Summary of Hardware Protection – OverVoltage and OverCurrent
This article highlights the critical role of power processing in electronic design, emphasizing the need to analyze environmental factors and interference before building a power supply. It defines three main architectures: linear regulators, PWM switching, and high resonant technology switching. Key parameters like input/output voltage ranges and current limits are detailed, along with system vulnerabilities such as surges and ripples. The text concludes by stressing the importance of permanent monitoring and auto-control for hardware protection against overvoltage and overcurrent events.
Parts used in Power Supply Design:
- Linear Regulators
- Pulse width modulated (PWM) switching circuits
- High resonant technology switching circuits
- Electronic control circuits for load management
- Monitoring systems for auto-control
- Hardware protection components for OverVoltage
- Hardware protection components for OverCurrent
Power processing is one of the most important aspects on electronic design. The power is unique for a typical system because it gives the system life. Before starting to make the project for a power supply we need to analyze some aspects: Which kind of radio/electromagnetic interference is the device going to face ? What about maintenance requirements? And finally which environment conditions (temperature, humidity, vibrations) will the device be exposed to?
1. Power Supply Parameters
Three major power supply (Figure 1) architectures are defined for any engineer:
1.Linear Regulators.
2.Pulse width modulated switching (PWM).
3.High resonant technology switching.
Inputs:
Vin(low), Vin(high) – minimum and maximum allowed input voltages, hence input voltage range.
Iin(max) – maximum average input current.
Outputs:
Vout(min), Vout(max) – minimum and maximum allowed output voltages, hence output voltage range.
Vout(abs) – maximum allowed output voltage this limit is set by load specs. Iout(rated), Iout(min) – maximum and minimum output current provided to the load. Isc – short circuit output current.
When some of these inputs/outputs parameters are not correlated with their optimal values or just when some external event disturbs the system, like dropout, surge, transients, ripple voltages, the entire system is vulnerable and need to be protected. Everyone knows that is better preventing than curing. The solution for this is permanent monitoring and auto controlling. In most of the cases an electronic circuit is build for controlling a specific load (it’s the outpu
For more detail: Hardware Protection – OverVoltage and OverCurrent
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What aspects must be analyzed before starting a power supply project?
You must analyze the type of radio or electromagnetic interference the device will face, maintenance requirements, and environmental conditions like temperature, humidity, and vibrations. -
Which three major power supply architectures are defined for engineers?
The three architectures are Linear Regulators, Pulse width modulated switching, and High resonant technology switching. -
What do Vin(low) and Vin(high) represent in power supply inputs?
They represent the minimum and maximum allowed input voltages, defining the input voltage range. -
What is the definition of Isc in power supply outputs?
Isc stands for short circuit output current. -
Why is the entire system vulnerable when external events occur?
The system becomes vulnerable during events like dropout, surge, transients, or ripple voltages if input or output parameters are not correlated with optimal values. -
What solution is recommended to protect the system from disturbances?
The recommended solution is permanent monitoring and auto controlling through an electronic circuit built to control a specific load. -
Where can one find more details on hardware protection?
More detail is available regarding Hardware Protection specifically for OverVoltage and OverCurrent.
