Diagnostic circuit and method for amperometrically determining the current passing through a sensor
US5532602A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 21, 1994 |
| Grant date | Jul 2, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 21, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01R31/2829
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The invention concerns a diagnostic circuit for amperometrically determining the current passing through a sensor (41). The circuit comprises a current source (V+, 46) for passing a constant DC current through said sensor (41), switching means (45) for selectively operating said current source, comparing means (42) for comparing the potential difference (V.sub.BS) across said sensor to a reference voltage (V.sub.ref), and producing a control signal (D) control means (44) for controlling said switching means (45) in response to said control signal (D), and timing means (48,49) for measuring the cumulative time during which said switching signal (Q) has said first logic level during a selected time interval, so as to provide an output signal (50) indicative of a mean value of current (I.sub.bs ave) passing through said sensor (41).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.