An integrated circuit includes an output terminal, an analog output circuit, a digital output circuit, and a protection circuit. The analog output circuit includes an output coupled to the output terminal. The digital output circuit includes an output. The protection circuit includes a protection transistor and a comparator circuit. The protection transistor includes a first terminal coupled to the output of the digital output circuit, a second terminal coupled to the output terminal, and a control terminal. The comparator circuit includes a first input coupled to the output terminal, a second input coupled to a reference current source, and an output coupled to the control terminal of the protection transistor.

An embodiment of the present disclosure relates to an electronic circuit including a first switch coupling a first node of the circuit to an input/output terminal of the circuit; a second switch coupling the first node to a second node of application of a fixed potential; and a high-pass filter having an input coupled to the terminal and an output coupled to a control terminal of the second switch.

A module for the interconnection between an electrical circuit breaker and an electrical contactor includes a housing and multiple high-power electrical conductors that are housed inside the housing, each of the high-power electrical conductors being suitable for electrically connecting an electrical output of a circuit breaker to an electrical input of a contactor, in order to allow a supply electric current to flow from the circuit breaker to the contactor. This interconnection module additionally includes a voltage sensor, which sensor is suitable for detecting the presence of a voltage between at least two of the high-power electrical conductors.

A memory system includes a connector through which power for the memory system is to be supplied from an external device, a controller, a nonvolatile memory device, a power source circuit connected to the controller and the nonvolatile memory device by power lines through which power is supplied to the controller and the nonvolatile memory device, and a power source control circuit that receives a supply of power from the external device through the connector and supplies the power to the power control circuit. The power source control circuit is configured to detect using a divided voltage of a voltage of the power supplied thereto, that the voltage of the power supplied thereto is higher than a predetermined voltage and interrupt the power supplied to the power control circuit if the voltage of the power supplied thereto is higher than the predetermined voltage.

A data storage device includes a power supply circuit configured to supply power to the data storage device. The power supply circuit includes a voltage clamp configured to operate in a conduction state in response to an over-voltage condition of the power supply circuit. The power supply circuit also includes a fuse in series with the voltage clamp. The fuse is configured to open in response to a current flow through the fuse and the voltage clamp exceeding a threshold value. The power supply circuit also includes a switching device that is configured to latch in a forward conduction mode in response to the voltage clamp operating in the conduction state. The switching device couples power from a positive voltage bus to the voltage clamp when the switching device is in the forward conduction mode.

An apparatus, system and method of controlling the supply of DC current from a power source to an electrical load provides for a protective circuit that senses the characteristics of the connected load prior to permitting the enablement of a switch connecting the supply and the load. A voltage arising from applying a constant current to the load during a time period is compared with a predetermined threshold determined by the intended capacity of the switch so that, when closed, the current through the switch is compatible with the switch. The protective circuit may be used in conjunction with semiconductor switches, electromechanical contactors or relays. A plurality of such devices may be incorporated in an enclosure and controlled by logic so as to manage the supply of power from a power source to a plurality of electrical loads having differing power requirements.

The present disclosure describes a system and method for protecting an electronic device from high voltages that may exceed tolerance limits for circuitry within the electronic device. A protection circuit blocks high voltages from the device components through gating techniques. Such gating techniques may similarly be used to control whether power is received by the electronic components when an error condition is detected by a control unit.

Certain aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to methods and apparatus for providing overvoltage protection for circuitry coupled to connector ports, such as USB-C ports. One example circuit for overvoltage protection between a connector port and a signal node corresponding to the connector port generally includes a first switch having a first terminal for coupling to the connector port and having a second terminal for coupling to the signal node; a first resistive element coupled in parallel with the first switch; a first transient protection circuit coupled between the signal node and a reference potential node; and a control circuit having an input coupled to the signal node and having a first output coupled to a control input of the first switch.

Various embodiments relate to a protection circuit, comprising: a pad configured to input an external voltage from a connector; a first circuit branch connected to the pad and configured to receive a fast ramp-up over voltage at the pad; a second circuit branch connected to the pad and configured to receive a ramp-up over voltage at the pad; a third circuit branch connected to the pad and configured to output an over voltage detection signal when an over voltage is received at the pad, wherein the third circuit branch includes a voltage divider with a variable resistor with a variable voltage node and an enable switch; and a logic circuit including an enabling transistor configured to control the variable resistor and the enable switch.

A method for reactivation of an electrical system of a vehicle comprising a first electrical system operating at a first lower voltage and a second electrical system operating at a second higher voltage, comprising: detecting a fault or a crash situation in the second electrical system; disconnecting a power source of the second electrical system; determining the fault of the second electrical system is no longer present or that the crash situation is resolved; reconnecting the power source to the second electrical system and increasing the voltage of the second electrical system from zero to an intermediate voltage lower than the second voltage; and if a detected current in the second electrical system is higher than a current threshold value; or if a detected voltage of the first electrical system is higher than a voltage threshold value; reducing the voltage of the second electrical system to zero.