Patent ID: 6370042
Filing Date: 2002-04-09
Classification: H02M,Y10S

Abstract:
A self-disabling and self-recovering converter comprising:a transformer connected to a power source and comprising an auxiliary winding for providing a self-supply voltage after start-up; an integrated circuit comprising circuitry and a plurality of pins connected thereto; a start-up circuit connected to the power source and to said integrated circuit; a rectifying circuit connected to said auxiliary winding for rectifying the self-supply voltage; an integrator regulator stage connected to said rectifying circuit for generating a regulated self-supply voltage for powering said integrated circuit; at least one external line and a sensor connected thereto for an electrical or physical quantity to be monitored, said at least one external line being biased through a first pin with the regulated self-supply voltage and being functionally coupled to a second pin when a threshold is surpassed; a sectionable voltage clamp chain connected between an output of said rectifying circuit and a voltage reference; a voltage divider connected to said integrator regulator stage for deriving a first voltage and a second voltage from the regulated self-supply voltage; a hysteresis comparator having a first input connected to said voltage divider for receiving the first voltage, and a second input connected through the second pin to said at least one external line; a first transistor comprising a control terminal connected to an output of said hysteresis comparator and being controlled thereby, a first conduction terminal connected to said voltage divider for receiving the second voltage, and a second conduction terminal connected to the voltage reference; a second transistor comprising a control terminal connected to the output of said hysteresis comparator and being controlled thereby, a first conduction terminal connected to said sectionable voltage clamp chain, and a second conduction terminal connected to the voltage reference for sectioning a portion of said sectionable voltage clamp chain to the voltage reference for self-supplying said integrated circuit; and at least one logic gate having an input connected to the output of said hysteresis comparator, and an output for providing a disabling logic command signal when the threshold is surpassed.