Current limited remote power controller

摘要

Remote power controllers for controlling power between an external power supply and a load include output stages including MOSFETs and a drive circuit connected to supply gate voltage of a preselected magnitude to each of the MOSFETs in response to a control signal. The magnitude of the gate voltage corresponds to a predetermined maximum drain current for each of the MOSFETs, with the maximum drain current being substantially constant over the expected operating temperature range of the power controller. An overload signal representative of excessive power dissipation in the MOSFETs is sensed and a trip signal is produced when that overload signal exceeds a threshold limit. The drive circuit responds to the trip signal to remove the gate voltage signal from the MOSFETs.