Patent ID: 7737762

Claim:
A method of operating a microprocessor controlled solid-state switch having a metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) based output stage for switching a load, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a command to put the solid-state switch in a conductive state; checking a wait timer for a zero duration; repeating the step of checking, when the duration is non-zero; generating an input signal pulse from the microprocessor to put the output stage in a conductive state, when the duration is zero; taking a sample voltage at the output stage; responsive to the sample voltage, determining that the switch is in one of a short-circuit condition and a non-short-circuit condition; resetting the wait timer to a pre-determined non-zero value and repeating the step of checking, when the switch is in a short-circuit condition; and generating an input signal from the microprocessor to put the output stage in a sustained conductive state, when the switch is in a non-short-circuit condition.