Current sensing system and method
AssigneePanasonic Automotive Systems Company of America, Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America
InventorHarold Arthur Smith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
There is provided a current sense circuit (134). An exemplary current sense circuit (134) comprises a voltage-to-current converter circuit (218) that is adapted to receive a voltage that is proportional to a load current drawn from a battery (110) by a load (202) and to produce a current proportional to the load current, and a current-to-voltage converter circuit (228) that is adapted to receive the current proportional to the load current and to produce a voltage proportional to the load current based on a regulated voltage source (230).
Claims20
A motorized vehicle comprising an entertainment system that includes a current sense circuit, the current sense circuit comprising:
- a voltage-to-current converter circuit that is adapted to receive a voltage that is proportional to a load current through a load and to produce a current proportional to the load current;
- and
- a current-to-voltage converter circuit that is adapted to receive the current proportional to the load current and to produce a voltage proportional to the load current based on a regulated voltage source.
A method of sensing current drawn by a load within a motorized vehicle, the method comprising:
- receiving a voltage that is proportional to a load current drawn by a load within the vehicle;
- producing a current proportional to the load current;
- receiving the current proportional to the load current;
- and
- producing a voltage proportional to the load current based on a regulated voltage source.
A motorized vehicle (10) comprising:
- a chassis (18);
- an engine (12) that is supported by the chassis (18);
- a power train (14) adapted to be driven by the engine (12);
- control electronics (16) that are adapted to control the engine (12) and the power train (14);
- and
- an entertainment system (20) that includes an audio subsystem (22), the audio subsystem (22) being adapted to provide audio programming to occupants of the motorized vehicle (10), the audio subsystem (22) having a current sense circuit (134), the current sense circuit (134) comprising:
- a voltage-to-current converter circuit (218) that is adapted to receive a voltage that is proportional to a load current drawn from a battery (110) by a load (202) and to produce a current proportional to the load current;
- and
- a current-to-voltage converter circuit (228) that is adapted to receive the current proportional to the load current and to produce a voltage proportional to the load current based on a regulated voltage source (230).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.