Method for generating a signal representative of the current delivered to a load by a power device and relative power device
AssigneeSTMicroelectronics S.r.l.
InventorsDavide Patti, Vincenzo Sciacca
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An integrated power transistor includes emitter or source regions, and a comb-like patterned metal electrode structure interconnecting the emitter or source regions and defining at least one connection pad. The comb-like patterned metal electrode structure includes a plurality of fingers. A current sensing resistor produces a voltage drop representative of a current delivered to a load by the integrated power transistor. The current sensing resistor includes a portion of a current carrying metal track having a known resistance value and extending between one of the fingers and a connectable point along the current carrying metal track.
Claims10
A device comprising:
- an integrated power transistor comprising a plurality of emitter or source regions, and a comb-like patterned electrode structure interconnecting said plurality of emitter or source regions, said comb-like patterned electrode structure comprising a plurality of fingers, with said plurality of emitter or source regions being shorted together and connected to a connection pad;
- a current sensing resistor configured to produce a voltage drop representative of a current delivered to a load by said integrated power transistor, said current sensing resistor comprising a portion of a current carrying track having a known resistance value and extending between one of said plurality of fingers and the connection pad along said current carrying track;
- and
- a control circuit coupled to the connection pad along said current carrying track.
An integrated circuit comprising:
- a semiconductor substrate;
- an integrated power transistor on said semiconductor substrate, and comprising a plurality of emitter or source regions, and a comb-like patterned electrode structure interconnecting said plurality of emitter or source regions, said comb-like patterned electrode structure comprising a plurality of fingers, with said plurality of emitter or source regions being shorted together and connected to a connection pad;
- a current sensing resistor configured to produce a voltage drop representative of a current delivered to a load by said integrated power transistor, said current sensing resistor comprising a portion of a current carrying track having a known resistance value and extending between one of said plurality of fingers and the connection pad along said current carrying metal track;
- and
- a control circuit coupled to the connection pad along said current carrying track.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.