Patent ID: 7940505
Filing Date: 2011-05-10
Classification: H03K

Abstract:
1. An apparatus comprising: an input terminal; an output terminal; a transistor having a first passive electrode, a second passive electrode, and a control electrode, wherein the first passive electrode is coupled to the input terminal, and wherein the second passive electrode is coupled to the output terminal; a driver that is coupled to the control electrode of the transistor; an over-temperature circuit that determines whether at least a portion of the apparatus is greater than a predetermined temperature when activated; an over-current circuit that determines whether a current through the transistor is greater than a predetermined current when activated; a short-circuit detector that determines whether a short-circuit condition is present when activated; and a controller that is coupled to the driver, the over-current circuit, the over-temperature circuit, and the short-circuit detector, wherein the controller activates the over-current circuit at a first predetermined interval, the over-temperature circuit at a second predetermined interval, and the short-circuit detector at a third predetermined interval, wherein the length of the first interval is greater than the length of the second predetermined interval, and wherein the length of the second predetermined interval is greater than the length of the third predetermined interval.