US 12,413,064 B2
Short-circuit detector for electronic fuse circuit
Jiri Forejtek, Vidce (CZ); and Petr Rozsypal, Hutisko-Solanec (CZ)
Assigned to SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC, Scottsdale, AZ (US)
Filed by SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC, Scottsdale, AZ (US)
Filed on Jun. 19, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/337,382.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/373,892, filed on Aug. 30, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0072530 A1, Feb. 29, 2024
Int. Cl. H02H 3/087 (2006.01); H03K 17/082 (2006.01)
CPC H02H 3/087 (2013.01) [H03K 17/0822 (2013.01); H03K 2217/0027 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electronic fuse comprising:
a power transistor coupled between an input and an output of the electronic fuse, the power transistor configurable in an OFF condition to disconnect the input from the output while a short-circuit condition exists at the output; and
a clamp circuit configured to generate a clamp signal in response to the short-circuit condition, the clamp circuit including:
a sense transistor coupled in parallel with the power transistor;
a diode-connected transistor coupled to the input of the electronic fuse and in series with the sense transistor, the diode-connected transistor configured to conduct while the short-circuit condition exists so that the sense transistor conducts a sensed current corresponding to a current conducted by the power transistor while the short-circuit condition exists; and
a trigger circuit configured to generate the clamp signal to configure the power transistor in the OFF condition based on the sensed current.