Invention Grant
- Patent Title: Wide range current sensing
- Patent Title (中): 宽范围电流检测
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Application No.: US12723367Application Date: 2010-03-12
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Publication No.: US08354835B2Publication Date: 2013-01-15
- Inventor: Robert McNamara
- Applicant: Robert McNamara
- Applicant Address: US CA Cupertino
- Assignee: Apple Inc.
- Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
- Current Assignee Address: US CA Cupertino
- Agency: Meyertons, Hood, Kivlin, Kowert & Goetzel, P.C.
- Agent Lawrence J. Merkel; Tamas Korvacs
- Main IPC: G01R1/20
- IPC: G01R1/20 ; G01R31/26

Abstract:
A current sense circuit, including a voltage regulator, for detecting current conducted by a device under test (DUT) for a wide range of currents, while still providing fine granularity for detecting low/small currents. Two current branches/paths may be established to the supply terminal of the DUT. A switching device, e.g. a transistor device, may be operated to enable a first current branch of the two current branches, or both current branches to conduct current, responsive to the size of the current flowing in the first current branch. The total current conducted by the DUT may be equivalent to a sum of the respective currents flowing in the two current branches. When the switching device is turned off, very small currents conducted by the DUT may be measured with fine granularity. When the switching device is turned on, substantially larger currents conducted by the DUT may be measured.
Public/Granted literature
- US20110221424A1 Wide Range Current Sensing Public/Granted day:2011-09-15
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