit that calculates temperature information on an electric wire from a value of current, and makes the voltage adjustment unit into a shut-off state based on the temperature information. The temperature information is calculated from an amount of temperature changes based on the current value and a predetermined initial value. The controller shifts into a sleep state when a sleep condition is satisfied that includes a condition that the temperature information is lower than the initial value. The initial value when the controller returns from the sleep state is based on a convergence value of temperature in conducting energization on the electric wire at a maximum value of steady-state current.

An electric-wire protection device includes a voltage adjustment unit that adjusts the voltage to a load, and a controller that includes a temperature calculation unit that calculates temperature information on an electric wire from a value of current, and makes the voltage adjustment unit into a shut-off state based on the temperature information. The temperature information is calculated from an amount of temperature changes based on the current value and a predetermined initial value. The controller shifts into a sleep state when a sleep condition is satisfied that includes a condition that the temperature information is lower than the initial value. The initial value when the controller returns from the sleep state is based on a convergence value of temperature in conducting energization on the electric wire at a maximum value of steady-state current.

An electric wire protection device includes a voltage adjuster that adjusts voltage on a power source side to be supplied to a load and a controller that includes a temperature calculation part which calculates temperature information of an electric wire based on a current value flowing through the voltage adjuster. The controller sets a first time constant as a time constant used to calculate the temperature information while the voltage adjuster is in the interrupted state, and sets a second time constant as a time constant used to calculate the temperature information while the voltage adjuster supplies power to the load. The first time constant is a value larger than the second time constant and equal to or larger than an actual time constant of the electric wire, and the second time constant is a value smaller than the actual time constant of the electric wire.

An electric wire protection device includes a voltage adjuster that adjusts voltage on a power source side to be supplied to a load and a controller that includes a temperature calculation part which calculates temperature information of an electric wire based on a current value flowing through the voltage adjuster. The controller sets a first time constant as a time constant used to calculate the temperature information while the voltage adjuster is in the interrupted state, and sets a second time constant as a time constant used to calculate the temperature information while the voltage adjuster supplies power to the load. The first time constant is a value larger than the second time constant and equal to or larger than an actual time constant of the electric wire, and the second time constant is a value smaller than the actual time constant of the electric wire.

A protector for an electricity supply circuit includes: a power switch for switching between connection and disconnection of the electricity supply circuit; a controller configured to output a switching command signal to the power switch in accordance with an input signal; and a current detector for detecting current flowing to the electricity supply circuit. The controller includes: a lower limit threshold determination unit configured to determine whether or not an estimated temperature of a power line has dropped below a lower limit threshold; a timer for counting the time that passes after a load has been turned off, when the load is turned off by the power switch; and a mode switching unit configured to switch the controller to a sleep mode when a predetermined time is counted by the timer and the lower limit threshold determination unit determines that the estimated temperature has dropped below the lower limit threshold.

A protector for an electricity supply circuit includes: a power switch for switching between connection and disconnection of the electricity supply circuit; a controller configured to output a switching command signal to the power switch in accordance with an input signal; and a current detector for detecting current flowing to the electricity supply circuit. The controller includes: a lower limit threshold determination unit configured to determine whether or not an estimated temperature of a power line has dropped below a lower limit threshold; a timer for counting the time that passes after a load has been turned off, when the load is turned off by the power switch; and a mode switching unit configured to switch the controller to a sleep mode when a predetermined time is counted by the timer and the lower limit threshold determination unit determines that the estimated temperature has dropped below the lower limit threshold.

A switch device includes a switching element that connects/disconnects a current path from a power supply terminal to a ground terminal via a load, and an overcurrent protection circuit that limits output current flowing in the switching element to be an overcurrent limit value or less. When an output short circuit of the load is detected, the overcurrent protection circuit decreases the overcurrent limit value to be lower as a power supply voltage is higher. In addition, the switch device preferably includes a switching element that connects/disconnects a current path from a power supply terminal to a ground terminal via a load, an intermittent control unit that intermittently drives the switching element when an abnormality is detected, and an output voltage monitoring portion that disables the intermittent control unit until an output voltage applied to the load reaches its target value.

A switch device includes a switching element that connects/disconnects a current path from a power supply terminal to a ground terminal via a load, and an overcurrent protection circuit that limits output current flowing in the switching element to be an overcurrent limit value or less. When an output short circuit of the load is detected, the overcurrent protection circuit decreases the overcurrent limit value to be lower as a power supply voltage is higher. In addition, the switch device preferably includes a switching element that connects/disconnects a current path from a power supply terminal to a ground terminal via a load, an intermittent control unit that intermittently drives the switching element when an abnormality is detected, and an output voltage monitoring portion that disables the intermittent control unit until an output voltage applied to the load reaches its target value.

A semiconductor package includes a die pad and leads extending from the die pad. Each lead has a free end with outer surfaces extending at angles from one another. An electrically conductive plating material covers at least portions of the outer surfaces. A die attached to the die pad is electrically connected to the leads. An insulating layer extends over the leads and the die such that the free ends of the leads are exposed.

A device includes a relative temperature detector configured to determine a temperature difference between a device temperature sensed near a switch device and an ambient temperature sensed outside the switch device. The relative temperature detector is configured to generate a relative temperature output signal based on comparing the temperature difference to a relative temperature threshold. A power detector is configured to generate a power level signal based on comparing an indication of switch power of the switch device to a power threshold. The power level signal specifies whether the indication of switch power is above or below the power threshold. A thermal capacity control is configured to disable the switch device based on the power level signal specifying that the indication of switch power is above the power threshold and based on the relative temperature output signal indicating the temperature difference is above the relative temperature threshold.