A power semiconductor circuit includes a power semiconductor device for switching a load, and a comparator which is directly or indirectly connected to the power semiconductor device at a connection point for the load by means of a first input and to which a predefined or predefinable reference voltage can be fed at a second input, the power semiconductor device being activatable by means of an output of the comparator.

The application relates to co-packaged controlled overcurrent handling of a power switch assembly. The power switch assembly includes a power switch and an overcurrent handling logic. The overcurrent handling logic includes an overcurrent detection circuit configured to detect an overcurrent condition of a load current of the power switch and to provide an overcurrent detection signal indicative of an overcurrent condition of the load current of the power switch and a discharge current generation circuit coupled to the overcurrent detection circuit, and configured to generate a discharge current to at least partially discharge a control terminal of the power switch responsive to the overcurrent detection signal.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a protective circuit to be used in a digital output module, the digital output module comprises a first voltage source and at least an output terminal. The protective circuit comprises: a first sampling unit for sampling a first voltage relevant to the output current from the first voltage source, a first comparing unit for comparing the sampled first voltage with a first reference voltage, a control unit for generating a current regulating signal based on a result from the first comparing unit, and a current regulating unit for regulating the output current from the first voltage source based on the current regulating signal. This protective circuit provides overflowing and short circuit protection, and is cheap in cost.

Devices and methods are provided, which detect a short circuit condition related to a semiconductor switch. A short circuit condition may be determined when a control signal of the switch exceeds a first reference, and a change of load current of the switch exceeds a second reference.

The present application discloses new approaches to providing passive-off protection for a B-TRAN-like device. Even if the control circuitry is inactive, AC coupling uses transient voltage on the external terminals to prevent forward biasing an emitter junction. Preferably the same switches which implement diode-mode and pre-turnoff operation are used as part of the passive-off circuit operation.

A power supply device includes an output circuit configured to be supplied with electric power from a power supply, and to output a current, a driving circuit configured to control an output operation of the output circuit to output a current, an overcurrent detection circuit configured to output a detection signal to a first node when detecting an overcurrent in the output circuit, an off-state fixing circuit configured to output an off-state fixing signal to the driving circuit for performing a forcible suspension of the output operation of the output circuit based on a detection signal inputted to the first node, regardless of whether a control signal is outputted, and a control unit configured to receive the detection signal and to output the control signal for controlling the output operation to the driving circuit in order to cause the driving circuit to control the output operation.

A driving circuit includes a power switch driver and a plurality of current-limiting circuits. The power switch driver is configured to output a driving signal according to a switching signal. Each of the current-limiting circuits has an input terminal electrically coupled to a corresponding one of output terminals of the power switch driver respectively. Output terminals of the current-limiting circuits are electrically coupled to a control terminal of a power switch. The power switch driver is configured to selectively output the driving signal to one of a plurality of output terminals according to a load state of the power switch, such that the driving signal is outputted to the control terminal of the power switch via one of the current-limiting circuits.

A method for protecting a power switch during turn-on includes sensing that a change in current through the power switch is in regulation, measuring a time that the change in current through the power switch is in regulation, and comparing the time that the change in current through the power switch is in regulation to a reference time. An over current signal, which can be used to disable the power switch, is generated if the time that the change in current through the power switch is in excess of the reference time.

A driving circuit includes a power switch driver and a plurality of current-limiting circuits. The power switch driver is configured to output a driving signal according to a switching signal. Each of the current-limiting circuits has an input terminal electrically coupled to a corresponding one of output terminals of the power switch driver respectively. Output terminals of the current-limiting circuits are electrically coupled to a control terminal of a power switch. The power switch driver is configured to selectively output the driving signal to one of a plurality of output terminals according to a load state of the power switch, such that the driving signal is outputted to the control terminal of the power switch via one of the current-limiting circuits.

A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor switching element, a correction current voltage generation circuit, a voltage dividing circuit, an overcurrent protection circuit, and a drive circuit. The switching element is capable of outputting a sense current from its sense terminal. A sense resistor receives the sense current from the sense terminal and produces a sense voltage. The correction current voltage generation circuit generates a correction voltage. The voltage dividing circuit can output a corrected sense voltage by performing resistance voltage dividing on the sense voltage and the correction voltage with resistors. The overcurrent protection circuit is supplied with the corrected sense voltage and outputs a halt signal to the drive circuit when the corrected sense voltage Vin is higher than a threshold voltage.