Power detector
AssigneeSTMicroelectronics International N.V.
InventorAlessandro Venca
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A power detector for detecting the RMS power of an AC voltage includes a transconductor configured to receive the AC voltage and to provide a first current to a node with a non-linear relation between the first current and the voltage. A current output digital to analog converter is configured to receive a digital signal and to provide a second current to the node. A low pass filter is coupled to the node, and an inverter is coupled to the node and configured to provide a binary signal.
Claims15
An electronic circuit including a power detector for detecting RMS power of an AC voltage, the power detector comprising:
- a transconductor configured to receive the AC voltage and to provide a first current to a node with a non-linear relation between the first current and the AC voltage;
- a current output digital to analog converter configured to receive a digital signal and to provide a second current to the node;
- a low pass filter coupled to the node;
- and
- an inverter having an input coupled to the node and an output configured to provide a binary signal.
A method for determining RMS power of an AC voltage using a power detector, the method comprising:
- receiving the AC voltage and providing a first current to a node with a non-linear relation between the first current and the AC voltage, using a transconductor;
- receiving a digital signal at a current output digital to analog converter and providing a second current to the node;
- low-pass filtering the node;
- inverting a voltage at the node to produce a binary signal;
- and
- varying the digital signal until toggling of the binary signal occurs.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.