Accurately detecting low current threshold
AssigneeLinear Technology Corporation
InventorsAndrew Joseph Gardner, David McLean Dwelley
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A threshold detection circuit may sense when current between a power supply and a load reaches a current threshold level. The threshold detection circuit may include a transistor in series with the load; a feedback circuit that causes the voltage drop across the transistor to be constant while the transistor is conducting current between the power supply and the load; a constant current source that delivers a constant current into the load; and a comparator that indicates when the voltage drop across the transistor falls below a voltage threshold level.
Claims20
A threshold detection circuit for sensing when current between a power supply and a load reaches a current threshold level comprising:
- a transistor in series with the load;
- a feedback circuit that causes the voltage drop across the transistor to be constant while the transistor is conducting current between the power supply and the load;
- a constant current source that delivers a constant current into the load;
- and
- a comparator that indicates when the voltage drop across the transistor falls below a voltage threshold level.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.