US 12,316,147 B2
Method for operating an electronic circuit arrangement for electrical current limiting in a potentially explosive area
Manfred Sazinger, Igersheim (DE)
Assigned to ECOM INSTRUMENTS GMBH, (DE)
Filed by ECOM INSTRUMENTS GMBH, Assamstadt (DE)
Filed on Sep. 29, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/489,695.
Application 17/489,695 is a continuation of application No. PCT/EP2020/058922, filed on Mar. 30, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 10 2019 108 302.8 (DE), filed on Mar. 29, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0021225 A1, Jan. 20, 2022
Int. Cl. H02J 7/00 (2006.01); H01M 10/42 (2006.01); H02H 7/18 (2006.01)
CPC H02J 7/0031 (2013.01) [H01M 10/425 (2013.01); H02H 7/18 (2013.01); H01M 2010/4271 (2013.01)] 25 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for operating an electronic circuit arrangement for electrical current limiting in a potentially explosive area, the electronic circuit arrangement including at least one electrical consumer, which is supplied with electrical energy via an electrical supply line from an electrical battery which provides an electrical supply voltage, the method comprising:
switching at least one of at least two semiconductor switches present in the electrical supply line from a closed state to an open state such that the electrical supply line is interrupted in response to the total electrical voltage present at the semiconductor switches exceeding a predefined voltage threshold value; and
switching the at least one semiconductor switch from the open to the closed state only in response to an external electrical voltage being applied to the at least one electrical consumer, wherein the external electrical voltage applied to the at least one electrical consumer is larger than the electrical supply voltage provided by the electrical voltage source, and
wherein:
a first electrical input voltage, which depends on a sum of an electrical voltage present at the at least one electrical consumer and an electrical voltage present at the semiconductor switches, is provided at a first comparator input connection of at least one comparator circuit;
a second electrical input voltage, which depends on the electrical voltage present at the at least one electrical consumer, is provided at a second comparator input connection of the at least one comparator circuit; and
depending on the electrical voltages provided at the first and second comparator input connections, an electrical output signal for controlling and optionally switching the semiconductor switch is generated at a comparator output connection of the at least one comparator circuit.