Patent ID: 8018704

Claim:
A power controller system comprising: a switch control terminal for connection to a power switch for connecting a power supply to a load; a current detector sensing a current level through the switch, the current detector outputting an overcurrent signal when the current level is above a predetermined threshold; an analog timer connected to receive the overcurrent signal and, upon receiving the overcurrent signal, beginning a predetermined analog timer period, the analog timer generating a first timed out signal at the end of the predetermined analog timer period, the analog timer comprising a capacitor terminal for connection to a capacitor for causing the capacitor to have a varying voltage level, the analog timer having a threshold detector that determines when the voltage level of the capacitor meets a voltage threshold, the analog timer generating the first timed out signal when the voltage level meets the voltage threshold; a digital timer connected to receive the overcurrent signal and, upon receiving the overcurrent signal beginning a predetermined digital timer period, the digital timer generating a second timed out signal at the end of the predetermined digital timer period, the digital timer having a fixed digital timer period; and logic circuitry connected to an output of the analog timer and to an output of the digital timer for receiving the first timed out signal and the second timed out signal, the logic circuitry being connected to turn the power switch off upon an overcurrent signal continuing for a time equaling the first of the first timed out signal or the second timed out signal to be generated, wherein the digital timer provides a fixed maximum time that the power switch is on during an overcurrent situation.