MOS current sense circuit

US6479975B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Dialog Semicon · DE

Inventors

• Manfred Plankensteiner · Germering, DE
• Horst Knoedgen · Munich, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 16, 2001
• Grant date: Nov 12, 2002
• Expiry date: Oct 16, 2021

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G05F3/262
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A new current sense circuit has been achieved. The current sense circuit comprises, first, a first MOS transistor having a gate, a drain, and a source. The gate is coupled to a control signal. The drain is coupled to a load such that a load current flows through the first MOS transistor when the control signal is ON. A second MOS transistor has a gate, a drain, and a source. The gate is coupled to the control signal. The drain is coupled to a constant current source such that the constant current flows through the second MOS transistor when the control signal is ON. The source is coupled to the source of the first MOS transistor. The first and second MOS transistors are operating in the linear region when the control signal is ON. Finally, a means to compare the first MOS transistor drain voltage and the second MOS transistor drain voltage is provided.