In one form, a reference circuit includes a measurement circuit and a determination circuit. The measurement circuit has an output for providing a ratio of a difference in base-to-emitter voltage (V.sub.BE) of a bipolar device at different current densities to a V.sub.BE of the bipolar device at a first current density. The determination circuit has an input coupled to the measurement circuit, and an output for providing a digital value of a parameter in response to the ratio. In another form, the reference circuit further includes a voltage generation circuit having an input coupled to the determination circuit, and an output, for modulating an analog voltage using the digital value to provide a reference voltage to the output, wherein the reference voltage is temperature compensated over a temperature range.

According to one embodiment, a current detecting circuit includes: a normally-ON type first switching element that includes a drain, a source, and a gate; a normally-OFF type second switching element including a drain that is connected to the source of the first switching element, a source that is connected to the gate of the first switching element, and a gate; and a differential amplification circuit that outputs a voltage according to a voltage between the drain and the source of the second switching element.

A battery charger and method is disclosed for detecting when a battery has a low state of health while simultaneously charging or maintaining the battery. A battery charger includes a processor; a non-transitory memory device; a power management device to receive an input power and to output a charging current; a pair of electrical conductors to electrically couple with a battery, and a display electrically coupled to the processor. The display being configured to indicate a bad battery indicator when the battery has a low state of health and whether the battery is good to start.

Herein disclosed is an error warning module, installed in an electronic device, comprising a detection unit and a processing unit. The detection unit detects a current or a voltage being transmitted by the electronic device to generate a current detection signal or a voltage detection signal. The processing unit, electrically connected to the detection unit, determines whether a current detection value indicated by the current detection signal exceeds a current setting range, or whether a voltage detection value indicated by the voltage detection signal exceeds a voltage setting range. When the current detection value exceeds the current setting range or the voltage detection value exceeds the voltage setting range, the processing unit generates a warning signal.

According to one embodiment, a current detecting circuit includes: a normally-ON type first switching element that includes a drain, a source, and a gate; a normally-OFF type second switching element including a drain that is connected to the source of the first switching element, a source that is connected to the gate of the first switching element, and a gate; and a differential amplification circuit that outputs a voltage according to a voltage between the drain and the source of the second switching element.

An amplification interface includes first and second differential input terminals, first and second differential output terminals providing first and second output voltages defining a differential output signal, and first and second analog integrators coupled between the first and second differential input terminals and the first and second differential output terminals, the first and second analog integrators being resettable by a reset signal. A control circuit generates the reset signal such that the first and second analog integrators are periodically reset during a reset interval and activated during a measurement interval, receives a control signal indicative of offsets in the measurement sensor current and the reference sensor current, and generates a drive signal as a function of the control signal. First and second current generators coupled first and second compensation circuits to the first and second differential input terminals as a function of a drive signal.

A battery charger and method is disclosed for detecting when a battery has a low state of health while simultaneously charging or maintaining the battery. A battery charger includes a processor; a non-transitory memory device; a power management device to receive an input power and to output a charging current; a pair of electrical conductors to electrically couple with a battery, and a display electrically coupled to the processor. The display being configured to indicate a bad battery indicator when the battery has a low state of health and whether the battery is good to start.

The present invention relates to a power circuit, which comprises a detection circuit. The detection circuit includes an abnormality detection circuit. The abnormality detection circuit is coupled to an input terminal or/and an output terminal of the power circuit. An input power is provided to the input terminal, and an output power is provided to the output terminal. The abnormality detection circuit controls the paths from a plurality of energy storage elements to the input terminal and the output terminal of the power circuit. The energy storage elements store the energy of the input power to generate the output power. The abnormality detection circuit detects the state of the input power or/and the output power, and cuts off the paths from a portion of the energy storage elements to the input terminal and the output terminal.

A battery charger and method is disclosed for detecting when a battery has a low state of health while simultaneously charging or maintaining the battery. A battery charger includes a processor; a non-transitory memory device; a power management device to receive an input power and to output a charging current; a pair of electrical conductors to electrically couple with a battery, and a display electrically coupled to the processor. The display being configured to indicate a bad battery indicator when the battery has a low state of health and whether the battery is good to start.

An object is to provide a new electronic control unit that can improve detection accuracy of a sense current even in a region where the current value of the sense current is small. Provided is a sense current detection unit including a plurality of sense transistors that have different current flow rates and that are connected to current output transistors controlling a current flowing in a coil load. The current in the sense current detection unit is input to an analog/digital converter, and the current value of the current flowing in the sense current detection unit is converted into a digital value. The current value of the current flowing in the sense current detection unit is increased through a combination or a selection of the plurality of sense transistors of the sense current detection unit in a region where the current value of the main current of the current output transistors is small compared to a region where the current value of the main current is large.