Patent · US Active

Configuration of integrated current flow sensor

US10802053B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by

10References

15Claims

0Family size

Assignee

Infineon Technologies AG · DE

Inventors

Rainald Sander · Oberhaching, DE
Stephan LEISENHEIMER · Deisenhofen, DE
Stefan Mieslinger · Kottgeisering, DE

Key dates

Filing date	Sep 22, 2016
Grant date	Oct 13, 2020
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Jan 11, 2037

Classification

Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
CPC primaryH03K17/6871
WIPO fieldMeasurement
WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

This disclosure is directed to techniques that may accurately determine the amount of current flowing through a power switch circuit by measuring the voltage across the inherent impedance of the circuit connections. One connection may include a low impedance connection between the power switch output and ground, where the low impedance connection may be on the order of milliohms. By using a four-wire measurement, the sensing connections are not in the current path, so the measured value may not be affected by the current. The connection that makes up the current path can be accomplished with a variety of conductive materials. Conductive materials may have a temperature coefficient of resistivity that may impact a measurement of electric current as the temperature changes. Measuring the temperature of the current path, along with the voltage across the connection, may allow a more accurate current measurement.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.