# US 9,436,194 B1 · Power sensing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,436,194 B1 - Document ID: US9436194B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 14/641,235 - Filed: 2015-03-06 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-03-06 - Assignees: Silego Technology, Inc. - Applicants: Silego Technology, Inc. - Inventors: Tom Truong; Albert Chen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9436194B1 ## CPC - G05F 1/462: {as a function of the requirements of the load, e.g. delay, temperature, specific voltage/current characteristic} - G01R 21/06: by measuring current and voltage (G01R21/08 - G01R21/133 take precedence) - G01R 21/133: by using digital technique - H02J 7/62: against overcurrent - H02J 7/64: against overvoltage - H02J 7/65: against overtemperature - H02J 7/82: Control of state of charge [SOC] - G05F: SYSTEMS FOR REGULATING ELECTRIC OR MAGNETIC VARIABLES - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY ## Abstract Improved techniques for sensing and reporting consumed power are disclosed. The disclosed techniques comprise an integrated circuit solution for sensing power. In some embodiments, such an integrated circuit comprises a resistor on which a sense voltage sensed across an external resistor in response to a load current is mirrored and an analog-to-digital converter configured to regulate the voltage across the resistor and output a binary value representing power. The binary value representing power may integrate one or more electrical or environmental parameters such as current, voltage, temperature, battery voltage, etc. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An integrated circuit, comprising: an internal resistor on which a sense voltage sensed across an external resistor in response to a load current is mirrored; and an analog-to-digital converter whose output sets a resistor ladder that regulates the voltage across the internal resistor to mirror the sense voltage and comprises a digital value representing power. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The integrated circuit of claim 1, further comprising circuitry to integrate one or more electrical or environmental parameters in the digital value representing power. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The integrated circuit of claim 1, further comprising circuitry to integrate a system temperature value in the digital value representing power. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The integrated circuit of claim 1, further comprising circuitry to integrate a battery voltage value in the digital value representing power. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The integrated circuit of claim 1, further comprising circuitry to generate a warning in the event that a safe operating region is violated. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The integrated circuit of claim 5, wherein the safe operating region is associated with power and temperature. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The integrated circuit of claim 5, wherein the safe operating region is associated with power and remaining battery charge. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The integrated circuit of claim 1, wherein the digital value representing power represents power consumed by a load of an associated system. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The integrated circuit of claim 1, wherein the digital value representing power represents a total power margin for an associated system. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The integrated circuit of claim 1, wherein the digital value representing power represents a current. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The integrated circuit of claim 1, wherein the digital value representing power is a function of one or more ratios of resistance values. ### Claim 12 A computer program product embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium and comprising computer instructions for: mirroring a sense voltage sensed across an external resistor in response to a load current on an internal resistor of an integrated circuit; and regulating voltage across the internal resistor to mirror the sense voltage using a resistor ladder set by an output of an analog-to-digital converter comprising the integrated circuit, wherein the output of the analog-to-digital converter comprises a digital value representing power. ### Claim 13 A method, comprising: mirroring a sense voltage sensed across an external resistor in response to a load current on an internal resistor of an integrated circuit; and regulating voltage across the internal resistor to mirror the sense voltage using a resistor ladder set by an output of an analog-to-digital converter comprising the integrated circuit, wherein the output of the analog-to-digital converter comprises a digital value representing power. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising integrating one or more electrical or environmental parameters in the digital value representing power. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising integrating a system temperature value in the digital value representing power. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising integrating a battery voltage value in the digital value representing power. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising generating a warning in the event that a safe operating region is violated. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the safe operating region is associated with power and temperature. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the safe operating region is associated with power and remaining battery charge. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the digital value representing power represents power consumed by a load of an associated system. ### Claim 21 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the digital value representing power represents a total power margin for an associated system. ### Claim 22 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the digital value representing power represents a current. ### Claim 23 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the digital value representing power is a function of one or more ratios of resistance values.