Current monitor for sensing the current in a current path and corresponding control device

US8729915B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Alcatel Lucent · FR

Inventors

• Gerhard Luz · Bietigheim-Bissingen, DE
• Dirk Wiegner · Schwaikheim, DE
• Robin Machinal · Stuttgart, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 16, 2010
• Grant date: May 20, 2014
• Expiry date: Oct 29, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H03F2200/462
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A current monitor for sensing the current in a current path includes a resistive sensing element in a section of the current path and a current mirror circuit having a first semiconductor device and a second semiconductor device. Both semiconductor devices electrically interconnect with each other for copying the current in the second semiconductor device to the first semiconductor device. The first semiconductor device is electrically connected to an electric reference potential and to a current input side of the section via a resistive equivalence element in a first current branch. The second semiconductor device is electrically connected to the electric reference potential and to a current output side of the section in a second current branch. The current monitor further includes a constant current source for keeping the current in the second current branch independent from the potential difference between the potential of the current output side of the section and the reference potential.