Entries |
Document | Title | Date |
20080204054 | Impedance Measurement of a Power Line - A system for obtaining an accurate, real-time determination of the characteristic impedance of a length of a power line measures the operating conditions (e.g., voltage and current) for at least two locations on the power line. These measurements are synchronized so that they represent the same instant of time. The data obtained from the synchronized measurements are fitted to a circuit model of the power line to obtain a characteristic impedance for the power line according, which can be used to increase the efficiency of the use of the power line and to perform real-time assessment of the power line. | 08-28-2008 |
20080252307 | Techniques for measuring network channel resistive loss between a power-sourcing apparatus and a powered device - A method and apparatus are provided for determining resistive power loss through a channel between Power Sourcing Equipment (PSE) and a Powered Device (PD). The method includes (1) receiving indication that a PSE signal measurement is available from the PSE or a PD signal measurement is available from the PD, (2) selecting, as an input parameter to a processing operation, at least one of the PSE signal measurement or the PD signal measurement, (3) performing the processing operation to calculate a resistance value indicative of the resistive power loss through the channel between the PSE and PD based on the input parameter, and (4) outputting the resistive power loss value as a result of carrying out the processing operation. | 10-16-2008 |
20080252308 | Power Grid Structure to Optimize Performance of a Multiple Core Processor - A reduced number of voltage regulator modules provides a reduced number of supply voltages to the package. The package includes a voltage plane for each of the voltage regulator modules. Each core or other component on the die is tied to a switch on the package, and each switch is electrically connected to all of the voltage planes. A wafer-level test determines a voltage that optimizes performance of each core or other component. Given these voltage values, an engineer may determine voltage settings for the voltage regulator modules and which cores are to be connected to which voltage regulator modules. A database stores voltage setting data, such as the optimal voltage for each component, switch values, or voltage settings for each voltage regulator module. An engineering wire may permanently set each switch to customize the voltage supply to each core or other component. | 10-16-2008 |
20080278182 | Test Structure for Statistical Characterization of Metal and Contact/Via Resistances - A test structure for measuring resistances of a large number of interconnect elements such as metal, contacts and vias includes an array of test cells in rows and columns. Power is selectively supplied to test cells in a given column while current is selectively steered from test cells in a given row. A first voltage near the power input node of a device under test (DUT) is selectively sensed, and a second voltage near the current measurement tap is selectively sensed. The resistance of the DUT is the difference of the first and second voltages divided by the current. Additional voltage taps are provided for test cells having multiple resistive elements. This array of test cells can be used to characterize the statistical distribution of resistance variation and to identify physical location of defects in resistive elements. | 11-13-2008 |
20080278183 | FUEL CELL TEST SYSTEM - A fuel cell test system including a controller, a housing defining a test chamber, a test subject fuel cell positioned in the test chamber, the test subject fuel cell being in communication with the controller to provide the controller with signals indicative of a performance of the test subject fuel cell, a fuel feed in communication with the test subject fuel cell, the fuel feed having a humidity, a flow rate and a pressure, wherein at least one of the humidity, the flow rate and the pressure of the fuel feed is controllable by the controller, and an oxidant feed in communication with the test subject fuel cell, the oxidant feed having a humidity, a flow rate and a pressure, wherein at least one of the humidity, the flow rate and the pressure of the oxidant feed is controllable by the controller, wherein the controller monitors the performance of the test subject fuel cell in response to the fuel feed and the oxidant feed. | 11-13-2008 |
20090045825 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AN OPEN CIRCUIT CURRENT LIMITER - A resistance measuring circuit includes a current generating component, a current control component, and a voltage measurement component. The magnitude of a target resistance can be measured by connecting the target resistance between first and second measurement terminals of the resistance measuring circuit, applying a current generated by the current generating component to the target resistance, and determining the voltage across the target resistance. When no target resistance is connected between the first and second measurement terminals, the current control component controls the current generating component to reduce current consumption of the resistance measuring circuit. | 02-19-2009 |
20090108855 | TEST STRUCTURE FOR ELECTROMIGRATION ANALYSIS AND RELATED METHOD - A test structure for electromigration and related method are disclosed. The test structure may include an array of a plurality of multilink test sets, each multilink test set including a plurality of metal lines positioned within a dielectric material and connected in a serial configuration; each multilink test set being connected in a parallel configuration with the other multilink test sets, the parallel configuration including a first electrical connection to a cathode end of a first metal line in each multilink test set and a second electrical connection to an anode end of a last metal line in each multilink test set. | 04-30-2009 |
20090121729 | System and Method for Current Measurement - Load current of a circuit is determined across a component of the circuit by calibrating the resistance of the component with a reference current having a distinguishable characteristic. For example, a reference current with swept frequency modulation is applied to the component so that the resistance of the component is determined from voltage drop associated with the reference current across the component. The component resistance is applied to a voltage drop associated with the load current to determine the load current. For example, a filter matched to the reference current frequency modulation isolates the reference current voltage drop so that a ratio of the reference current voltage drop and the load current voltage drop provides a ratio of the reference current and load current. | 05-14-2009 |
20090128170 | PRINT MEDIA DETECTING MODULE - A print medium detecting module includes a first conductive unit, a second conductive unit and a detector. The first conductive unit is coupled to a first reference voltage level. The detector has a detecting port, which is coupled to the second conductive unit and a second reference voltage level, for referring to an electrical characteristic of the detecting port to detect whether there is a non-conductive print media between the first and second conductive units that causes the first conductive unit to not be electrically connected to the second conductive unit. The first and second conductive units in an initial state are electrically connected to each other. The first reference voltage level is different from the second reference voltage level. | 05-21-2009 |
20090134890 | METHOD AND STRUCTURE FOR IMPLEMENTING A RESISTOR LADDER - An switching interface is provided for use on a vehicle. In an exemplary embodiment the switching interface comprises a receiver and a switch assembly. The receiver may include an input node; a regulated power supply electrically couple to the input node; and an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter configured to measure a voltage potential between the input node and the receiver ground. The switch assembly may include a first resistor electrically coupled to the receiver input node, the first resistor having a first resistive value; a first switch electrically coupled between the first resistor and a switch assembly ground; a second resistor electrically coupled to the first resistor and the first switch, the second resistor having a second resistive value; and a second switch coupled between the second resistor and the switch assembly ground. The first and second resistive values may be selected such that the switch assembly has a separate switch assembly state for each switch with an associated voltage potential measured between the input node and ground for each of the switch assembly states. | 05-28-2009 |
20090146671 | Current sensing on a MOSFET - A device having a switch with a voltage applied across the switch. A current sensing circuit is connected to one terminal of the switch. The current sensing circuit receives power independently of the voltage applied across the switch. The power supply shares the other terminal of the switch with the current sensing circuit. The switch is adapted for opening and closing. When the switch closes, the current sensing circuit senses current through the switch and upon opening the switch the high voltage of the switch is blocked from the current sensing circuit. The sense current is caused to flow from the current sensing circuit to the other terminal when the switch is closed. The flow of the sense current produces a voltage which is compared differentially to another voltage referenced by the other terminal | 06-11-2009 |
20090195261 | IMPEDANCE MEASURING INSTRUMENT - A measurement instrument for measuring the impedance of a device under test (DUT) includes a first source of either a voltage or a current and a second source of either a voltage or a current, wherein the first source is connectable in a first feedback relationship with the DUT and the second source is connectable in a second feedback relationship with both the DUT and the first source. The first and second sources are operated respectively as a current source responsive to the current through the DUT and a voltage source responsive to the voltage across the DUT or operated respectively as a voltage source responsive to the voltage across the DUT and a current source responsive to the current through the DUT. The second feedback relationship has a narrower bandwidth than the first feedback relationship. The resulting voltage across the DUT and the current through the DUT establish the measured impedance of the DUT. | 08-06-2009 |
20090201037 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY DISCOVERING TOTAL TRANSISTOR RESISTANCE IN A HYBRID POWER OVER ETHERNET ARCHITECTURE - A system and method for automatically discovering total transistor resistance in a hybrid power over Ethernet (PoE) architecture. A critical factor for a PoE system is the total resistance of the power FET. Typical PoE systems consist of a single power FET that may be integrated with the controller or external to the controller. In a hybrid architecture the PoE system consists of both an internal power FET and an external power FET. The external power FET can be used to customize a design to meet a particular application or need. The total resistance in the hybrid architecture can be automatically determined using voltage and current measurements of the internal and external power FETs. | 08-13-2009 |
20090206854 | CIRCUIT AND METHOD FOR CAPACITOR EFFECTIVE SERIES RESISTANCE MEASUREMENT - A circuit and method for capacitor effective series resistance measurement. One embodiment provides a method for measuring the effective series resistance of a capacitor having a capacitor voltage. The method includes amplifying the capacitor voltage with an AC coupled amplifier yielding a first amplified signal. The capacitor is discharged with a constant current for a measurement time thus causing a voltage swing of the capacitor voltage due to a voltage drop across the effective series resistance. The capacitor voltage is amplified with the AC coupled amplifier yielding a second amplified signal being dependent on the voltage swing; calculating the effective series resistance from the first and the second amplified signal. | 08-20-2009 |
20090243636 | PROGRAMMABLE GAIN TRANS-IMPEDANCE AMPLIFIER OVERLOAD RECOVERY CIRCUIT - Embodiments of an apparatus for measuring the leakage current of capacitive components is taught. One embodiment includes a first stage amplifier configured to receive an input from a serially-connected capacitive component at an inverting input and a feedback resistor in a feedback path of the first stage amplifier. A resistance value of the feedback resistor is programmable based on an expected value of the leakage current and a corresponding voltage output. | 10-01-2009 |
20090251157 | METHODS FOR MEASUREMENT AND CHARACTERIZATION OF INTERFEROMETRIC MODULATORS - Various methods are described to characterize interferometric modulators or similar devices. Measured voltages across interferometric modulators may be used to characterize transition voltages of the interferometric modulators. Measured currents may be analyzed by integration of measured current to provide an indication of a dynamic response of the interferometric modulator. Frequency analysis may be used to provide an indication of a hysteresis window of the interferometric modulator or mechanical properties of the interferometric modulator. Capacitance may be determined through signal correlation, and spread-spectrum analysis may be used to minimize the effect of noise or interference on measurements of various interferometric modulator parameters. | 10-08-2009 |
20090251158 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR QUALITY ASSURANCE OF A BIOSENSOR TEST STRIP - The present invention provides a test strip for measuring a signal of interest in a biological fluid when the test strip is mated to an appropriate test meter, wherein the test strip and the test meter include structures to verify the integrity of the test strip traces, to measure the parasitic resistance of the test strip traces, and to provide compensation in the voltage applied to the test strip to account for parasitic resistive losses in the test strip traces. | 10-08-2009 |
20090278557 | Power source monitoring device, lens barrel, camera, and power source monitoring method - There are provided a first voltage applied part connected to a first voltage supply part and applied with a first voltage by the first voltage supply part on the basis of a first portion, a second voltage applied part connected to a second voltage supply part and applied with a second voltage by the second voltage supply part on the basis of a second portion, and a voltage monitoring part connected to the second portion and the second voltage applied part, operating when the second voltage is applied, and detecting the first voltage on the basis of the first portion. | 11-12-2009 |
20090295413 | Sensor System - A sensor system having a sensor unit for detecting a measured variable, and an evaluation unit, which are interconnected via at least one or a plurality of connection line(s), the sensor unit having a sensor, which is connected to a supply voltage, and includes a signal output for a measuring signal that is a function of the measured variable, the evaluation unit having a voltage meter to detect the status of the measured variable as a function of a potential, the sensor unit including a first resistive circuits connected to the sensor, and the evaluation unit including a second resistive circuit connected to the voltage meter. The first and the second resistive circuits are coupled to one another via at least the sensor line and forming a resistor network. The first and the second resistive circuit are configured so that, in a fault-free state of the one or the plurality of connection line(s), the voltage meter detects one or a plurality of measuring potential(s) in one or a plurality of defined measuring potential range(s) as a function of the measured variable, and, in a fault case, it detects a measuring potential that lies within a fault potential range. The first and the second resistive circuits are dimensioned so that the fault potential range lies outside of the one or the plurality of defined measuring potential range(s). | 12-03-2009 |
20090322358 | RESISTANCE MEASURING APPARATUS - A resistance measuring apparatus includes: a voltage injector that injects an AC signal into a circuit by applying an AC voltage to an injection coil; a current measuring unit that measures an AC current produced in the circuit by the injection coil using a detection coil; a processing unit that calculates the circuit resistance from the AC signal voltage and the measured AC current; and a reference signal generator that outputs a binary reference signal that has a same period as the AC voltage and is synchronized to the clock. The voltage injector generates a stepped wave whose amplitude changes in synchronization with a clock, applies a signal based thereon as the AC voltage. The current measuring unit converts the current in the detection coil to a voltage signal, carries out synchronous detection using the reference signal, and measures the AC current based on the synchronous detection result. | 12-31-2009 |
20100060302 | SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MEASURING ANALOG CHANNEL RESISTANCE THEREOF - A semiconductor device and a method for measuring an analog channel resistance thereof are provided. The semiconductor device includes a substrate, a gate insulating layer and a gate formed on the substrate, a source and a drain formed in the substrate and at both sides of the gate, a source sense connected to the source, and a drain sense connected to the drain. | 03-11-2010 |
20100102836 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR COMPENSATING FOR VOLTAGE DROP IN PORTABLE TERMINAL - An apparatus and method for determining a status of a power unit in a portable terminal are provided. The apparatus includes a power unit for supplying power to a internal circuit, a resistor located between the power unit and the internal circuit, and a voltage determination unit for determining an amount of a current consumption by the internal circuit by considering a difference between a first voltage between the power unit and the resistor and a second voltage between the resistor and the internal circuit, and for determining status information of the power unit by compensating for a voltage drop of the first voltage in accordance with the amount of the current consumption | 04-29-2010 |
20100127719 | ELECTROMIGRATION TESTING AND EVALUATION APPARATUS AND METHODS - The present invention relates to electromigration testing and evaluation methods and apparatus for a device under test with an interconnect structure. The method comprises forcing the occurrence of a step resistance-increase of the interconnect structure due to electromigration in the first layer and subsequently subjecting the interconnect structure to at least three respective predetermined stress conditions while concurrently measuring a test quantity indicative of an electrical resistance of the interconnect structure. The method allows performing an electromigration test in much shorter time than known electromigration testing methods, without loss of information or accuracy. It is therefore possible to accelerate the optimization of the interconnect manufacturing process so that the conductor electromigration kinetics remains compatible with a required product lifetime. This allows reducing the time and cost for electromigration testing and thus fabricating integrated-circuit devices with a lower overall cost. | 05-27-2010 |
20100127720 | CURRENT MEASURING CIRCUIT - A first resistor, a second resistor, a transistor, and a third resistor connected in series between a ground potential and an output terminal of a power circuit are provided. In addition, a current-detecting resistor is inserted in series between a high-voltage site and an output terminal of a power circuit that supplies a predetermined direct voltage to the high-voltage site. A differential amplifier controls a current flowing through the transistor so that a potential difference generated between both ends of the third resistor becomes proportional to a potential difference generated between both ends of the current-detecting resistor. At this point, by measuring the voltage of a connection node of the first resistor and the second resistor, the value of a current flowing through the high-voltage site can be calculated from the measured value. | 05-27-2010 |
20100164516 | Method for Extending the Diagnostic Capability of Current Regulators - A method and a device for monitoring at least one output stage for an inductive load using a current regulator and an analysis device are described. A short circuit to a power supply or to ground is detected by comparing at least one current value in a switching phase of the at least one output stage with at least one current value in a free-wheeling phase of the at least one output stage. | 07-01-2010 |
20100171517 | Impedance measurement method and impedance measurement device - An impedance measurement method for circuits that has multiple power supply ports and a common ground shared by the multiple power supply ports, that includes finding multiple mutual impedances; finding approximate values for the ground impedance from the multiple mutual impedances; calculating multiple power supply port impedances from the approximate ground impedance values; and generating an equivalent circuit for the applicable circuit based on the ground impedances. | 07-08-2010 |
20100182024 | System and Method for Measuring a Cable Resistance in a Power Over Ethernet Application - A system and method for measuring a cable resistance in a power over Ethernet (PoE) application. A short circuit module in a powered device is designed to produce a short circuit effect upon receipt of a cable resistance detection voltage. The cable resistance detection voltage can be designed to be greater than a voltage for detection or classification and less than a voltage for powering of the powered device. The measurement of the current at a time when a short circuit effect is produced at the powered device enables a calculation of the actual resistance of the cable on a given PoE port. | 07-22-2010 |
20100194413 | METHOD OF DETERMINING AN IMPEDANCE FUNCTION OF A LOUDSPEAKER - The invention relates to a method of determining an impedance function IF of a load LS driven by an amplifier AM, said method comprising the steps of providing a digital audio signal DAS to said amplifier AM, measuring one of either a current signal representation CSR of current provided to said load LS by said amplifier AM or a voltage signal representation VSR of voltage provided to said load LS by said amplifier AM, determining a digital signal representation DSR on the basis of said digital audio signal DAS, and determining said impedance function IF of said load LS on the basis of said digital signal representation DSR and said measured one of either said current signal representation CSR or said voltage signal representation VSR. The invention further relates to a load monitoring amplifier comprising amplification means AM comprising an amplifier input AI for receiving a digital audio signal DAS and an amplifier output AO for delivering an amplified signal to a load LS and an analog reading point AR establishing one of either a current signal representation CSR by measuring the current of said amplified signal delivered to said load LS or a voltage signal representation VSR by measuring the voltage of said amplified signal delivered to said load LS, said load monitoring amplifier further comprising a digital reading point DR for determining a digital signal representation DSR on the basis of said digital audio signal DAS and a monitoring means MM for determining an impedance function IF of said load LS on the basis of said digital signal representation DSR and said one of either said current signal representation CSR or said voltage signal representation VSR. | 08-05-2010 |
20100225340 | Digital Foam - A displacement sensor element and a haptic sensor arrangement using two or more displacement sensor elements are provided. The arrangements can be used for real-time capture of the shape of haptic deformation of the sensor arrangement. Although examples described in detail herein are primarily directed to tactile applications, the sensor can be used in the machine, robotic and medical fields where a sensor of this type can usefully be applied where only machine or computer controlled robotic elements are interacting, particularly if the machines or robotic elements are being used in human like applications but other force measurement applications are possible. | 09-09-2010 |
20100283491 | Double-Clamp Earth Tester Device - A double-clamp earth tester device, having a voltage-inducing transformer (VT) ( | 11-11-2010 |
20110012629 | REPLACEMENT-GATE-COMPATIBLE PROGRAMMABLE ELECTRICAL ANTIFUSE - After planarization of a gate level dielectric layer, a dummy structure is removed to form a recess. A first conductive material layer and an amorphous metal oxide are deposited into the recess area. A second conduct material layer fills the recess. After planarization, an electrical antifuse is formed within the filled recess area, which includes a first conductive material portion, an amorphous metal oxide portion, and a second conductive material portion. To program the electrical antifuse, current is passed between the two terminals in the pair of the conductive contacts to transform the amorphous metal oxide portion into a crystallized metal oxide portion, which has a lower resistance. A sensing circuit determines whether the metal oxide portion is in an amorphous state (high resistance state) or in a crystalline state (low resistance state). | 01-20-2011 |
20110062974 | INPUT DEVICE BASED ON VOLTAGE GRADIENTS - An input device is disclosed, including a first drive electrode comprising a resistive material and a first sense electrode disposed proximate to the first drive electrode. The input device further includes a processing system which is coupled with the first drive electrode and the first sense electrode. In one embodiment, the processing system is configured for electrically driving a first end of the first drive electrode and electrically driving a second end of the first drive electrode to cause a change in a voltage gradient along a length of the first drive electrode. In such an embodiment, the change in the voltage gradient generates a first electrical signal in the first sense electrode. The processing system also acquires a first measurement of the first electrical signal and determines positional information along the length of the first drive electrode based upon the first measurement, wherein the positional information is related to an input object. | 03-17-2011 |
20110084715 | Resistance Measurement in High Power Apparatus Environments - A measuring device for measuring the resistance of high power apparatuses comprises a current source connect-able to a test object, and means for measuring, wherein the current source is a capacitor. By providing the current source as a capacitor, a light weight device is obtained which can be used essentially continuously without periods of non-use during recharging. | 04-14-2011 |
20110128019 | Method and circuitry for identifying plug type - This method is applied to a dual-use jack of an electronic device. Either a headphone plug or a line output plug is inserted into the dual-use jack. The method determines the type of a plug connected to the dual-use jack when the plug is inserted into the dual-use jack. The determination is made based on a load resistance of the plug connected to the jack. The method includes feeding an electric current through the load resistance in a first direction. The method compares a voltage across the load resistance to a reference voltage and determines the type of the plug in use. The method also includes feeding an electric current through the load resistance in a second direction. This electric current can reduce or eliminate a pop-noise when the plug type is determined. The second direction is different from the first direction. | 06-02-2011 |
20110181306 | ISOLATION MONITORING SYSTEM AND METHOD UTILIZING A VARIABLE EMULATED INDUCTANCE - A system for measuring leakage resistance between a high voltage (HV) system of a vehicle and a vehicle chassis includes an emulated inductance that is connected between the HV system and the vehicle chassis and that has an inductive reactance that substantially cancels a capacitive reactance between the HV system and the vehicle chassis. A signal source outputs one of an AC current signal and an AC voltage signal between the HV system and the vehicle chassis. A sensor measures one of an AC current response to the AC voltage signal between the HV system and the vehicle chassis and an AC voltage response to the AC current signal between the HV system and the vehicle chassis. | 07-28-2011 |
20110193578 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SENSING AN AMPLIFIER LOAD CURRENT - A system and method for sensing a load current that flows from an amplifier into a load of the amplifier involves obtaining a voltage drop across internal impedance of the amplifier and computing the load current using the internal impedance and the voltage drop across the internal impedance. | 08-11-2011 |
20110193579 | DETERMINATION OF PHYSICAL CONNECTIVITY STATUS OF DEVICES BASED ON ELECTRICAL MEASUREMENT - Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to determination of physical connectivity status of devices based on electrical measurement. An embodiment of a method includes discovering a connection of a first device with a second device, and performing an electrical measurement of the second device by the first device via the connection between the first device and the second device, where performing the electrical measurement includes sensing by the first device of an element of the second device. The method further includes, if the sensing by the first device fails to detect the element of the second device and a predetermined condition for the electrical measurement is enabled, then determining by the first device that the connection with the second device has been lost. | 08-11-2011 |
20110221459 | HYBRID OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM - An occupant detection system includes a detection electrode provided in a vehicle seat, a phase difference measuring unit, a direct current measuring unit, and a detecting unit that detects an occupant. The phase difference measuring unit supplies a reference signal comprising a sinusoidal wave to the detection electrode via a resistive element, detects the potential of the detection electrode as an electrode signal, and measures a phase lag time of the electrode signal relative to the reference signal. The direct current measuring unit applies a steady DC voltage to the detection electrode via a resistive element, detects the potential of the detection electrode, and measures time it takes from start of application of the DC voltage to the time when the detection electrode reaches a given potential, as a charge time. The detecting unit detects an occupant based on the phase lag time and the charge time. | 09-15-2011 |
20110260742 | CHARGING SYSTEMS WITH DIRECT CHARGING PORT SUPPORT AND EXTENDED CAPABILITIES - An alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC) power converter may have a connector with a pair of power supply contacts and a pair of data contacts. An electronic device may be connected to the connector of the power converter. The power converter may supply DC power to the electronic device using the power supply contacts. The power converter may include control circuitry that has a resistor coupled across the data contacts. When the electronic device and the power converter are connected to each other, each may advertize to the other that capabilities are present that exceed industry standards. At the same time, standard-compliant discovery operations may be performed to probe the value of the resistance of the resistor that is coupled across the data contacts. When extended capabilities are discovered, extended functions may be performed including accelerated charging functions and data communications functions. | 10-27-2011 |
20110285414 | Systems And Methods For An Open Circuit Current Limiter - A resistance measuring circuit includes a current generating component, a current control component, and a voltage measurement component. The magnitude of a target resistance can be measured by connecting the target resistance between first and second measurement terminals of the resistance measuring circuit, applying a current generated by the current generating component to the target resistance, and determining the voltage across the target resistance. When no target resistance is connected between the first and second measurement terminals, the current control component controls the current generating component to reduce current consumption of the resistance measuring circuit. | 11-24-2011 |
20110309847 | High Current Kelvin Connections and Contact Resistance Verification Method - A method and circuit is provided for implementing high current capability Kelvin connections and measuring the resistance of the contacts and connections to verify that the conducting path is capable of carrying the high current without damage or degraded performance. Included as well is the means and circuit for efficiently dividing a high current test stimulus current into 2 or more paths with low losses and voltage drops. | 12-22-2011 |
20120056635 | SEMICONDUCTOR INTEGRATED CIRCUIT DEVICE - A semiconductor integrated circuit device including a semiconductor substrate having a first surface on which a circuit block is formed, and a second surface opposite to the first surface; a mounting board on which the semiconductor substrate is mounted; an electrically conductive pattern formed over a region of the mounting substrate, which overlaps a portion to be protected of the circuit block; and a detection circuit configured to detect that the electrically conductive pattern has been altered is provided. The semiconductor substrate is mounted on the mounting board such that the second surface of the semiconductor substrate faces the mounting board. | 03-08-2012 |
20120105086 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR AUTOMATED MEASUREMENT OF ELECTRICAL BONDS - A structure is described that includes a first faying surface, a second faying surface for creating an electrical bond with the first faying surface, and a sensor operatively placed proximate the first faying surface and the second faying surface. The sensor includes a current port for injecting a fixed current through the electrical bond, a voltage port for sensing a voltage across the electrical bond induced by the fixed current, a processing device programmed to determine a resistance of the electrical bond based on the fixed current and sensed voltage, and a wireless interface for transmitting at least one of the sensed voltage and the determined resistance to an external device. | 05-03-2012 |
20120133377 | TRANSMISSION LINE BASED ELECTRIC FENCE WITH INTRUSION LOCATION ABILITY - An electric security fence. An electric signal generator generates an initial electric signal. The generated initial electric signal is transmitted through a transmission line. The transmission line will generate a reflected electric signal when the transmission line is disturbed by the presence of a human or animal at a disturbance area. A receiver receives the reflected electric signal and forwards it to a signal processing unit. The signal processing unit calculates the location of the disturbance area after receiving the reflected electric signal. In one preferred embodiment, the signal processing unit calculates the location of the disturbance area by determining the amount of time required for the reflected signal to travel from the disturbance area. In another preferred embodiment, the signal processing unit calculates the location of the disturbance area by determining the frequency difference between an initial Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave signal and the reflected Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave signal. In another preferred embodiment the transmission wire is utilized to send coded communication signals and distance information back to a base station for monitoring and information transmission. | 05-31-2012 |
20120133378 | TRANSMISSION LINE BASED ELECTRIC FENCE WITH INTRUSION LOCATION ABILITY - An electric security fence. An electric signal generator generates an initial electric signal. The generated initial electric signal is transmitted through a transmission line. The transmission line will generate a reflected electric signal when the transmission line is disturbed by the presence of a human or animal at a disturbance area. A receiver receives the reflected electric signal and forwards it to a signal processing unit. The signal processing unit calculates the location of the disturbance area after receiving the reflected electric signal. In one preferred embodiment, the signal processing unit calculates the location of the disturbance area by determining the amount of time required for the reflected signal to travel from the disturbance area. In another preferred embodiment, the signal processing unit calculates the location of the disturbance area by determining the frequency difference between an initial Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave signal and the reflected Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave signal. In another preferred embodiment the transmission wire is utilized to send coded communication signals and distance information back to a base station for monitoring and information transmission. | 05-31-2012 |
20120212243 | Synthesized Current Sense Resistor for Wide Current Sense Range - A circuit has a first sense resistor circuit having components including a first-circuit active element to provide a sense resistance to sense a current in a load in series therewith, the sense resistance being established by an input command voltage. A second sense resistor circuit has components replicating the components of the first sense resistor circuit including a replicated active element, a resistance of the replicated active element also being established by the input command voltage. A precision resistor is coupled to the replicated active element to provide a load thereto. When the input command voltage establishes a voltage across the replicated active element, a voltage is established across the first-circuit active element in proportion thereto to command a desired current in the load. | 08-23-2012 |
20120223728 | METHOD AND SYSTEM THAT DETERMINES THE VALUE OF A RESISTOR IN LINEAR AND NON-LINEAR RESISTOR SETS - The present subject matter refers to apparatus and methods for identifying a resistance level of a resistor. In an example, circuit configured to identify a resistor can include a plurality of current sources, each current source selectively coupled to the resistor to generate a resistor voltage, a comparator configured to compare the resistor voltage and a reference voltage, and to provide an output indicative of the comparison, and a controller configured to selectively couple a first one or more current sources of the plurality of current sources to the resistor, and to selectively couple a second one or more current sources of the plurality of current sources to the resistor in response to the output indicative of the comparison. | 09-06-2012 |
20120268147 | STRUCTURE FOR MEASURING BUMP RESISTANCE AND PACKAGE SUBSTRATE COMPRISING THE SAME - A structure for measuring bump resistance and a package substrate comprising the same are disclosed, the structure for measuring bump resistance of the present invention comprises: plural connecting bumps arranged in a row; at least one first connecting element; and at least one second connecting element; wherein the nth connecting bump and the (n+1)th connecting bump connect by the first connecting element, the (n+1)th connecting bump and the (n+2)th connecting bump connect by the second connecting element, n is an odd number of 1 or more; the first connecting element connects with a first voltage-measurement pad; the second connecting element connects with an auxiliary pad, the auxiliary pad connects with an auxiliary bump, a second voltage-measurement pad connects with the auxiliary bump. | 10-25-2012 |
20120274343 | Method for Measuring the Electrical Resistance of a Glow Plug - The invention relates to a method for measuring the electrical resistance of a glow plug, wherein a test current is set by closed-loop control to a constant value using a constant-current source, and is directed through the plug. A value of the electrical resistance of the glow plug is determined by evaluating a feedback signal of the constant-current source. | 11-01-2012 |
20120306516 | VOLTAGE DETECTION CIRCUIT, ECU, AUTOMOBILE WITH ECU - According to an embodiment, the threshold value generation unit generates a setting voltage and converts the setting voltage to a first current. One end of the first resistor is connected to a detection terminal. When a voltage applied to the detection terminal is greater than or equal to a predetermined factor times the voltage of the higher voltage source, the detection unit causes a constant detection terminal input current to flow from the detection terminal to the first resistor. When the voltage at the detection terminal is less than the predetermined factor times the voltage of the higher voltage source, a higher voltage source voltage is outputted to a detection output terminal, while the voltage at the detection terminal is greater than or equal to the predetermined factor times the voltage of the higher voltage source, a lower voltage source voltage is outputted to the detection output terminal. | 12-06-2012 |
20120313654 | Voltage Detection Method and Voltage Detector Circuit - A voltage detection method for detecting a voltage source includes generating a first voltage with a first negative temperature coefficient, wherein the first voltage is related to the voltage source, generating a second voltage with a second negative temperature coefficient, wherein the second voltage is related to the voltage source, and through a comparator to connect the first voltage and the second voltage, for generating a detection result voltage without temperature coefficient according to a voltage difference between the first voltage and the second voltage, and the relationship that the first negative temperature coefficient is equivalent to the second negative temperature coefficient, to perform the voltage detection. | 12-13-2012 |
20130009655 | Current sensor - An apparatus and method make use of a single shunt and two or more instrumentation amplifiers, switchably measuring voltages at the shunt. This permits current measurement. At times each instrumentation amplifier has its input shorted, which permits zeroing out many sources of offset in the signal path of that amplifier. Dynamic range is several orders of magnitude better than known current measurement approaches, permitting coulometry. | 01-10-2013 |
20130038340 | MEASURING APPARATUS AND MEASURING METHOD - A measurement apparatus comprising a serial resistor in series with an element under measurement; a switching section that sequentially selects ends of a serial circuit including the element under measurement and the serial resistor, and ends of the serial resistor; an applying section that applies an application voltage or application current corresponding to a preset setting value, to each of the sequentially selected ends; a measuring section that, for each of the sequentially selected ends, measures current when the applying section applies the application voltage corresponding to the setting value and measures voltage when the applying section applies the application current corresponding to the setting value; and a resistance calculating section that calculates the resistance value of the element under measurement, based on either the setting values set sequentially in the applying section or measured values measured sequentially by the measuring section for each of the sequentially selected ends. | 02-14-2013 |
20130038341 | CONTACTOR HEALTH MONITOR CIRCUIT AND METHOD - In one possible implementation, a method is provided for determining contactor health including measuring a differential voltage between a first utility line voltage and a second utility line voltage on a primary side of a contactor and on a secondary side of the contactor. The measuring is performed with both an unloaded current and with a load current. The unloaded and loaded measurements are performed at the primary side and the secondary side, and are made with the contactor closed. It includes determining a difference between a secondary unloaded voltage and a secondary loaded voltage and subtracting a difference between a primary unloaded voltage and a primary loaded voltage to provide a contactor voltage drop. The contactor resistance is determined by dividing the contactor voltage drop by the loaded current. | 02-14-2013 |
20130069677 | ELECTROSTATIC SHIELDING TECHNIQUE ON HIGH VOLTAGE RESISTOR - A phasing voltage meter comprises first and second probes. Each probe comprises an insulated shield supporting an electrode for contacting a high voltage electrical conductor. The shield houses a high voltage resistor connected in series with the electrode. A capacitance formed by a metallic collar across the resistor compensates for stray capacitance across the resistor. A meter comprises a housing enclosing electrode circuit for measuring phasing voltage. The electrical circuit measures voltage across the electrodes and provides an output representing phasing voltage. | 03-21-2013 |
20130093444 | Remote Sensing of PD-Side Voltage in 4-Pair PoE Applications for Estimating Cable Resistance - Provided is a system and associated method for detecting a resistance of a cable. An example method may comprise applying power to a first end of a first and a second conductive pair of the cable, measuring a first voltage across the first end of the first and second conductive pairs of the cable, applying a current source across the first end of a third and a fourth conductive pair of the cable, measuring a second voltage across the current source, and determining a resistance of the cable using the measured first and second voltages. This method may be carried out in a physical arrangement where a second end of the first, second, third and fourth conductive pairs of the cable are connected to a first, a second, a third and a fourth input terminal of a powered device, respectively. | 04-18-2013 |
20130099807 | LOAD IMPEDANCE DETECTION FOR STATIC OR DYNAMIC ADJUSTMENT OF PASSIVE LOADS - This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for detecting an impedance of a wireless power transmitter load. In one aspect, a method of determining a reactive condition of a wireless power transmitter apparatus is provided. The method comprises determining a value correlated to a voltage of a drain of a switching element of a driver circuit of the wireless power transmitter. The method further comprises determining a reactance load change based on the determined voltage. | 04-25-2013 |
20130106449 | CURRENT DETECTION APPARATUS | 05-02-2013 |
20130113507 | VOLTAGE MEASUREMENT - The present invention relates to voltage measurement apparatus. The voltage measurement apparatus comprises a potential attenuator configured to be electrically connected between first and second conductors, which are electrically coupled to a source. The potential attenuator comprises a first impedance and a reference impedance arrangement in series with each other. The reference impedance arrangement has an electrical characteristic which is changed in a known fashion. The voltage measurement apparatus further comprises a processing arrangement configured: to acquire at least one signal from the reference impedance arrangement, the at least one signal reflecting change of the electrical characteristic in the known fashion; and to determine a voltage between the first and second conductors in dependence on the fashion in which the electrical characteristic is changed being known and the at least one signal. | 05-09-2013 |
20130120008 | METHOD OF DISCRIMINATION OF A DEVICE AS POWERABLE THROUGH A LAN LINE AND DEVICE FOR ESTIMATING ELECTRIC PARAMETERS OF A LAN LINE - PDs that can be supplied through the LAN line are discriminated from PDs that cannot be so supplied as a function of the resistance of the supply line and of the voltage drop caused by nonlinear elements in series therewith. The values of these two parameters are estimated by applying two distinct voltages to the supply terminals of the LAN line and sensing the relative steady-state currents absorbed by the power supply line, and by processing voltage and current values for estimating the resistance of the line and the voltage drop caused by nonlinear elements connected in series therewith. | 05-16-2013 |
20130127481 | Cable Resistance Determination in High-Power PoE Networks - An exemplary implementation of the present disclosure is a power sourcing equipment (PSE) for determining a resistance of a powered cable. The PSE includes a first supply voltage to cause a first current to flow through first and second output terminals of the PSE. The PSE also includes a second supply voltage to cause a second current to flow through third and fourth output terminals of the PSE. The PSE further includes a current modulation circuit offsetting the second current from the first current to create an offset voltage between the second and the first supply voltages to determine the resistance of the powered cable. The current modulation circuit can offset the second current from the first current utilizing a variable resistance switch to adjust the second current. | 05-23-2013 |
20130154672 | Method and System for Battery Current Measurement Calibration - A sensor for monitoring battery current includes a shunt and a current source. The shunt has a resistance with an actual value. The current source is configured to provide a known value of current through the shunt. A controller is configured to generate a measured value of the current through the shunt as a function of a measured value of voltage drop across the shunt caused by the current through the shunt and an assumed value of the resistance of the shunt. The controller is further configured to detect the assumed value of the resistance of the shunt as being different than the actual value of the resistance of the shunt when the known and measured values of the current differ. | 06-20-2013 |
20130154673 | MEASURING FLOATING BODY VOLTAGE IN SILICON-ON-INSULATOR (SOI) METAL-OXIDE-SEMICONDUCTOR-FIELD-EFFECT-TRANSISTOR (MOSFET) - In one embodiment, a body region of a body-contacted silicon-on-insulator (SOI) metal-oxide-semiconductor-field-effect-transistor (MOSFET) is connected to a gate of another MOSFET in a sensing circuit to form a floating body node. The voltage at the floating body node is accurately obtained at the output of the sensing circuit and used to provide an estimate of required floating body voltage over a full device operating range. | 06-20-2013 |
20130169297 | METHOD FOR MEASURING AN ELECTRICAL CURRENT AND APPARATUS FOR THIS PURPOSE - A method for measuring an electrical current with the aid of a field effect transistor inserted into a current path and an apparatus for implementing the method. A control voltage is applied between the gate and source of the transistor in such a way that the voltage drop between the drain and source at the transistor in the current path remains within a specifiable range. The voltage drop and the control voltage are determined. With these two values, and with a known relationship between the drain-source current, the drain-source voltage and the gate-source voltage the value of the current of interest can now be determined. | 07-04-2013 |
20130187673 | LOW-CONDUCTIVITY CONTACTING-TYPE CONDUCTIVITY MEASUREMENT - A method of measuring low conductivity of a liquid sample using a contacting-type conductivity sensor is provided. The method includes applying a first excitation current to a contacting-type conductivity sensor at a first drive frequency. A first voltage response to the first excitation current is determined. A second excitation current is applied to the contacting-type conductivity sensor at a second drive frequency higher than the first drive frequency. A second voltage response to the second excitation current is determined. A conductivity output is provided based, at least in part, on the first and second voltage responses. A system for measuring conductivity of a liquid at or below 100 μS/cm is also provided. | 07-25-2013 |
20130193992 | Current Detection Circuit - A current detection circuit comprises: a series circuit of a first current detection part series to a first semiconductor and a second current detection part, which detects current having a smaller range than the first current detection part; a second semiconductor device, which is provided with a second drive circuit, connected in parallel with the second current detection part; and a current determination circuit configured to switch between the first current detection part and the second current detection part, based on the magnitude of the detection current of the first current detection part, wherein, when the detection current of the first current detection part is larger than a predetermined value, the voltage from the first current detection part is output, and wherein, when the detection current of the first current detection part is smaller than the predetermined value, the voltage from the second current detection part is output. | 08-01-2013 |
20130207678 | Electrical Combiner Box With Improved Functionality - A combiner box capable of monitoring energy output from a photovoltaic system and having improved troubleshooting functionality, the ability to independently verify utility charges, and a mechanism for reducing incorrect readings of energy output and consumption due to noise and interference. | 08-15-2013 |
20130214804 | CURRENT SENSOR - The invention relates to a current sensor including at least one resistance element on which voltage (U | 08-22-2013 |
20130221998 | CURRENT SENSOR - A current sensor includes a magnetoresistive element that has a stripe shape and that has a sensing axis in a certain direction. The magnetoresistive element includes element portions that are disposed so as to be spaced apart from each other in a longitudinal direction of the stripe shape, and permanent magnet portions, each of which is disposed between adjacent ones of the element portions. Each element portion has a layered structure including a free magnetic layer whose magnetization direction is changed with respect to an external magnetic field, a non-magnetic intermediate layer, and a ferromagnetic pinned layer whose magnetization direction is pinned. The permanent magnet portion includes a hard bias layer, and an electrode layer that is disposed so as to cover the hard bias layer. | 08-29-2013 |
20130234740 | Multifunctional Nanoscopy for Imaging Cells - Disclosed herein is an apparatus comprising a metal shunt and a planar semiconductor material in electrical contact with the metal shunt, the metal shunt located on a surface of the semiconductor material, thereby defining a semiconductor/metal interface for passing a flow of current between the semiconductor material and the metal shunt in response to an application of an electrical bias to the apparatus, wherein a portion of that semiconductor material surface is not covered by the metal shunt, wherein the semiconductor material and the metal shunt lie in different planes that are substantially parallel planes, the semiconductor/metal interface thereby being parallel to the plane of semiconductor material, and wherein, when under the electrical bias, the semiconductor/metal interface is configured to exhibit a change in resistance thereof in response to a perturbation. Such an apparatus can be used as a sensor and deployed as an array of sensors. | 09-12-2013 |
20130271165 | OUTPUT IMPEDANCE TESTING DEVICE - A device that tests an output impedance of a voltage regulator module (VRM) includes a controller, a current regulating circuit, a voltage sampling circuit, and a current sampling circuit. The voltage sampling circuit samples an instantaneous alternating output voltage of the VRM, and outputs the instantaneous alternating output voltage to the controller. The current sampling circuit cooperates with the controller in sampling the instantaneous output current of the VRM. The controller controls the current regulating circuit to regulate the instantaneous output current of the VRM until the instantaneous alternating output voltage is about equal to a predetermined reference voltage, and calculates an output impedance of the VRM according to the instantaneous alternating output voltage and instantaneous output current when the instantaneous alternating output voltage is about equal to the predetermined reference voltage. | 10-17-2013 |
20130328580 | TEST CIRCUIT FOR POWER SUPPLY UNIT - Atest circuit includes a test unit and a converting unit. The test unit includes a first connector connected to a power supply unit, a second connector connected to a motherboard, a sensing resistor, a controller, and an electronic switch. Two input pins of the controller are connected to two ends of the sensing resistor. A first terminal of the electronic switch is connected to the first connector through the sensing resistor. A second terminal of the electronic switch is connected to a control pin of the controller. A third terminal of the electronic switch is connected to the second connector. The converting unit includes a third connector connected to a monitoring device and a converter. Two input pins of the converter are connected to two output pins of the controller. Two data pins of the converter are connected to the third connector. | 12-12-2013 |
20130335106 | RESISTIVE VOLTAGE DIVIDER MADE OF A RESISTIVE FILM MATERIAL ON AN INSULATING SUBSTRATE - A resistive voltage divider includes first and second resistors, which are electrically connected in series and are made of a resistive film material which is applied in the form of a trace onto an insulating substrate. The divider's voltage ratio has a value between ten and one million. To improve the accuracy of the voltage divider, the first and second resistors are made of the same resistive film material, have a trace length above a corresponding specific trace length, and have approximately the same trace width. | 12-19-2013 |
20140009178 | IMPEDANCE MEASURING DEVICE - An impedance measuring device for an electronic component includes a constant voltage source, a load supplying circuit, a voltage detection circuit, and a controller. The constant voltage source outputs an input voltage. The load supplying circuit supplies a load resistor that is electronically connected in series with the electronic component between the constant voltage source and ground. The voltage detection circuit detects a voltage across the load resistor. The controller receives the voltage across the load resistor from the voltage detection circuit, and calculates an equivalent impedance of the electronic component according to the input voltage, the voltage across the load resistor, and the resistance of the load resistor. | 01-09-2014 |
20140015553 | MEMORY DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MEASURING RESISTANCE OF MEMORY CELL - A memory device includes a plurality of resistive memory units configured to receive a voltage of a corresponding line of a plurality of program/read lines, a plurality of switch units configured to each electrically connect a corresponding one of the resistive memory units with a corresponding line of a plurality of column lines in response to a voltage of a corresponding line of a plurality of row lines, where the program/read lines correspond to the row lines, respectively, a row control circuit configured to turn on the switch units by selecting at least one of the row lines and apply an external voltage to a program/read line corresponding to the selected row line in a first test mode, and a column control circuit configured to select at least one of the column lines and couple the selected column line with a ground voltage terminal in the first test mode. | 01-16-2014 |
20140035604 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DISPENSING FLUID FROM AN INFUSION PUMP - The present disclosure is directed towards a compact, modular infusion pump and a delivery mechanism for accurate dispensing of very small amounts of medication. The infusion pump comprises a tubular, curved medication reservoir, and a flexible, one-piece drive train configured to push very small amounts of medication out of the medication reservoir. A method of measuring a level of medication inside the medication reservoir or cross-checking the accuracy of medication delivery is also described. | 02-06-2014 |
20140035605 | Shunt Resistor Integrated in a Connection Lug of a Semiconductor Module and Method for Determining a Current Flowing Through a Load Connection of a Semiconductor Module - A semiconductor module includes a housing, a circuit carrier having an insulation carrier and a metallization layer applied to a side of the insulation carrier, and a connection lug having a first and second load connection sections and a shunt resistor region. The shunt resistor region is electrically arranged between the first and second load connection sections and connected in series with the first and second load connection sections. The shunt resistor region has an ohmic resistance with a temperature coefficient having an absolute value of less than 0.00002/K at a temperature of 20° C. The connection lug in the region of the second load connection section is electrically conductively connected to a first section of the metallization layer by a first cohesive connection. The first load connection section is led out from the housing and has a free end arranged on the outer side of the housing. | 02-06-2014 |
20140062512 | Shock detector - A shock detector having an electrical detector having a set of water immersible electrodes for detecting hazardous water conditions through the determination of the presence of either an electrical current in a body of water, a voltage in the body of water or a voltage gradient in the body of water and then providing an alert to the existence of hazardous electrical conditions in the body of water which in some cases may transmitted to a power source to shut off a power source thereby removing the hazardous water condition. | 03-06-2014 |
20140111232 | METHOD FOR DETECTING A ROTATION OF A ROTOR OF A GENERATOR - A method for detecting a rotation of a rotor of a generator, which includes measuring the voltage induced in the rotor for the generator voltage in the case of an emergency start with an inactive closed-loop controller; and detecting the rotor rotation with the aid of the induced voltage. When a rotation is detected, the control circuit is activated and the rotation is determined from the phase voltage. | 04-24-2014 |
20140118014 | POWER GENERATING COMPONENT CONNECTIVITY RESISTANCE - Power generating component connectivity resistance monitoring techniques are disclosed. In an array of power generating components that are connected in parallel to a power bus, a power generating component measures an output current that it supplies to the power bus. Respective first and second power generating components measure a first voltage at an output of the first power generating component and a second voltage at an output of the second power generating component. A resistance in the array between first and second connection points in the array through which the output current flows is determined based on the measurements of the output current, the first voltage, and the second voltage. | 05-01-2014 |
20140139244 | APPARATUS FOR EMPLOYING LOW OHMIC ALLOY CONDUCTORS AND METHOD FOR SIMPLIFYING CURRENT DRAIN DATA RETRIEVAL - Apparatus and method for measuring current drain and reporting power consumption using current transformer with primary windings made of low ohmic alloy, enabling the use of the secondary coil to power the sensing and reporting circuits eliminating the power wasted by AC-DC power adaptors used for the current sensors. The saving is substantial as the current sensors will not drain a current when the AC outlets are disconnected from a load or when the load is switched off. The apparatus using low ohmic alloy is extended to the structuring of terminals, including power pins, power sockets and combinations to provide a low ohmic sensing elements in AC plugs, outlets, adaptors and extension cables with multi outlets, dissipating the heat from the sensing elements by the plugs and the larger metal heat dissipation. | 05-22-2014 |
20140145737 | METHOD FOR CORRECTING THE VOLTAGE MEASURED ACROSS THE TERMINALS OF A SENSOR - A method for correcting measurement of a voltage across output terminals of a sensor, the sensor configured to be assimilated with an assembly including a generator and a series resistance, each of the output terminals being respectively connected to a pull up/down resistor. The method includes: evaluating the series resistance of the sensor, including measuring first and second voltages across the output terminals when first and second bias voltages are applied on each pull up/down resistor; evaluating the series resistance from the first and second voltages; and correcting, from the series resistance, a voltage measured across the output terminals of the sensor to infer therefrom a corresponding voltage generated by the generator. | 05-29-2014 |
20140152332 | APPARATUS FOR MEASURING THE ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY OF A LIQUID MEDIUM - Device for measuring electrical conductivity of a liquid medium comprising constant voltage means, connected to a first electrode arrangement for injecting an alternating signal into the liquid medium, detection means, connected to a second electrode arrangement coupled via the liquid medium, for generating a measurement signal influenced by the electrical conductivity with a clock frequency (CLK) of the alternating signal, and evaluation means which from a current-proportional injection signal of the current injected by the first electrode arrangement into the liquid medium and from the measurement signal generate a conductivity signal of the liquid medium. The constant voltage means are made in an individual circuit branch which has commutator means for the first electrode arrangement and ohmic resistance means in a series connection, the current-proportional injection signal being tapped as a voltage drop over the resistance means. | 06-05-2014 |
20140191774 | APPARATUS AND A METHOD FOR TESTING WINDING RESISTANCES OF TRANSFORMERS - The present invention relates to an apparatus for measuring winding resistances of windings in a delta-connected transformer, comprising at least a first and a second DC current source (S | 07-10-2014 |
20140197854 | RESISTANCE DETERMINATION FOR TEMPERATURE CONTROL OF HEATED AUTOMOTIVE COMPONENTS - Electrical resistance of a heated component is determined for temperature control and monitoring. A voltage-representation signal, which is proportional to a voltage across a heater component, is received. A current-representation signal, which is proportional to an electrical current passing through the heater component is received and modulated to generate a resistance-representation signal that is proportional to an amount of modulation that makes the current-representation signal approximately equal to the voltage-representation signal. The modulation may be pulse-width modulation. The resistance-representation signal may be generated based on a signal that is proportional to the percent duty cycle of the pulse width modulation. A difference of the resistance-representation signal and the voltage-representation signal may be integrated to provide an error signal adapted to cause the modulation to be proportional to an electrical resistance of the heater component. | 07-17-2014 |
20140197855 | Multifunctional Nanoscopy for Imaging Cells - Disclosed herein is an apparatus comprising a metal shunt and a semiconductor material in electrical contact with the metal shunt, thereby defining a semiconductor/metal interface for passing a flow of current between the semiconductor material and the metal shunt in response to an application of an electrical bias to the apparatus, wherein the semiconductor material and the metal shunt lie in different planes that are substantially parallel planes, the semiconductor/metal interface thereby being parallel to planes in which the semiconductor material and the metal shunt lie, and wherein, when under the electrical bias, the semiconductor/metal interface is configured to exhibit a change in resistance thereof in response to a perturbation. Such an apparatus can be used as a sensor and deployed as an array of sensors. | 07-17-2014 |
20140203827 | INTEGRATED CIRCUITS AND METHODS OF FORMING THE SAME WITH EMBEDDED INTERCONNECT CONNECTION TO THROUGH-SEMICONDUCTOR VIA - Integrated circuits, methods of forming integrated circuits, and methods of sensing voiding between a through-semiconductor via and a subsequent layer that overlies the through-semiconductor via in integrated circuits are provided. An exemplary method of forming an integrated circuit includes forming a plurality of semiconductor devices on a semiconductor substrate. A through-semiconductor via is formed in the semiconductor substrate, and an interlayer dielectric layer is formed that overlies the through-semiconductor via and the plurality of semiconductor devices. A first interconnect via is embedded within the interlayer dielectric layer, and a second interconnect via is embedded within the interlayer dielectric layer. The first interconnect via and the second interconnect via are in electrical communication with the through-semiconductor via at spaced locations from each other on the through-semiconductor via. | 07-24-2014 |
20140239985 | Charging Systems with Direct Charging Port Support and Extended Capabilities - An alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC) power converter may have a connector with a pair of power supply contacts and a pair of data contacts. An electronic device may be connected to the connector of the power converter. The power converter may supply DC power to the electronic device using the power supply contacts. The power converter may include control circuitry that has a resistor coupled across the data contacts. When the electronic device and the power converter are connected to each other, each may advertise to the other that capabilities are present that exceed industry standards. At the same time, standard-compliant discovery operations may be performed to probe the value of the resistance of the resistor that is coupled across the data contacts. When extended capabilities are discovered, extended functions may be performed including accelerated charging functions and data communications functions. | 08-28-2014 |
20140247063 | Earth Ground Tester With Remote Control - Methods and apparatuses for measuring earth ground resistivity are provided. A main unit can be configured to couple to each of a plurality of electrodes over a respective wire, perform a resistance measurement over the plurality of electrodes, and transmit an induction signal over one or more of the respective wires indicating a representation of a resistance value calculated as part of the resistance measurement. A remote unit can be configured to detect the induction signal over the one or more of the respective wires using an inductance mechanism, process the induction signal to determine the representation of the resistance value, and render the representation of the resistance value on an interface of the remote unit. | 09-04-2014 |
20140266269 | MULTIPLE CURRENT SENSOR DEVICE, A MULTIPLE CURRENT SHUNT DEVICE AND A METHOD FOR PROVIDING A SENSOR SIGNAL - A multiple current sensor device or a multiple current shunt device includes at least two resistive sections comprising a first resistive section and a second resistive section, at least two connecting sections comprising a first connecting section and a second connecting section and a common connecting section. The first resistive section is electrically coupled in between the first connecting section and the common connecting section. The second resistive section is electrically coupled in between the second connecting section and the common connecting section. Using an embodiment may improve a trade-off between an efficient integration, a compact integration, a compact implementation and an accurate determination of at least one value indicative of at least one of multiple currents. | 09-18-2014 |
20140292360 | BROADBAND DIRECTIONAL COUPLER - A broadband directional coupler for measuring a power of a forward or returning high-frequency signal on a coaxial line provides a voltage splitter comprising a first resistor, a second resistor and a third resistor. The first connection of the first resistor is connected to an inner conductor of the coaxial line, the second connection of the first resistor and the first connection of the second resistor are connected to a measuring unit. The first connection of the third resistor is connected to an outer conductor of the coaxial line and to the second connection of the second resistor. The second connection of the third resistor is connected to a ground. The third resistor is annular in shape and arranged concentrically to the inner conductor in a plane orientated orthogonally relative to the inner conductor. | 10-02-2014 |
20140312923 | CONTACT INPUT APPARATUS SUPPORTING MULTIPLE VOLTAGE SPANS AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME - A voltage from a switching device across a plurality of attenuation paths is received. Each of the attenuation paths provides a different attenuation to the voltage from the others. At embedded control logic, at least one of the plurality of attenuation paths is chosen and a sensed voltage is determined according to the at least one attenuation path that is chosen. | 10-23-2014 |
20140320153 | Oscilloscope Current Probe with Interchangeable Range and Sensitivity Setting Modules - An oscilloscope current probe system includes a probe amplifier unit, a probe head identifier, and first and second probe heads interchangeably connectable to the probe amplifier unit. Each probe head has a respective electrically-readable type identifier, a respective current input to receive a current to be measured, a respective internal sensing resistor in connected series with the current input, and a respective output at which a measurement voltage across the sensing resistor is output. The first and second probe heads differ in the resistance of their sensing resistors and the way their type identifiers read. The probe amplifier unit includes a differential amplifier to amplify the measurement voltage output by the probe head connected thereto. The probe head identifier is to read the type identifier of the probe head connected to the probe amplifier unit. | 10-30-2014 |
20140327457 | TRACKING ENERGY CONSUMPTION USING A BOOST-BUCK TECHNIQUE - The invention relates to an apparatus and method for tracking energy consumption. An energy tracking system comprises at least one switching element, at least one inductor and a control block to keep the output voltage at a pre-selected level. The switching elements are configured to apply the source of energy to the inductors. The control block compares the output voltage of the energy tracking system to a reference value and controls the switching of the switched elements in order to transfer energy for the primary voltage into a secondary voltage at the output of the energy tracking system. The electronic device further comprises an ON-time and OFF-time generator and an accumulator wherein the control block is coupled to receive a signal from the ON-time and OFF-time generator and generates switching signals for the at least one switching element in the form of ON-time pulses with a constant width ON-time. | 11-06-2014 |
20140327458 | Integration of current measurement in wiring structure of an electronic circuit - A method of manufacturing an electronic circuit with an integrally formed capability of providing information indicative of a value of a current flowing in the electronic circuit, wherein the method comprises forming an electrically conductive wiring structure on a substrate, configuring a first section of the wiring structure for contributing to a predefined use function of the electronic circuit, and configuring a second section of the wiring structure for providing information indicative of the value of the current flowing in the electronic circuit upon applying a stimulus signal to the second section, wherein at least a part of the configuring of the first section and the configuring of the second section is performed simultaneously. | 11-06-2014 |
20140327459 | SUBSTRATE OF ELECTRONIC DEVICE, ELECTRONIC DEVICE INCLUDING THE SAME, AND MEASURING METHOD OF RESISTANCE AT CONNECTION PORTION - A substrate of an electronic device may include a first test region and a second test region to measure resistance at a connection portion. The first test region and the second test region each comprise a plurality of measuring pad portions, a protective layer disposed on the plurality of measuring pad portions, and a contact assistance member disposed on the protective layer. The protective layer in the first test region comprises a first contact hole exposing the plurality of measuring pad portions. The contact assistance member in the first test region contacts the measuring pad portion exposed through the first contact hole. The protective layer in the second test region comprises two second contact holes exposing one measuring pad portion, and the contact assistance member in the second test region contacts the one measuring pad portion through the two second contact holes. | 11-06-2014 |
20140347078 | CURRENT SENSING OF SWITCHING POWER REGULATORS - Apparatus and methods for current sensing in switching regulators are disclosed. In certain implementations, a current sensing circuit senses current of a power stage of a power converter. The power converter can include first and second transistors. The current sensing circuit comprises a transistor that is a scaled version of one of the transistors of the power converter. A circuit of the current sensing circuit matches a drain-to-source voltage of the transistor of the current sensing circuit to the corresponding transistor of the power converter. A current mirror generates a current that mirrors the current flowing through the transistor of the current sensing circuit. A first resistor converts the mirrored current to a current sensed signal. | 11-27-2014 |
20140354308 | INPUT STAGE FOR TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT SYSTEM - A temperature-measurement input stage is disclosed. In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, a temperature-measurement input stage may comprise a resistor, a thermistor, a first multiplexor, an amplifier, a second multiplexor, and an output stage. The first multiplexor may be configured to couple the resistor to a first amplifier input during a first multiplexor state, and couple the thermistor to the first amplifier input during a second multiplexor state. The amplifier may comprise the first amplifier input, a second amplifier input coupled to a voltage reference, and an amplifier output coupled to a feedback path. The second multiplexor may be configured to route a feedback current to the resistor during the first multiplexor state and route the feedback current to the thermistor during the second multiplexor state. The output stage may be configured to provide an output current based on the feedback current. | 12-04-2014 |
20140354309 | Portable Spa Monitoring and Control Circuitry - Control circuitry for controlling a spa water heater, wherein a microcontroller is configured to detect zero crossings of an A.C. line voltage from a voltage sense signal, to cause closing of a first heater relay and a second heater relay, to detect the time at which heater current is initially sensed by a current sensor after the initial closing of the second heater relay, to measure a time delay between the time that the second heater relay is closed and the time at which heater current is initially sensed, and to adjust the time at which a second closing of the second heater relay occurs such that zero crossings of the heater current occur at the same time as zero crossings of the voltage waveform. The control circuitry further includes a voltage sense circuit comprising a first diode connected in series with a current limiting resistance connected in series with a Zener diode, which is in turn connected in series with an optical coupler LED. | 12-04-2014 |
20140368224 | TEST CIRCUIT AND METHOD FOR SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE - A semiconductor device includes a first die, a second die coupled to the first die through a Through-Silicon-Via (TSV), and a test circuit suitable for measuring a resistance of the TSV by controlling an amount of current flowing through the TSV. | 12-18-2014 |
20140375342 | A BI-DIRECTIONAL INPUT, BI-DIRECTIONAL OUTPUT, LOSSLESS CURRENT SENSING SCHEME WITH TEMPERATURE COMPENSATION - A sensing circuit for a power PET. A first sensing FET senses current flow from load to ground. A second sensing FET senses current flow from ground to load. The current flows are converted to voltages, then added to generate a sensed output voltage. The specific amplitude of the sensed output voltage indicates the direction of the current flow. Resistive elements used to convert currents to voltages are configured as pairs of resistors having temperature coefficients of opposite polarity in order to compensate for temperature effects in the sensing circuit. | 12-25-2014 |
20150022225 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND CURRENT MONITORING METHOD - An electronic device includes: a detection circuit to detect a voltage difference between both ends of a wiring portion which is at least a portion of a power supply wiring that connects a power supply circuit and a receiver circuit; a current supply circuit to supply a pilot current having a first current value which is smaller than a second current value of a main current to the power supply wiring; and a control circuit to control supply of the pilot current and stop of the supply of the pilot current, to calculate a wiring resistance value of the wiring portion based on a first value of the voltage difference when the supply is stopped, a second value of the voltage difference when the pilot current is supplied, and the first current value and to calculate the second current value based on the first value and the wiring resistance value. | 01-22-2015 |
20150048854 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MONITORING MAXIMUM POWER POINT TRACKING - A method and apparatus for monitoring maximum power point tracking (MPPT) by measuring, external to a device that performs the MPPT, a DC current and a DC voltage to obtain a DC current value and a DC voltage value, wherein the DC current and the DC voltage are from a distributed generator (DG) coupled to the device. The method determining, external to the device, a constellation of data points, wherein each data point of the constellation comprises a DC voltage change and a corresponding DC current change resulting from an AC waveform, and determining, a dynamic resistance of the DG based on the constellation. The method computes a ratio of the DC voltage value to the DC current value, compares the dynamic resistance to the ratio, and determines, based on the comparison of the dynamic resistance to the ratio, if the DG is biased at a maximum power point (MPP). | 02-19-2015 |
20150077146 | Method and Device to Determine a Resistance Value of a Plurality of Operating Devices and Method and Device to Control a Plurality of Operating Devices - A method for determining a resistance value of a plural number of actuating devices ( | 03-19-2015 |
20150084653 | CURRENT SOURCE DRIVEN MEASUREMENT AND MODELING - A method and apparatus for testing integrated circuit resistors includes applying a variable source current to a resistive device under test (DUT), measuring the resistance of the resistive DUT as a function of the source current, and fitting the measured resistance to parameters of a polynomial parametric equation, wherein the parametric equation comprises a constant resistance at zero current bias plus a second order current coefficient of resistance multiplied by the square of the current. | 03-26-2015 |
20150084654 | INSULATION RESISTANCE MEASUREMENT FOR INVERTERS - During measuring an insulation resistance for an inverter having at least one half-bridge including two active switching elements for driving an output current, and a DC link voltage, a center point of the half-bridge positioned between the switching elements is connected to a grounding point by closing a grounding switch, and the center point connected to the grounding point is connected, one after the other, to a first ungrounded terminal and a second ungrounded terminal of the DC link voltage of the inverter present at the half-bridge by means of the two active switching elements of the half-bridge to establish a connection between the first and second ungrounded terminals, respectively, and the grounding point. A current flowing via the connection to the grounding point is measured using a measuring device. | 03-26-2015 |
20150115985 | Temperature and Supply Voltage Independent DC-DC Current Sensing - The present document relates to a current sensing circuit. In particular, the present document relates to a current sensing circuit which provides reliable indications of the current through a transistor. A current sensing circuit configured to provide an indication of a load current through a pass device is described. The current sensing circuit comprises a sensing replica of the pass device and a sensing resistor arranged in series with the sensing replica. The sensing resistor is arranged such that a voltage drop at the sensing resistor provides an indication of the load current through the pass device. | 04-30-2015 |
20150130484 | ACTIVE CURRENT MEASUREMENT CIRCUIT AND MEASUREMENT DEVICE - The current sensing circuit comprises a first input terminal and a second input terminal for introducing a subject current that flows in a current path; a shunt resistor coupled in the current path for converting the subject current into an output voltage difference across the shunt resistor; an amplifier having a first input node coupled to the first input terminal, a second input node coupled to the second input terminal, an output node, and a feedback path comprising an over-current protection device, wherein the feedback path is coupled between the output node and the first input terminal; and an output terminal coupled to the second input terminal and the shunt resistor to output the output voltage difference. The current sensing circuit has a relatively large current measuring range and a small burden voltage. A measurement device is also described. | 05-14-2015 |
20150346243 | CURRENT LOAD DETECTION DEVICE AND CURRENT LOAD DETECTION METHOD - A current load detection device is configured to detect a current load to a common power supply unit of a system in which a plurality of devices is connected to the common power supply unit. The current load detection device includes resistances provided for each of the plurality of devices and having resistance values corresponding to consumption current of each of the plurality of devices, a parallel connection unit configured to connect the resistances provided for the plurality of devices in parallel when the plurality of devices is connected to the power supply unit, and a measuring unit configured to measure a combined resistance value of the resistances connected in parallel by the parallel connection unit. | 12-03-2015 |
20150355272 | INTEGRATED CIRCUIT WITH SENSING UNIT AND METHOD FOR USING THE SAME - Integrated circuit comprising a sensing unit that includes a sensing circuit, two conductors and a magnetic storage element. The sensing circuit monitors a voltage drop across the element when a current is passed between the conductors with the element in between. The voltage drop is pre-calibrated to indicate a change in conductivity in the element that is caused by an external magnetic field. Advantageously, this indication is usable particularly for assessing a possible data corruption in a magnetic memory circuit in the integrated circuit, due to stray and external magnetic fields. Methods of using the sensing unit are also proposed. | 12-10-2015 |
20150362536 | HIGH-VOLTAGE DIRECT CURRENT BROAD FREQUENCY-DOMAIN CORONA CURRENT MEASUREMENT SYSTEM - The present invention provides a kind of high voltage direct current broadband domain corona current measurement system, including the sampling resistance sensor, the UHV local end measurement unit, the optical fiber transmission unit, the safe location measurement unit and the upper monitor; The sampling resistance sensor samples the corona current signal of the HVDC line, and converts the corona current signal to the voltage signal, the UHV local end measurement unit collects the voltage signal, and obtains the optical signal by photoelectric conversion, the optical signal transforms to the safe location measurement unit by the optical fiber transmission unit, the safe location measurement unit converts the optical signal to the voltage signal, the host computer performs processing, storing and displaying with the voltage signal. The present invention has a wide range of measuring frequency, strong ability of anti-electromagnetic interference and other advantages, also can running in long-term stable status under the condition of the UHV DC and all kinds of bad natures, this provides effective technological means for further research on the character of the UHVDC corona. | 12-17-2015 |
20160028377 | RESISTANCE DETECTION FOR INTEGRATED CIRCUIT DRIVER - An IC driver includes a resistor detector to detect whether at least a threshold resistance is present between a pin of the IC driver and the gate of an IGBT. The resistor detector can include a comparator that compares a voltage at the collector of the IGBT to a threshold reference voltage (e.g., ground). In response to drive signals of the IC driver being switched off, a parasitic inductance causes a voltage drop at the emitter of the IGBT, and a commensurate voltage drop at the IGBT collector. If the resistance between the IC driver pin and the IGBT gate is lower than a specified level, the voltage drop at the IGBT collector will be such that the collector voltage falls below the threshold reference voltage. In response, the comparator asserts a signal indicating a fault. | 01-28-2016 |
20160111189 | PUNCHED PART FOR PRODUCING AN ELECTRICAL RESISTOR, CURRENT SENSOR AND CORRESPONDING PRODUCTION METHOD - The invention relates to a punched part for producing an electrical resistor, in particular a current measuring resistor, comprising a resistor element ( | 04-21-2016 |
20160116514 | TRACKING ENERGY CONSUMPTION USING A BOOST-BUCK TECHNIQUE - The invention relates to an apparatus and method for tracking energy consumption. An energy tracking system comprises at least one switching element, at least one inductor and a control block to keep the output voltage at a pre-selected level. The switching elements are configured to apply the source of energy to the inductors. The control block compares the output voltage of the energy tracking system to a reference value and controls the switching of the switched elements in order to transfer energy for the primary voltage into a secondary voltage at the output of the energy tracking system. The electronic device further comprises an ON-time and OFF-time generator and an accumulator wherein the control block is coupled to receive a signal from the ON-time and OFF-time generator and generates switching signals for the at least one switching element in the form of ON-time pulses with a constant width ON-time. | 04-28-2016 |
20160124028 | METHOD FOR CHECKING THE ABSENCE OF VOLTAGE ON A POWER ELECTRONIC COMPONENT OF A MOTOR VEHICLE - A method is disclosed for checking the absence of voltage on a power electronic component connected to a high-voltage battery and to an electrical machine in a high-voltage network of a motor vehicle, which component has a higher voltage than a low-voltage network of the motor vehicle. The power electronic component includes an intermediate circuit capacitor, a passive discharge resistor, a plug-in terminal for at least one high-voltage load and a fuse which is connected upstream of the plug-in terminal. Following disconnection of the high-voltage battery from the high-voltage network and when the connector of the cable plugged into the plug-in terminal is withdrawn from the plug-in terminal—or a target terminal, a feed voltage is applied via the high-voltage contacts of the plug connection and the voltage curve and/or, after a defined charging time interval of the intermediate circuit capacitor, the resistance is measured by means of a measuring instrument, wherein an absence of voltage is determined in the event of a voltage curve lying in an intended range—or a resistance lying in an intended range. | 05-05-2016 |
20160124035 | CONDUCTOR ASSEMBLY - Conductor assembly ( | 05-05-2016 |
20160146870 | CONTACTOR HEALTH MONITOR CIRCUIT AND METHOD - In one possible embodiment, a contactor health monitor circuit is provided having a first operational amplifier connected at a first input to a line one primary side terminal of a contactor and connected at a second input to a line two primary side terminal of the contactor. The circuit also includes a second operational amplifier connected at a first input to a line one secondary side terminal of the contactor and connected at a second input to a line two secondary side terminal of the contactor. A summing amplifier is connected at a first input to an output of the first operational amplifier summed with an output of the second operation amplifier. | 05-26-2016 |
20160178475 | LEAK DETECTION IN LIQUID COOLED COMPUTING SYSTEMS | 06-23-2016 |
20190146018 | MEASURING APPARATUS | 05-16-2019 |
20220137101 | METHOD TO PROVIDE ANALOG VOLTAGE SIGNAL PROPORTIONAL TO 4-20MA TRANSMITTER CURRENT USING A DCDC CONVERTER ACROSS GALVANIC ISOLATION OF A TRANSFORMER - The present disclosure provides a circuit comprising: a 4-20 mA transmitter; a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding; a first current-sense resistor connected in series with the primary winding and a current regulator, wherein the current-sense resistor is configured to measure a first voltage and provide the measured first voltage to the current regulator, the current regulator being configured to output a current proportional to the measured first voltage; and a second current-sense resistor connected in series with the secondary winding, wherein the current-sense resistor is configured to measure a second voltage such that a current associated with the 4-20 mA transmitter is determined based on the second voltage. | 05-05-2022 |