General-purpose electronic fuse

A current detector and a threshold switch are not sufficient when in comes to building an electronic fuse. Such a circuit would be triggered each time the threshold value is exceeded, even by brief current surges. Normally, however, an electronic fuse should offer protection against excessive power consumption. Consequently, its triggering should be dependent on the product of the current (squared) and time, just like an ordinary cartridge fuse. This means that the electronic fuse contains a squarer circuit and an integrator in addition to the current sensor and threshold switch. The advantage of the electronic fuse is not only that it is adjustable and totally free from wear and tear, but also its improved reaction behavior as compared to an ordinary fuse.