Patent ID: 8283808

Claim:
A switch arrangement, comprising: a first and a second terminal; a first switch comprising: a control terminal, a first terminal which is coupled to the first terminal of the switch arrangement, and a second terminal which is coupled to the second terminal of the switch arrangement; a current sensor for the measurement of a load current flowing through the first switch; a first control circuitry which is coupled to an output terminal of the current sensor and to the control terminal of the first switch for providing a first signal to the control terminal of the first switch for current limitation of the load current by a first threshold signal, the first control circuitry comprises: an operational transconductance amplifier having: a first input terminal which receives the first threshold signal; a second input terminal which is coupled to the output terminal of the current sensor; and an output terminal which is coupled to the control terminal of the first switch; a second control circuitry which is coupled to the control terminal of the first switch for providing a second signal to the control terminal of the first switch, wherein the second signal depends on a first mode signal; and a protection circuitry against short circuit which is connected to the output terminal of the current sensor and couples the control terminal of the first switch to a reference potential terminal, the protection circuitry comprises: a comparator having: a first input terminal which is coupled to the output terminal of the current sensor; a second input terminal which receives a second threshold signal; and an output terminal; and a fourth switch having: a first terminal which is coupled to the control terminal of the first switch; a second terminal which is coupled to the reference potential terminal; and a control terminal which is coupled to the output terminal of the comparator, the protection circuitry comprises a logic gate having a first input terminal which is coupled to the output terminal of the comparator, a second input terminal which receives a third mode signal, and an output terminal which is coupled to the control terminal of the fourth switch, wherein a second mode signal and the third mode signal are equal signals, and the first mode signal is an inverted signal of the second mode signal, and wherein the logic gate has a function equivalent to an AND-gate.