Patent · US Expired

Circuit configuration for generating a virtual ground

US6558520B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by

2References

18Claims

0Family size

Assignee

Siemens Aktiengesellschaft · DE

Inventors

Markus Amtmann · Regensburg, DE
Stephan Bolz · Pfatter, DE
Jürgen Rössler · Erlangen, DE

Key dates

Filing date	Feb 12, 2001
Grant date	May 6, 2003
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Feb 14, 2021

Classification

Technology area (CPC G)Physics
CPC primaryG01N27/4175
WIPO fieldMeasurement
WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A circuit configuration for generating a virtual ground includes a micro-controller, an analog circuit and a read-only memory. A pulse-width modulated signal, which is output by the micro-controller, is converted, by using the analog circuit, into the virtual ground as a common reference potential of an exhaust probe which operates according to the principle of the galvanic oxygen concentration cell with a solid electrolyte. The actual value of the virtual ground is read into the micro-controller through the use of an A/D converter and is compared with a predefined setpoint value. The potential value of the virtual ground is then controlled on the basis of the difference value. An exhaust probe configuration is also provided.

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