# US 12,216,862 B2 · Current reference operative drive-sense circuit (dsc) with voltage amplifier > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,216,862 B2 - Document ID: US12216862B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/530,382 - Filed: 2023-12-06 - Published: 2024-03-28 - Granted: 2025-02-04 - Earliest claimed: 2018-08-27 - Assignees: Sigmasense, LLC. - Applicants: Sigmasense, LLC. - Inventors: Patrick Troy Gray; Daniel Keith Van Ostrand; Richard Stuart Seger, Jr.; Phuong Huynh - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12216862B2 ## CPC - G06F 3/04166: {Details of scanning methods, e.g. sampling time, grouping of sub areas or time sharing with display driving (Synchronisation with the driving of the display or the backlighting unit to avoid interferences generated internally G06F3/04184)} - G01R 27/16: Measuring impedance of element or network through which a current is passing from another source, e.g. cable, power line - G11C 16/26: Sensing or reading circuits; Data output circuits - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) - G11C: STATIC STORES (semiconductor memory devices H10B) ## Abstract A current reference operative drive-sense circuit (DSC) includes a current source operably coupled to a load and a voltage-mode analog to digital converter (ADC). When enabled, the current source is configured to drive a sinusoidal current reference signal to the load thereby generating a load voltage that is based on the sinusoidal current reference signal and an impedance of the load. The voltage-mode ADC is operably coupled the load and to the current source. When enabled, the voltage-mode ADC configured to perform digital sampling of the load voltage and to generate a digital signal that is representative of the load voltage. In some implementations, one or more processing modules is configured to execute operational instructions to process the digital signal that is representative of the load voltage in accordance with determining impedance of the load and/or change of impedance of the load. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A current reference operative drive-sense circuit (DSC) comprising: a current source operably coupled to a load, wherein when enabled, the current source configured to drive a sinusoidal current reference signal to the load thereby generating a load voltage that is based on the sinusoidal current reference signal and an impedance of the load; a voltage scaler operably coupled the load and to the current source, wherein, when enabled, the voltage scaler configured to scale the load voltage thereby generating a scaled load voltage; and a voltage-mode analog to digital converter (ADC) operably coupled the voltage scaler, wherein when enabled, the voltage-mode ADC configured to perform digital sampling of the scaled load voltage and to generate a digital signal that is representative of the scaled load voltage. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The current reference operative DSC of claim 1, wherein: the voltage-mode ADC configured to perform digital sampling within a first range that includes the load voltage; and the voltage-mode ADC configured to perform digital sampling within a second range that includes the scaled load voltage. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The current reference operative DSC of claim 2, wherein the voltage-mode ADC configured to perform digital sampling within the second range that includes the scaled load voltage in accordance with more efficient operation and accuracy than within the first range that includes the load voltage. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The current reference operative DSC of claim 1, wherein the voltage-mode ADC is a sigma delta ADC. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The current reference operative DSC of claim 1, wherein the load voltage is a product of the sinusoidal current reference signal multiplied by the impedance of the load. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The current reference operative DSC of claim 1 further comprising: memory that stores operational instructions; and one or more processing modules operably coupled to the voltage-mode ADC and to the memory, wherein, when enabled, the one or more processing modules configured to execute the operational instructions to: process the digital signal that is representative of the scaled load voltage to determine the scaled load voltage; determine the load voltage based on the scaled load voltage and a voltage scaler value of the voltage scaler; and determine the impedance of the load based on the load voltage and the sinusoidal current reference signal. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The current reference operative DSC of claim 1, wherein the load is a liquid crystal display (LCD) capacitive load. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The current reference operative DSC of claim 1, wherein the load is a sensor or an actuator. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The current reference operative DSC of claim 1, wherein the load is a touch screen capacitive load. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The current reference operative DSC of claim 9, wherein user interaction with the touch screen capacitive load causes a change of the impedance of the touch screen capacitive load. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The current reference operative DSC of claim 1, a change of the impedance of the load causes a change of the load voltage. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The current reference operative DSC of claim 11 further comprising: memory that stores operational instructions; and one or more processing modules operably coupled to the voltage-mode ADC and to the memory, wherein, when enabled, the one or more processing modules configured to execute the operational instructions to: before the change of the impedance of the load, process the digital signal that is representative of the scaled load voltage to determine a first value of the scaled load voltage; determine a first load voltage based on the first value of the scaled load voltage and a voltage scaler value of the voltage scaler; after the change of the impedance of the load, process the digital signal that is representative of the scaled load voltage to determine a second value of the scaled load voltage that is based on the change of the impedance of the load; and determine a second load voltage based on the second value of the scaled load voltage and the voltage scaler value of the voltage scaler; and determine the change of the impedance of the load based on the first value of the load voltage, the second value of the load voltage, and the sinusoidal current reference signal. ### Claim 13 A current reference operative drive-sense circuit (DSC) comprising: a current source operably coupled to a load, wherein when enabled, the current source configured to drive a sinusoidal current reference signal to the load thereby generating a load voltage that is based on the sinusoidal current reference signal and an impedance of the load; a voltage amplifier, which includes an operational amplifier with negative feedback, operably coupled the load and to the current source, wherein, when enabled, the voltage amplifier configured to scale the load voltage thereby generating a scaled load voltage; and a voltage-mode analog to digital converter (ADC) operably coupled the voltage amplifier, wherein when enabled, the voltage-mode ADC configured to perform digital sampling of the scaled load voltage and to generate a digital signal that is representative of the scaled load voltage. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The current reference operative DSC of claim 13, wherein the voltage amplifier, which includes the operational amplifier with negative feedback, includes a first impedance coupled between an output of the operational amplifier and a non-inverting input of the operational amplifier and a second impedance coupled between the non-inverting input of the operational amplifier and ground. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The current reference operative DSC of claim 13, wherein: the voltage-mode ADC configured to perform digital sampling within a first range that includes the load voltage; and the voltage-mode ADC configured to perform digital sampling within a second range that includes the scaled load voltage. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The current reference operative DSC of claim 15, wherein the voltage-mode ADC configured to perform digital sampling within the second range that includes the scaled load voltage in accordance with more efficient operation and accuracy than within the first range that includes the load voltage. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The current reference operative DSC of claim 13, wherein the load voltage is a product of the sinusoidal current reference signal multiplied by the impedance of the load. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The current reference operative DSC of claim 13 further comprising: memory that stores operational instructions; and one or more processing modules operably coupled to the voltage-mode ADC and to the memory, wherein, when enabled, the one or more processing modules configured to execute the operational instructions to: process the digital signal that is representative of the scaled load voltage to determine the scaled load voltage; determine the load voltage based on the scaled load voltage and a voltage scaler value of the voltage amplifier; and determine the impedance of the load based on the load voltage and the sinusoidal current reference signal. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The current reference operative DSC of claim 13, a change of the impedance of the load causes a change of the load voltage. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The current reference operative DSC of claim 19 further comprising: memory that stores operational instructions; and one or more processing modules operably coupled to the voltage-mode ADC and to the memory, wherein, when enabled, the one or more processing modules configured to execute the operational instructions to: before the change of the impedance of the load, process the digital signal that is representative of the scaled load voltage to determine a first value of the scaled load voltage; determine a first load voltage based on the first value of the scaled load voltage and a voltage scaler value of the voltage amplifier; after the change of the impedance of the load, process the digital signal that is representative of the scaled load voltage to determine a second value of the scaled load voltage that is based on the change of the impedance of the load; and determine a second load voltage based on the second value of the scaled load voltage and the voltage scaler value of the voltage amplifier; and determine the change of the impedance of the load based on the first value of the load voltage, the second value of the load voltage, and the sinusoidal current reference signal.