IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,091,562
Granted Patent B2
US 7,091,562 · App. 10/916,717 · Granted Aug 15, 2006

CMOS power sensor

Assignee: Himax Technologies, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,091,562
App. No.
10/916,717
Granted
Aug 15, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

A CMOS power sensor is disclosed in the present invention. The CMOS power sensor includes a current coil, a high voltage device circuit, and a Hall device. The current coil is fabricated during the process steps of forming gold bumps of a CMOS device. One end of the current coil is connected to a voltage source, and the other end of the current coil is connected to a load. The high voltage device circuit is connected to the voltage source. The Hall device is connected to the high voltage device circuit and induces a Hall voltage in response to the magnetic field generated by the current coil.

Claims (22)

1. A CMOS power sensor to detect a power magnitude of a given voltage source, comprising:

a CMOS device with at least one gold bump;

a current coil fabricated during fabrication steps of forming the at least one gold bump;

wherein said current coil is connected to said voltage source and a load;

a high voltage device circuit, which is connected to said voltage source; and

a Hall device, which is connected to said high voltage device circuit and induces a Hall voltage in response to a magnetic field generated by said current coil.

2. The CMOS power sensor of claim 1 , wherein said current coil is made of gold.

3. The CMOS power sensor of claim 2 , wherein said current coil is formed by an electroplating process.

4. The CMOS power sensor of claim 2 , wherein said current coil further contains a pad layer made of TiW/Au.

5. The CMOS power sensor of claim 1 , wherein said current coil has a thickness of between 4 μm and 20 μm.

6. The CMOS power sensor of claim 1 , wherein said high voltage device circuit works as a voltage follower.

7. The CMOS power sensor of claim 1 , wherein said Hall device is a four-well device.

8. The CMOS power sensor of claim 1 , wherein said Hall devices is an N-type MOS transistor.

9. The CMOS power sensor of claim 1 , wherein said Hall device is a P-type MOS transistor.

10. The CMOS power sensor of claim 1 , wherein said Hall device comprises:

a first terminal, which is connected to said high voltage device circuit;

a second terminal, which is connected to the ground;

a third terminal, which is connected to a first Hall probe; and

a fourth terminal, which is connected to a second Hall probe.

11. The CMOS power sensor of claim 10 , wherein said Hall voltage is determined to be a voltage difference between said first Hall probe and said second Hall probe.

12. The CMOS power sensor of claim 10 , further comprising a first buffer located between said third terminal and said first Hall probe.

13. The CMOS power sensor of claim 10 , further comprising a second buffer located between said fourth terminal and said second Hall probe.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 8, 2007
From: HIMAX TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: HIMAX TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
Reel/Frame 019262/0796 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT RECEIVING PARTY'S NAME, PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT R/F 015718/0085 Recorded May 20, 2005
From: YANG, HUNG-MING
To: HIMAX TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 017168/0886 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 13, 2004
From: YANG, HUNG-MING
To: HIMAX TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 015718/0085 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20060033174A1 · Feb 16, 2006