US 11,990,897 B2
Current control device for control of supply current with low-side and high-side switch elements and duration measurement
Yasuo Shima, Hitachinaka (JP); Keishi Komoriyama, Hitachinaka (JP); and Yoichiro Kobayashi, Hitachinaka (JP)
Assigned to Hitachi Astemo, Ltd., Hitachinaka (JP)
Appl. No. 17/613,326
Filed by Hitachi Astemo, Ltd., Hitachinaka (JP)
PCT Filed May 22, 2020, PCT No. PCT/JP2020/020233
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Nov. 22, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/241469, PCT Pub. Date Dec. 3, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 2019-099725 (JP), filed on May 28, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0230794 A1, Jul. 21, 2022
Int. Cl. H01H 47/32 (2006.01); H01F 7/18 (2006.01); H03K 17/687 (2006.01)
CPC H03K 17/6874 (2013.01) [H01F 7/1844 (2013.01); H01H 47/325 (2013.01); H03K 2217/0063 (2013.01); H03K 2217/0072 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A current control device comprising:
a high-side switch element that electrically connects a solenoid, which has one end grounded to a ground power source, to a battery power source;
a low-side switch element that electrically connects the solenoid to the ground power source;
a switch control circuit that controls a supply current with respect to the solenoid by turning on one of the high-side switch element and the low-side switch element and turning off a remaining one of the high-side switch element and the low-side switch element; and
a time measurement circuit that measures an ON duration of the low-side switch element, wherein
when the ON duration of the low-side switch element reaches a predetermined time, the low-side switch element is temporarily turned off while keeping the high-side switch element off.