US 12,334,914 B2
Aging protection techniques for power switches
Bernhard Strzalkowski, Munich (DE)
Assigned to Analog Devices International Unlimited Company, Limerick (IE)
Filed by Analog Devices International Unlimited Company, Limerick (IE)
Filed on Dec. 16, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/067,479.
Application 18/067,479 is a continuation of application No. 16/717,817, filed on Dec. 17, 2019, granted, now 11,545,971.
Prior Publication US 2023/0188129 A1, Jun. 15, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G01R 31/327 (2006.01); G06F 11/00 (2006.01); H03K 17/082 (2006.01); H03K 17/08 (2006.01)
CPC H03K 17/082 (2013.01) [G01R 31/327 (2013.01); G06F 11/008 (2013.01); H03K 2017/0806 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A driver circuit for a power stage including at least two parallel-connected power switches, the driver circuit comprising:
a first driver configured to provide a first control signal to a first power switch of the at least two parallel-connected power switches in response to a command signal;
a second driver configured to provide a second control signal to a second power switch of the at least two parallel-connected power switches in response to the command signal;
a first amplifier configured to receive a first temperature-indicating signal of the first power switch and, in response, provide a first amplified temperature-indicating signal;
a second amplifier configured to receive a second temperature-indicating signal of the second power switch and, in response, provide a second amplified temperature-indicating signal;
a first junction temperature comparator circuit configured to compare the first amplified temperature-indicating signal to a temperature threshold to provide a first failure indication of the first power switch when the first amplified temperature-indicating signal exceeds the temperature threshold;
a second junction temperature comparator circuit configured to compare the second amplified temperature-indicating signal to the temperature threshold to provide a second failure indication of the second power switch when the second amplified temperature-indicating signal exceeds the temperature threshold; and
a logic circuit configured to:
receive the first and second failure indications from the first and second junction temperature comparator circuits; and
in response to the failure indications, disable the first and second drivers to reduce an output power of the power stage.