Patent ID: 8232772

Claim:
A method for protecting a load operating at a set operating voltage, comprising the steps of: receiving on a primary input an input voltage at a level above the set operating voltage; driving on an output a voltage translating circuit that is operable to lower the input voltage level to the set operating voltage level; connecting the primary input to the output with a switch; detecting an input over voltage condition wherein the input voltage exceeds a predetermined input over voltage limit; generating an input over voltage control signal responsive to detection of the input over voltage condition; detecting a battery over voltage condition wherein a variable battery voltage level to which a battery is currently charged exceeds the set operating voltage by a predetermined battery over voltage limit; generating a battery over voltage control signal responsive to detection of the battery over voltage condition; disconnecting the primary input from the output using a switch responsive to the input over voltage control signal when an input voltage limit is exceeded by the input voltage; and disconnecting the primary input from the output using the switch responsive to the battery over voltage control signal when the battery voltage level exceeds the battery over voltage limit.