Current sense amplifier
AssigneeCypress Semiconductor Corporation
InventorDerwin W. Mattos
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system includes a current sense amplifier to receive an input voltage based on a sense current provided to load circuitry. The current sense amplifier is configured to generate an output voltage from the input voltage based, at least in part, on one or more reconfigurable characteristics of the current sense amplifier. The system also includes a microcontroller to compare the output voltage from the current sense amplifier to one or more programmable thresholds. The microcontroller is configured to direct a current controller to regulate the sense current provided to the load circuitry according to the comparison.
Claims20
A system comprising:
- a current sense amplifier to receive an input voltage based on a sense current provided to load circuitry, and to generate an output voltage from the input voltage based, at least in part, on one or more reconfigurable characteristics of the current sense amplifier;
- and
- a microcontroller to compare the output voltage from the current sense amplifier to one or more programmable thresholds, wherein the microcontroller is configured to direct a current controller to regulate the sense current provided to the load circuitry according to the comparison.
A method comprising:
- receiving an input voltage based on a sense current provided to load circuitry;
- generating an output voltage from the input voltage based, at least in part, on one or more reconfigurable characteristics of a current sense amplifier;
- comparing the output voltage from the current sense amplifier to one or more programmable thresholds;
- and
- regulating the sense current provided to the load circuitry according to the comparing.
An apparatus comprising:
- a first amplification circuit to receive an input voltage that corresponds to a current flowing through a sense resistor to load circuitry, the first amplification circuit to amplify the input voltage according to one or more adjustable characteristics that are configurable by a microcontroller;
- and
- a second amplification circuit to generate an output voltage by amplifying the input voltage from the first amplification circuit according to one or more adjustable characteristics that are configurable by the microcontroller, wherein the microcontroller utilizes the output voltage to regulate current provided to the load circuitry.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.