A method for managing overcurrent protection in a self-controlled permanent-magnet synchronous motor of a motor vehicle is disclosed. The method makes it possible to adjust the activation threshold for overcurrent protection in the synchronous motor. In particular, the activation threshold is variable and depends, inter alia, on parameters representative of the temperature of the components of the synchronous motor.

In accordance with an embodiment, a circuit includes: a supply pin and an output pin for connecting a load, and a configuration pin; a semiconductor switch connected between the supply pin and the output pin and configured to establish or to block a current path between the supply pin and the output pin depending on a control signal; and a control circuit configured to generate the control signal for the semiconductor switch taking account of a first parameter, and set the first parameter depending on a component parameter of an external component connected to the configuration pin. The first parameter is set to a first standard value when the component parameter is less than a first threshold value, and the first parameter is set to a second standard value when the component parameter is greater than a second threshold value.

An overcurrent protection circuit limits a monitoring target current to or below a limit current value IOCP. For example, it can operate so as to give the limit current value IOCP, when temperature Tj is lower than a threshold value Tx, a flat temperature response and, when temperature Tj is higher than the threshold value Tx, a negative temperature response. For another example, it can operate so as to set the limit current value IOCP, when temperature Tj is lower than a threshold value Tx, at a first limit current value IOCP having a flat temperature response and, when temperature Tj is higher than the threshold value Tx, at a second limit current value IOCP having a flat temperature response and lower than the first limit current value IOCP.

A voltage regulation apparatus and an overcurrent protection method are disclosed. The voltage regulation apparatus includes a current detection control circuit, a power stage circuit, a voltage input terminal, and a voltage output terminal. The power stage circuit includes at least one transistor. Because a current parameter indicates a load current of the at least one transistor, and a plurality of preset overcurrent protection thresholds are dynamic overcurrent protection thresholds obtained after being preset based on temperature information and the like, after obtaining the current parameter, the current detection control circuit compares the current parameter with the plurality of preset overcurrent protection thresholds, to output a control signal, to implement a limiting operation on the current parameter.

An overcurrent protection circuit includes an amplifier configured to amplify an inter-terminal voltage of a shunt resistor, an offset application circuit configured to allow the amplifier to provide an output with a predetermined offset voltage additionally applied thereto, a first comparator that compares an output voltage from the amplifier with a predetermined first reference voltage higher than the offset voltage to output a through-current sensing signal when the output voltage from the amplifier is higher than a first reference voltage, and an amplifier failure determination circuit that compares the output voltage from the amplifier with a predetermined second reference voltage that is higher than zero and lower than the offset voltage to output an amplification circuit failure determination signal corresponding to a result of the comparison.

A circuit breaker having a mechanical switch introduced into a main current path, which comprises a fixed contact and a moving contact connected to a movably mounted contact bridge. The circuit breaker comprises a drive, which is in active connection with the contact bridge, and which comprises a first drive unit and a second drive unit. The first drive unit is energized via a control circuit, and the second drive unit is connected in parallel to a resistor element introduced into the main current path. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle.

A controllable main breaker includes a main breaker sized to fit within an existing panel slot of an electrical panel. The main breaker comprises a trigger to open the main breaker in response to a thermal fault or overcurrent event. The controllable main breaker further includes an auxiliary shell sized to fit within at least one adjacent breaker slot. The auxiliary shell includes a controllable actuator that mechanically opens the main breaker.

A device comprises a solid-state power switch and a control configured to operate the power switch if at least one of a plurality of fault conditions of the device is triggered. An interface is configured to output a signal having a value selectively indicative of the triggered at least one fault condition in response to the at least one fault condition being triggered.

The stall delay power surge protector is a copper terminal strip that is designed to increase the life of any battery, voltage regulator or starter by acting as a surge protector or a heat sink that dissipates heat only for electrical current. The stall delay power surge protector would be attached and fused into a battery cable that leads to the battery on one end and attached and fused to an electrical wire leading to the voltage regulator or starter on the opposite end of the stall delay power surge protector, thus requiring no direct connection of the stall delay power surge protector to the battery, voltage regulator or starter of any car, boat, motorcycle, riding lawn mower, tractor, truck or RV.

An embodiment electronic circuit includes an electronic switch comprising a load path, a first protection circuit configured to generate a first protection signal based on a current-time-characteristic of a load current through the load path of the electronic switch, and a drive circuit configured to drive the electronic switch based on the first protection signal. The first protection circuit includes an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) configured to receive an ADC input signal representing the load current, to sample the ADC input signal once in each of a plurality of successive sampling periods, and to output an ADC output signal that includes a sequence of values such that each of the values represents a respective sample of the ADC input signal. The ADC is configured to pseudo-randomly select a sample time in each sampling period.