Differential and symmetrical current source
US7884593B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 26, 2008 |
| Grant date | Feb 8, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 19, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03F2203/45138
- WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A controlled, symmetrical, stable current source that can power floating resistive loads, eliminates the need to connect the load directly to either a power supply or ground and protects the load against overpower should either or both sides of the load be shorted to ground. The current source includes two operational amplifiers for providing a current through the load that is proportional to an input voltage applied across the respective non-inverting inputs of the two operational amplifiers; two current sensing resistors for providing voltage drops that are proportional to the current through the load; and four summing resistors connected to the sensing resistors for providing to the inverting inputs of the operational amplifiers voltages that offset the sum of the voltage drops provided by the sensing resistors so that the current through the load is controlled by only the input voltage.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.