IP Library Granted Patent US 8,525,554
Granted Patent B2
US 8,525,554 · App. 13/338,305 · Granted Sep 3, 2013

High-side signal sensing circuit

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,525,554
App. No.
13/338,305
Granted
Sep 3, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention provides a high-side signal sensing circuit. The high-side signal sensing circuit comprises a signal-to-current converter, a second transistor and a resistor. The signal-to-current converter has a first transistor generating a mirror current in response to an input signal. The second transistor cascaded with the first transistor is coupled to receive the mirror current. The resistor generates an output signal in response to the mirror current. Wherein, the level of the output signal is corrected to the level of the input signal.

Claims (23)

1. A high-side signal sensing circuit, comprising:

a signal-to-current converter having a first resistor and a first transistor, the first transistor generating a mirror current in response to an input signal;

a second transistor being serially connected with the first transistor coupled to receive the mirror current; and

a second resistor being directly and serially connected with the second transistor and generating an output signal in response to the mirror current;

wherein the level of the output signal is proportional to the level of the input signal and a ratio of the second resistor to the first resistor;

wherein by sensing a cross-voltage of the first resistor, a current flowed through the second resistor is obtained.

2. The circuit as claimed in claim 1 , in which

the second resistor is located in a first circuit; and

the signal-to-current converter and the first transistor are located in a second circuit;

wherein the second circuit is developed in an isolated well that is isolated from the first circuit.

3. The circuit as claimed in claim 1 , in which the second transistor is located in a third circuit and the third circuit is developed in another isolated circuit that is isolated from the first circuit.

4. The circuit as claimed in claim 1 , in which a power source of the second circuit is supplied by a source current in the first circuit; the current of the source current is coupled to the second circuit through a high-voltage transistor.

5. The circuit as claimed in claim 1 , in which the second circuit comprises a zener diode to clamp a maximum voltage of a power source of the second circuit.

6. A high-side signal detecting circuit, comprising:

a first circuit having a first resistor located in a substrate;

a second circuit having a second resistor and a first transistor, the second resistor being directly and serially connected with the first transistor, the first transistor located in an isolated well generating a mirror current in response to an input signal; and

a third circuit having a second transistor being serially connected with the first transistor coupled to deliver the mirror current to the first circuit;

wherein the first resistor generates an output signal in response to the mirror current, the level of the output signal is proportional to the level of the input signal and a ratio of the first resistor to the second resistor,

wherein by sensing a cross-voltage of the second resistor, a current flowed through the first resistor is obtained.

7. The circuit as claimed in claim 6 , in which the second circuit is developed in an isolated well that is isolated from the first circuit.

8. The circuit as claimed in claim 6 , in which the third circuit is isolated from the first circuit.

9. The circuit as claimed in claim 6 , in which a power source of the second circuit is supplied by a source current in the first circuit; the current of the source current is coupled to the second circuit through a high-voltage transistor in the first circuit.

10. The circuit as claimed in claim 6 , in which the second circuit further comprises a zener diode to clamp a maximum voltage of a power source of the second circuit.

Assignments (5)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS RECORDED AT RECORDED AT REEL 046410, FRAME 0933 Recorded Jun 22, 2023
From: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC; FAIRCHILD SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064072/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 22, 2018
From: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
To: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 046410/0933 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 25, 2017
From: FAIRCHILD (TAIWAN) CORPORATION (FORMERLY SYSTEM GENERAL CORPORATION)
To: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 042328/0318 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 3, 2016
From: SYSTEM GENERAL CORPORATION
To: FAIRCHILD (TAIWAN) CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 038599/0043 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 28, 2011
From: YANG, TA-YUNG; WEI, KAI-FANG; CHEN, YEN-TING
To: SYSTEM GENERAL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 027450/0649 →