Circuit Guards Amplifier Outputs Against Overvoltage
A universal requirement for automotive electronics is that any device with direct connections to the wiring harness must be able to withstand shorts to the battery voltage. Though brutal, this requirement is necessary for reliability and for safety. One example of the need for this protection is an audio amplifier that produces indicator noises in the automotive interior. Though operating from a voltage of 3.3 or 5V, which is lower than the battery voltage, the amplifier must be able to stand off the full battery voltage. Circuit diagram : Figure 1 : This output circuit provides continuose protection against overvoltge faults You can also use a protection network appropriate for these amplifiers for other automotive circuits (Figure 1). A dual N-channel MOSFET disconnects the amplifier’s outputs from the wiring harness in response to a high-voltage condition on either output. The MOSFETs, Q1A and Q1B, are normally on; zener diode D4 and its bias components drive the MOSFETs’ gat...