US 6,324,083 B1 · Method of and arrangement for converting voltage to current

Abstract

An arrangement (1) for converting voltage (Vin) into current (Iout), implemented on a chip (100), comprises a first V/I converter (3), the operation of which is based on a conversion resistor (Rconv) formed on the chip. This resistor has an unknown fabrication tolerance (α). This is compensated for by the presence of a second V/I converter (13) having a compensation resistor (Rcomp), which is also formed on the chip and which has the same fabrication tolerance (α). Furthermore, a third V/I converter (23) is present, which operates on the basis of an external resistor (Rref). The second V/I converter (13) converts a reference voltage (Vref) into a compensation current signal (Icomp), and the third V/I converter (23) converts the reference voltage (Vref) into a reference current signal (Iref). The output current (Iout) is provided by multiplying an output current signal (I1) of the first V/I converter (3) by a factor which is proportional to the reference current signal (Iref) and which is inversely proportional to the compensation current signal (Icomp).

Claims16

Dependent claims

A method of converting a measurement quantity into an electrical conversion signal, comprising the steps of:

carrying out a measurement of the measurement quantity by means of a primary sensor which includes a primary conversion element and which supplies a primary electrical measurement signal;
providing a secondary sensor having a secondary conversion element which has characteristics substantially identical to those of the primary conversion element;
providing a reference quantity;
carrying out a compensation measurement on the reference quantity by means of the secondary sensor in order to provide a compensation signal;
providing an accurate reference signal;
multiplying the primary reference signal by the quotient of the reference signal and the compensation signal in order to supply the electrical conversion signal.

3 more elements

An arrangement (1) for the conversion of voltage (Vin) into current (Iout), having a signal input (2) for receiving an input voltage (Vin) and a signal output (5) for supplying an output current (Iout), comprising:

a first V/I converter (3) having an input coupled to said signal input (2), which first V/I converter (3) comprises a first conversion resistor (Rconv) and is adapted to supply a first current signal (I1) by converting the voltage signal (Vin) received at its input on the basis of said first conversion resistor (Rconv);
the first conversion resistor (Rconv) having an unknown tolerance factor (α);
compensation means (7;
13, 23, 40, 50) for supplying the output current (Iout) by multiplying said first current signal (I1) by a factor which is proportional to an accurate reference current signal (Iref) and which is inversely proportional to an inaccurate second current signal (Icomp).

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method of and arrangement for converting voltage to current

Life of this patent

Method of and arrangement for converting voltage to current

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16