CIRCUIT PROTECTION

Abstract

A circuit which is configured for connection between a voltage source and a load, and which is configured to function as an automatic, re-settable fuse with regard to providing current to the load. The circuit includes a switch and sensor, such as a field effect transistor (FET), which is connected to the voltage source and the load and which is configured to selectively provide current to the load, depending on whether an overload condition exists. There is circuitry in communication with the FET which is configured to periodically send pulses to the FET in an attempt to re-set the switch and sensor during an overload condition. The circuit is configured to stop providing current to the load during an overload condition, but is configured to provide current to the load upon the overload condition being rectified. The circuitry which is in communication with the field effect transistor and which is configured to periodically send pulses thereto includes a timing circuit and an oscillator. Also included is a circuit speed controller which is configured to control how often the pulses are provided to field effect transistor.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The organization and manner of the structure and operation of the invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals identify like elements in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a circuit which is in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, showing some of the components in block diagram form; and

FIG. 2 is a diagram similar to FIG. 1, but showing specific components of the circuit in more detail.

Claims

1. A circuit configured for connection between a voltage source and a load and configured to function as an automatic, re-settable fuse with regard to providing current to the load, said circuit comprising: a switch and sensor which is connected to the voltage source and the load and which is configured to selectively provide current to the load, depending on whether an overload condition exists; circuitry which is in communication with the switch and sensor and which is configured to periodically send pulses to the switch and sensor in an attempt to re-set the switch and sensor during an overload condition, wherein said circuit is configured to stop providing current to the load during an overload condition and is configured to provide current to the load upon the overload condition being rectified.

2. The circuit as recited in claim 1, wherein the switch and sensor comprises a field effect transistor.

3. The circuit as recited in claim 1, wherein the circuitry which is in communication with the switch and sensor and which is configured to periodically send pulses to the switch and sensor comprises a timing circuit and an oscillator which is connected to the input of the timing circuit.

4. The circuit as recited in claim 3, wherein the circuit is configured such that the timing circuit and oscillator do not operate to send pulses to the switch and sensor when an overload condition does not exist.

5. The circuit as recited in claim 1, wherein the switch and sensor comprises a field effect transistor, wherein the circuitry which is in communication with the field effect transistor and which is configured to periodically send pulses to the field effect transistor comprises a timing circuit and an oscillator which is connected to the input of the timing circuit, wherein the circuit is configured such that the timing circuit and oscillator do not operate to send pulses to the field effect transistor when an overload condition does not exist.

6. The circuit as recited in claim 1, further comprising a circuit speed controller which is configured to control how often the pulses from the circuitry are provided to the switch and sensor.

7. The circuit as recited in claim 6, wherein the circuit speed controller is connected to an output of the timing circuit.

8. The circuit as recited in claim 6, wherein the circuit speed controller comprises a capacitor.

9. The circuit as recited in claim 7, further comprising an inverter, wherein the switch and sensor comprises a field effect transistor, wherein the inverter is disposed between the output of the timing circuit and the field effect transistor.

10. The circuit as recited in claim 1, further comprising a signature translation circuit which is disposed between the voltage source and the switch and sensor.

11. The circuit as recited in claim 10, further comprising a communication interface in communication with the signature translation circuit.

12. The circuit as recited in claim 10, further comprising a light display in communication with signature translation circuit.

13. The circuit as recited in claim 10, further comprising a resistor which is disposed between connection points of the signature translation circuit.

14. The circuit as recited in claim 1, further comprising a voltage regulator configured to provide voltage to components of the circuit.

15. The circuit as recited in claim 1, wherein the switch and sensor comprises a field effect transistor and wherein the circuitry which is in communication with the switch and sensor and which is configured to periodically send pulses to the switch and sensor comprises a timing circuit and an oscillator which is connected to the input of the timing circuit, further comprising a diode which is connected to an input of the oscillator and is configured to selectively apply a signal to the oscillator, thereby rendering the oscillator and timing circuit operative whereupon the timing circuit periodically sends pulses to the field effect transistor.

16. The circuit as recited in claim 15, further comprising a circuit speed controller which is connected to an output of the timing circuit and is configured to control how often the pulses from the timing circuit are provided to the field effect transistor.

17. The circuit as recited in claim 16, wherein the circuit speed controller comprises a capacitor.

18. The circuit as recited in claim 16, further comprising an inverter disposed between the output of the timing circuit and the field effect transistor.

19. The circuit as recited in claim 1, wherein the switch and sensor comprises a field effect transistor having its source connected to the load and its drain connected to the voltage source.