IP Library Granted Patent US 8,482,320
Granted Patent B2
US 8,482,320 · App. 13/032,357 · Granted Jul 9, 2013

Current detection circuit and semiconductor integrated circuit

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,482,320
App. No.
13/032,357
Granted
Jul 9, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention provides a current detection circuit for a transistor, that does not influence a current flowing through the transistor, and minimizes a power loss, an increase of the pattern area and so on. A current detection circuit includes a wiring connected to a MOS transistor and forming a current path of a current of the MOS transistor, a current detection MOS transistor of which the gate is connected to the wiring, that flows a current corresponding to the potential of the gate, and a current detector detecting a current flowing through the current detection MOS transistor. The current detection circuit is configured including a load resistor connected to the current detection MOS transistor and a voltage detection circuit detecting a drain voltage of the current detection MOS transistor.

Claims (13)

1. A current detection circuit detecting a current flowing through a transistor, comprising:

a wiring connected to the transistor so that the current for the detection flows through the wiring;

a current detection MOS transistor comprising a gate connected to the wiring and allowing another current to flow through the detection MOS transistor in response to a potential of the gate applied by the wiring; and

a current detector detecting the another current,

wherein the entire current detection MOS transistor is covered by the wiring so that, in a sectional view of the current detection MOS transistor, edges of the wiring are located away from an active region of the current detection MOS transistor so as to be at an element isolation film surrounding the active region.

2. The current detection circuit of claim 1 , wherein the current detection MOS transistor is a depletion type MOS transistor.

3. The current detection circuit of claim 1 , wherein the current detection MOS transistor is an enhancement type MOS transistor.

4. The current detection circuit of claim 1 , wherein the current detector comprises a load resistor connected to a drain of the current detection MOS transistor and a voltage detection circuit detecting a potential of the drain.

5. A semiconductor integrated circuit comprising:

a transistor comprising a drain connected to a power potential and a source directly connected to a reference potential;

a wiring connecting the source of the transistor to the reference potential;

a current detection MOS transistor comprising a gate connected to the wiring, a source and a drain; and

a current detector connected to the drain of the current detection MOS transistor.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS RECORDED AT REEL 038620, FRAME 0087 Recorded Jun 22, 2023
From: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC; FAIRCHILD SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064070/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INCORRECT PATENT NUMBER 5859768 AND TO RECITE COLLATERAL AGENT ROLE OF RECEIVING PARTY IN THE SECURITY INTEREST PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 038620 FRAME 0087. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded Aug 25, 2016
From: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
To: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 039853/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 15, 2016
From: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
To: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH
Reel/Frame 038620/0087 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 28, 2014
From: ON SEMICONDUCTOR TRADING SARL
To: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 033626/0753 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 22, 2014
From: ON SEMICONDUCTOR TRADING, LTD.
To: ON SEMICONDUCTOR TRADING SARL
Reel/Frame 033596/0245 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INCORRECT #12/577882 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 026594 FRAME 0385. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded May 6, 2014
From: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD
To: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 032836/0342 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 14, 2011
From: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
To: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 026594/0385 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 25, 2011
From: OTAKE, SEIJI
To: ON SEMICONDUCTOR TRADING, LTD.
Reel/Frame 025869/0218 →