Current measurement and overcurrent detection
AssigneeInfineon Technologies Austria AG
InventorJens Barrenscheen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Techniques are described for determining the amount of current flowing through an electrical conductor of an isolation device by measuring the voltage level across the electrical conductor. The isolation device also includes a sensor that provides a measure of the amount of current flowing through the electrical conductor. By using both the voltage level and the sensor to determine the amount of current flowing through the electrical conductor, the techniques provide for verifying the current measurements made by the isolation device. Also, the techniques provide for fast overcurrent protection.
Claims20
A system comprising:
- an isolation device that includes an electrical conductor and a current sensor, wherein the current sensor is configured to output a signal indicative of an amount of current flowing through the electrical conductor;
- and
- a current diagnostic circuit configured to:
- determine a voltage level across the electrical conductor of the isolation device;
- and
- determine a supplemental measurement of an amount of current flowing through the electrical conductor based on the determined voltage, wherein the supplemental measurement is supplemental to a measurement of the amount of current flowing through the electrical conductor determined using the sensor of the isolation device.
A method for current diagnostic, the method comprising:
- determining a voltage level across an electrical conductor of an isolation device, wherein the isolation device includes the electrical conductor and a current sensor, and wherein the current sensor is configured to output a signal indicative of an amount of current flowing through the electrical conductor;
- and
- determining a supplemental measurement of an amount of current flowing through the electrical conductor based on the determined voltage, wherein the supplemental measurement is supplemental to a measurement of the amount of current flowing through the electrical conductor determined using the sensor of the isolation device.
A system comprising:
- means for determining a voltage level across an electrical conductor of an isolation device, wherein the isolation device includes the electrical conductor and a current sensor, and wherein the current sensor is configured to output a signal indicative of an amount of current flowing through the electrical conductor;
- and
- means for determining a supplemental measurement of an amount of current flowing through the electrical conductor based on the determined voltage, wherein the supplemental measurement is supplemental to a measurement of the amount of current flowing through the electrical conductor determined using the sensor of the isolation device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.