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EP-4742538-A1 - POWER CONTROL APPARATUS

EP4742538A1EP 4742538 A1EP4742538 A1EP 4742538A1EP-4742538-A1

Abstract

In summary, the present invention relates to a power control apparatus for controlling electrical current between an input terminal and an output terminal. The current in the path between these two terminals can be monitored, with the monitoring signal corresponding to the current in the path being adjustable based on the temperature within the control apparatus.

Inventors

  • Först, Bernhard

Assignees

  • Future Systems Besitz GmbH

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20241217

Claims (11)

  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 (3); a semiconductor switching stage (20) through which the connected load (3) receives a load current, wherein the semiconductor switching stage (20) comprises 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; an evaluation circuit (40) adapted to evaluate a current between the input terminal (11) and the output terminal (12), and to provide an output signal based on the evaluated current; and a thermal compensation unit (40), adapted to adjust the output signal based on a temperature in a power path between the input terminal (11) and the output terminal (12).
  2. The power control apparatus (1) according to claim 1, comprising a conductive or inductive element (311, 312, 321, 322) in the current path between the input terminal (11) and the output terminal (12), wherein the elevation circuit (40) is adapted to identify a predetermined condition of the current between the input terminal (11) and the output terminal (12) based on a voltage drop over the conductive or inductive element (311, 312, 321, 322).
  3. The power control apparatus (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the temperature in the power path between the input terminal (11) and the output terminal (12) comprises a temperature of the semiconductor switching stage (20).
  4. The power control apparatus (1) according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the thermal compensation unit (43) comprises a temperature-dependent resistor (T).
  5. The power control apparatus (1) according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the thermal compensation unit (43) comprises a compensation network with multiple resistors (Rnl, Rn2) and/or capacitors (Cn1, Cn2), the compensation network being adapted to selectively connect the individual resistors (Rn1, Rn2) and/or capacitors (Cn1, Cn2) to an output port (41) providing the output signal.
  6. The power control apparatus (1) according to claim 5, comprising a control unit (410) configured to control the compensation network based on the temperature in the power path between the input terminal (11) and the output terminal (12) .
  7. The power control apparatus (1) according to claim 5 or 6, comprising at least one temperature sensor configured to provide a sensor signal that corresponds to the temperature in the power path between the input terminal (11) and the output terminal (12).
  8. The power control apparatus (1) according to any of claims 5 to 7, wherein the thermal compensation unit (43) is configured to adjust a degree of thermal compensation for the output signal.
  9. The power control apparatus (1) according to claim 8, wherein the control unit (410) comprises a communication interface (420) configured to establish a communication to a remote device.
  10. The power control apparatus (1) according to claim 8, wherein the control unit (410) comprises an input unit (421) configured to receive at least one input parameter from a user for adjusting the degree of thermal compensation for the output signal.
  11. The power control apparatus (1) according to any of claims 6 to 10, comprising a memory configured to provide a relationship between the temperature in the power path between the input terminal (11) and the output terminal (12) and the degree of thermal compensation for the output signal.

Description

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. This heat may cause a temperature-dependent effects, for example in the switching elements of a device controlling the power flow. Accordingly, the objective of the present invention is to provide a power control apparatus that can control the electrical power supplied while accounting for temperature-dependent effects. In particular, the invention aims to offer a concept for compensating for variations caused by changes in temperature or other influencing factors. 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 the connected load receives the load current, an evaluation circuit and a thermal compensation unit. The input terminal may be configured to be connected to an electrical power source. The output terminal may be configured to be connected to the load. The semiconductor stage comprises two power switching modules. Each power switching module may comprise one or more power switching elements such as a semiconductor switch. The individual switching elements of a power switching module may be arranged in parallel. The two power switching modules may be arranged in series between the input terminal and the output terminal. In particular, the two power switching modules have opposite orientations. Accordingly, by this opposite orientation of the two power switching modules, the power switching stage is able to interrupt an electrical current independent of the polarity of the applied voltage. 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 voltage drop over the semiconductor switching stage. Thus, a switching status of the semiconductor switching stage may be controlled or influenced based on the evaluation performed by the evaluation circuit. Especially, the evaluation circuit may provide an output signal based on the evaluated current. The thermal compensation unit is adapted to adjust the output signal provided by the evaluation circuit. In particular, the thermal compensation unit may adjust the output signal based on a temperature in the power path between the input terminal and the output terminal. The present invention is based on the finding that at least some properties of electronic components such as semiconductor switches or signals which relate to the sensed properties such as a current, voltage or the like, may vary depending on the temperature. Thus, when designing devices with such temperature-dependent properties, the devices must be dimensioned so that they can handle these variations even under the most unfavo