Electronic circuits with wide dynamic range of on/off delay time

The present invention provides an electronic circuit with adjustable delay time for turning on or off an application device or an electronic load. The electronic circuit according to the present invention comprises a switch element for controlling power supplied to a load; and an activation element, coupled to the switch element, for activating the switch element to control power supplied to the load. The activation element includes a sensor for sensing whether there is a change in condition and for delaying activation by the activation element of the switch element upon sensing a change in condition. In one embodiment of the invention, the sensor includes a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) element; the switch element includes a metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET); and the activation element further includes a capacitor and a switch. A change in condition includes an overload and an increase in the ambient temperature.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates generally to electronic circuits, and more 
particularly to electronic circuits with adjustable delay time for turning 
on or off an application device or an electronic load. Such circuits may 
be used in overload protection applications. 
In a typical overload protection circuit, a resettable fuse, e.g., a 
positive temperature coefficient (PTC) device, is used. When there is a 
change in condition, such as occurrence of an overload, the PTC device 
trips and becomes a very large resistance, thus limiting the current flow 
and providing overload protection. When the new condition disappears, the 
resistance of PTC device decreases to its normal value, i.e., a low 
resistance value, and the application circuit resumes its normal 
operation. 
In many instances, it may desirable to provide a delay time in turning off 
or on an application device or an electronic load. It may further be 
desirable to provide an adjustable delay, time upon a change in condition, 
such as occurrence of an overload or overheat. Also, fault conditions may 
occur when an electric motor is stalled or an electronic load is short 
circuited by accident. Such a condition change may also be intentionally 
generated as input signal to provide a longer delay time in turning off or 
on an application device or an electronic load. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention provides an electronic circuit with adjustable delay 
time for turning on or off an application device or an electronic load. 
The electronic circuit according to the present invention comprises a 
switch element for controlling power supplied to a load; and an activation 
element, coupled to the switch element, for activating the switch element 
to control power supplied to the load. The activation element includes a 
sensor for sensing whether there is a change in condition and for delaying 
activation by the activation element of the switch element upon sensing a 
change in condition. 
In one embodiment of the invention, the sensor includes a positive 
temperature coefficient (PTC) element; the switch element includes a 
metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET); and the 
activation element further includes a capacitor and a switch. A change in 
condition includes an overload and an increase in the ambient temperature. 
Other objects and attainments together with a fuller understanding of the 
invention will become apparent and appreciated by referring to the 
following description and claims taken in conjunction with the 
accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
FIG. 1A shows a first embodiment according to the present invention. FIG. 
1B shows two curves illustrating the operation of the first embodiment 
under different conditions. As shown in FIG. 1A, a capacitor C1 is coupled 
to a voltage source VDD and is also to be coupled to a positive 
coefficient temperature (PTC) device Rp1 via a switch SW1. Rp1 is coupled 
to a gate electrode of an n-channel enhancement type, MOSFET Q1. A load 
RL1 is coupled between voltage source VDD and a drain electrode of 
transistor Q1. Transistor Q1 has its source electrode coupled to the 
ground. 
In this embodiment, when power is applied (i.e., when SW1 is closed), 
transistor Q1 is turned on and then turned off after a predetermined 
on-duration. If there is a change in condition, such as occurrence of an 
overload or overheat, which is thermally sensed by Rp1, the on-duration 
will be longer, i.e., the turn-off time will be later than under the 
normal condition, as will be described below in detail. 
At time t=0, SW1 is closed and current flows through C1, which behaves as a 
short circuit initially. Thus, the gate voltage Vg1 is equal to VDD, which 
turns on transistor Q1, causing the output current Io1 flowing through 
load RL1 at a maximum level of VDD/RL1. In other words, when switch SW1 is 
initially closed, load RL1 will be operated at the full power until after 
the time t=Rp1.cndot.C1, the RC constant, as illustrated by curve 1 in 
FIG. 1B. 
As capacitor C1 is been charging up gradually, the gate voltage Vg1 is 
decreasing, causing the current Io1 to gradually decrease. Eventually, 
after a time period of Rp1.cndot.C1, when capacitor C1 is fully charged, 
Vg1 becomes equal to the ground level, causing transistor Q1 to turn off. 
As a result, no current flows in load RL1, i.e., the output current Io1 is 
zero. 
If, however, at t=0 when switch SW1 is closed, there is an occurrence of an 
overload or overheat sensed by Rp1 as it may be caused by the ambient 
temperature for instance, the PTC device will become a large resistance 
Rp1'. In such case, it takes a longer time period of about: Rp1'.cndot.C1 
to fully charge capacitor C1 and load RL1 will be initially operated at 
the full power until after the time t=Rp1'.cndot.C1, as illustrated by 
curve 2 in FIG. 1B. Thus, there is a time delay in turning off transistor 
Q1, from Rp1.cndot.C1 to Rp1'.cndot.C1. 
As an example, if Rp1 is a polymeric PTC resistor, such as PolySwitch.RTM. 
device manufactured by Raychem Corporation, Menlo Park, Calif., its 
resistance value may change from, for instance, 1 ohm at 25.degree. C. to 
100M ohms at 150.degree. C., an 8 order of magnitude change. Also, if C1 
is equal to 1 .mu.F, the time constant t=Rp1.cndot.C1 will change from 1 
.mu.s to 100 s, an extremely wide dynamic range. Other types of PTC device 
may also be used. 
FIG. 2A shows a second embodiment according to the present invention. This 
second embodiment is a variation of the first embodiment in FIG. 1A. Its 
operation is similarly illustrated by the two curves in FIG. 2B. As shown 
in FIG. 2, a load RL2 has one end coupled to a switch SW2 and the other 
end coupled to a drain electrode of an n-channel enhancement type, MOSFET 
Q2. Switch SW2 is coupled to voltage source VDD. A capacitor C2 is coupled 
between the drain and gate electrodes of transistor Q2. A PTC device Rp2 
is coupled between the gate electrode of transistor Q2 and the ground. 
Transistor Q2 has its source electrode coupled to the ground. 
At time t=0, SW2 is closed and current flows through C2, which behaves as a 
short circuit initially. Thus, the gate voltage Vg2 is equal to VDD, which 
turns on transistor Q2, causing the output current Io2 flowing through 
load RL2 at a maximum level of VDD/RL2, as illustrated by curve 3 in FIG. 
2B. As capacitor C2 charges up gradually, the gate voltage Vg2 decreases, 
causing the current Io2 to gradually decrease. Eventually, after a time 
period of Rp2.cndot.C2, when capacitor C2 is fully charged, Vg2 becomes 
equal to the ground level, causing transistor Q2 to turn off. As a result, 
no current flows in load RL2, i.e., the output current Io2 is zero. 
If, at t=0 when switch SW2 is closed, there is an occurrence of an overload 
or overheat as it may be caused by the ambient temperature, the PTC device 
will trip and become a large resistance Rp2'. In such case, it takes a 
time period of about Rp2'.cndot.C2 to fully charge capacitor C2 and load 
RL1 will be initially operated at the full power until after the time 
t=Rp2'.cndot.C2, as illustrated by curve 4 in FIG. 2B. Thus, there is a 
time delay in turning off transistor Q2, from Rp2.cndot.C2 to 
Rp2'.cndot.C2. 
As an example, if Rp2 is a polymeric PTC resistor, such as PolySwitch.RTM. 
device manufactured by Raychem Corporation, Menlo Park, Calif., its 
resistance value may change from, for instance, 1 ohm at 25.degree. C. to 
100M ohms at 150.degree. C., an 8 order of magnitude change. Also, if C2 
is equal to 1 .mu.F, the time constant t=Rp2.cndot.C2 will change from 1 
.mu.s to 100 s, an extremely wide dynamic range. Other types of PTC device 
may also be used. 
FIG. 3A shows a third embodiment according to the present invention. FIG. 
3B shows two curves illustrating the operation of the third embodiment 
under different conditions. As shown in FIG. 3A, a PTC device Rp3 is 
coupled between voltage source VDD and a switch SW3, which is coupled to a 
gate electrode of an n-channel, enhancement type MOSFET Q3. A capacitor C3 
is coupled between the gate electrode of the transistor Q3 and the ground. 
A load RL3 is coupled between voltage source VDD and a drain electrode of 
transistor Q3. A source electrode of transistor Q3 is coupled to the 
ground. 
In the third embodiment, when power is applied (i.e., SW3 is closed), 
transistor Q3 is turned off and then turned on after a predetermined 
off-duration. If there is a change in condition, such as occurrence of an 
overload or overheat, the off-duration will be longer, i.e., the turn-on 
time will be later than under the normal condition, as will be described 
below in detail. 
At time t=0, SW3 is closed and current flows through Rp3 and C3, which 
behaves as a short circuit initially. Thus, the gate voltage Vg3=0, which 
keeps transistor Q3 off. Therefore, no current flows in load RL3 and the 
output current Io3 is zero, until after the time t=Rp3.cndot.C3, the RC 
constant, as illustrated by curve 5 in FIG. 3B. 
As capacitor C3 charges up gradually, the gate voltage Vg3 increases, 
causing the current Io3 to gradually increase. Eventually, after a time 
period of Rp3.cndot.C3, when capacitor C3 is; fully charged, Vg3 becomes 
equal to VDD. As a result, the output current flowing in load RL3 is at a 
maximum level of VDD/RL3, as illustrated by curve 5 in FIG. 3B. 
If, however, at t=0 when switch SW3 is closed, there is an occurrence of an 
overload or overheat as it may be caused by the ambient or load 
temperature values, the PTC device resistance will increase and become a 
larger resistance Rp3'. In such case, it takes a time period of about 
Rp3'.cndot.C3 to fully charge capacitor C3 and load RL3 will be operated 
at the full power only after the time t=Rp3'.cndot.C3, as illustrated by 
curve 6 in FIG. 3B. Thus, there is a time delay in turning on transistor 
Q3, from Rp3.cndot.C3 to Rp3'.cndot.C3. 
As an example, if Rp3 is a polymeric PTC resistor, such as PolySwitch.RTM. 
device manufactured by Raychem Corporation, Menlo Park, Calif., its 
resistance value may change from, for instance, 1 ohm at 25.degree. C. to 
100M ohms at 150.degree. C., an 8 order of magnitude change. Also, if C3 
is equal to 1 .mu.F, the time constant t=Rp3.cndot.C3 will change from 1 
.mu.s to 100 s, an extremely wide dynamic range. Other types of PTC device 
may also be used. 
FIG. 4A shows a fourth embodiment according to the present invention. This 
embodiment is a variation of the third embodiment in FIG. 3A. Its 
operation is similarly illustrated by the two curves in FIG. 4B. As shown 
in FIG. 4, a load RL4 is coupled between a switch SW4 and a drain 
electrode of an n-channel enhancement type, MOSFET Q4. Switch SW4 is 
coupled to voltage source VDD. A PTC device Rp4 is coupled between a load 
RL4 and a gate electrode of transistor Q4. A capacitor C4 is coupled 
between the drain and gate electrodes of transistor Q4. The source 
electrode of transistor Q4 is coupled to the ground. 
At time t=0, SW4 is closed and current flows through Rp4 and C4, which 
behaves as a short circuit initially. Thus, the gate voltage Vg4 is equal 
to the ground, which turns off transistor Q4. Therefore, no current flows 
in load RL4 and the output current Io4 is zero, as illustrated by curve 7 
in FIG. 4B. As capacitor C4 charges up gradually, the gate voltage Vg4 
increases, causing the current Io4 to gradually increase. Eventually, 
after a time period of Rp4.cndot.C4, when capacitor C4 is fully charged, 
Vg4 becomes equal to VDD. As a result, the current flowing in load RL4, 
i.e., Io4 is at a maximum level of VDD/RL4, as illustrated by curve 8 in 
FIG. 4B. 
If, at t=0 when switch SW4 is closed, there is an occurrence of an overload 
or overheat as it may be caused by the ambient or load temperature, the 
PTC device will trip and become a large resistance Rp4'. In such case, it 
takes a time period of about Rp4'.cndot.C4 to fully charge capacitor C4 
and load RL4 will be operated at the full power after the time 
t=Rp4'.cndot.C4, as illustrated by curve 8 in FIG. 4B. Thus, there is a 
time delay in turning on transistor Q4, from Rp4.cndot.C4 to 
Rp4'.cndot.C4. 
As an example, if Rp4 is a polymeric PTC resistor, such as PolySwitch.RTM. 
device manufactured by Raychem Corporation, Menlo Park, Calif., its 
resistance value may change from, for instance, 1 ohm at 25.degree. C. to 
100M ohms at 150.degree. C., an 8 order of magnitude change. Also, if C4 
is equal to 1 .mu.F, the time constant t=Rp4.cndot.C4 will change from 1 
.mu.s to 100 s, an extremely wide dynamic range. Other types of PTC device 
may also be used. 
In the above four embodiments, the operations have been described in 
connection with an situation in which the PTC devices were initially in a 
normal condition and later becomes a large resistance. If the PTC device 
is initially overheated with a large resistance value and later cools 
down, the curves illustrated will change in the reverse direction. For 
instance, in the first embodiment, when the PTC device Rp1 changes from a 
hot condition to a cold condition, the operation curves change from curve 
2 to curve 1. 
While the invention has been described in conjunction with several specific 
embodiments, it is evident to those skilled in the art that many further 
alternatives, modifications, applications and variations will be apparent 
in light of the foregoing description. For example, a resistor may also be 
connected in series with the PTC device in the first and second 
embodiments for adjusting the on-duration ranges of the transistors. Also, 
a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) device may be used in place of 
the PTC device with appropriate changes in the polarities. Thus, the 
invention described herein is intended to embrace all such alternatives, 
modifications, applications and variations as may fall within the spirit 
and scope of the appended claims.