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EP-4742536-A1 - POWER CONTROL APPARATUS

EP4742536A1EP 4742536 A1EP4742536 A1EP 4742536A1EP-4742536-A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a power control apparatus for controlling an electrical current between an input terminal and an output terminal. The current in the path between these two terminals can be monitored by an arrangement comprising a nearly linear conductive element positioned in the current path, and an inductive element that receives the magnetic field generated by the conductive element. The arrangement of the conductive element and the inductive element may form a configuration similar to a planar transformer.

Inventors

  • Först, Bernhard

Assignees

  • Future Systems Besitz GmbH

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20241111

Claims (10)

  1. A power control apparatus (1) for controlling electrical power supplied to a connected load (3), said power control apparatus (1) comprising: an input terminal (11) configured to be connected to an electrical power source (2); an output terminal (12) configured to be connected to the load (2) ; a semiconductor switching stage (20) through which the connected load (2) receives a load current, wherein the semiconductor switching stage (2) comprises at least two power switches arranged in series between the input terminal (11) and the output terminal (12), and wherein the two power switches have opposite orientations, a conductive element (313) in a current path between the input terminal (11) and the output terminal (12), an induction element (314) adapted to receive a magnetic field generated by the conductive element (313) and to provide an output signal corresponding to the magnetic field; and an evaluation circuit (40) adapted to evaluate a current between the input terminal (11) and the output terminal (12) based on a voltage provided by the induction element (314) .
  2. The power control apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein the induction element (314) is formed as an electrically conductive structure on a printed circuit board (100).
  3. The power control apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the conductive element (313) is formed as an electrically conductive structure on the printed circuit board (100).
  4. The power control apparatus (1) according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the conductive element (313) is formed as a linear electrically conductive structure.
  5. The power control apparatus (1) according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the induction element (314) comprises only a single inductive structure alongside the conductive element (313).
  6. The power control apparatus (1) according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the induction element (314) comprises two sections (314 a, 314b) on the printed circuit board (100) at opposite sides of the conductive element (313).
  7. The power control apparatus (1) according to any of claims 1 to 6, comprising a coupling element (315) adapted to magnetically couple the conductive element (313) and the inductive element (314).
  8. The power control apparatus (1) according to claim 7, wherein the coupling element (315) comprises a magnetically conductive material, and wherein the coupling element (315) is located above and/or below a printed circuit board (100) with the conductive element (313) and the inductive element (314).
  9. The power control apparatus (1) according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the conductive element (313) is arranged between the input terminal (11) and the semiconductor switching stage (20) and/or between the semiconductor stage (20) and the output terminal (12).
  10. The power control apparatus (1) according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the current evaluation circuit (40) comprises a rectifier circuit (42) configured to rectify an output voltage of the induction element (314).

Description

Technical Field The invention relates to a power control apparatus. In particular, the present invention relates to an apparatus that controls power supply by evaluating the current supplied by the power control apparatus. Electrical loads connected to a power supply system often require control of the supplied electrical power, particularly to protect the connected electrical loads. Such loads may need protection from overload and overcurrent. Additionally, electrical loads connected to a power supply system must sometimes be turned on or off. Therefore, the electrical power supplied to these loads needs to be conditioned during both the turn-on and turn-off phases. A connected load may also have different operational modes, each requiring adaptation or conditioning of the supplied electrical power. Conventional electrical protection devices often use current sensors to measure the current flowing to the connected load, enabling detection of critical situations and automatic triggering of an electronic or electromechanical switch if a critical situation is detected. A current measurement element, such as a Hall sensor, can measure the electrical current and provide corresponding measurement values to an integrated controller, which may switch off relevant components of the protection device if the measured current values exceed a predetermined threshold. Some conventional protection devices use semiconductor switches, such as MOSFETs, to protect connected loads against overcurrents or overloads. However, these conventional protection devices typically require sensor elements in the current supply path to measure the electrical current flowing to the connected load. These sensor elements can cause additional energy losses and may hinder the miniaturization of the electrical protection device. In particular, when electrical current is monitored by a lossy electrically conductive component, such as an inductor, it may result in energy losses that must then be dissipated as heat. Accordingly, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a power control apparatus that controls the electrical power supplied to the connected load while mitigating these effects, thereby reducing energy losses. This objective is achieved by the features of the independent claim. Further advantageous embodiments are subject matter of the dependent claims Summary In an aspect of the present invention, a power control apparatus is provided. The power control apparatus may be configured for controlling electrical power supplied to a connected load. The apparatus comprises an input terminal, an output terminal, a semiconductor switching stage through which a connected load receives a load current, a conduction element, an induction element and an evaluation circuit. The input terminal can be connected to an electrical power source. The output terminal can be connected to the load. The semiconductor switching stage comprises two power switching modules. Each power switching module can include one or more power switching elements such as a semiconductor switch. The individual switching elements of a power switching module can be arranged in parallel. The two power switching modules can be arranged in series between the input terminal and the output terminal. In particular, the two power switching modules have opposite orientations. Accordingly, due to this opposite orientation of the two power switching modules, the power switching stage is able to interrupt an electrical voltage independent of the polarity of the applied voltage. The conduction element is arranged in the current path between the input terminal and the output terminal. For example, the conduction element can be arranged between the input terminal and the semiconductor switching stage. Additionally or alternatively, it may be possible to arrange the conduction element between the semiconductor switching stage and the output terminal. The induction element is adapted to receive a magnetic field generated by the conduction element. The induction element is further configured to provide an output signal, in particular an output signal corresponding to the magnetic field generated by the conduction element. For this purpose, the induction element may be realized by a conductive structure with one or more loops for receiving the magnetic field. The evaluation circuit is adapted to evaluate a current between the input terminal and the output terminal. In particular, the evaluation circuit may be adapted to evaluate the current between the input terminal and the output terminal based on a voltage provided by the induction element. The evaluation circuit may be also adapted to evaluate a voltage drop over the semiconductor switching stage. Thus, a switching status of the semiconductor switching stage may be controlled or influenced based on an evaluation performed by the evaluation circuit. The present invention is based on the finding that electrical current may be anal