Active power monitoring using externally located current sensors
US6518782B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 29, 2000 |
| Grant date | Feb 11, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 12, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01R21/002
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The power of a device under test (DUT) is monitored without reliance on dedicated current and voltage monitoring signals available from a semiconductor test unit. One or more magneto-resistive current sensors are provided external to, and in between the DUT and a power source. The current sensor(s) provide a detection signal proportional to the current drawn by the device from the power source. A monitoring circuit multiplies the detected current by the core voltage supply to the DUT to obtain a signal representative of the power of the device. The power signal is provided to a control circuit that operates a heat exchanger, such as on active conductive heat exchanger, to adjust the temperature of the device based on the signal representative of the power of the device. In this way the temperature of the DUT can be maintained at or near a constant set point.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.