Integrated current sensor

Abstract

An integrated current sensor includes a current conductor, a magnetic field transducer, and an electromagnetic shield. The magnetic field transducer includes a sensor die. The electromagnetic shield is disposed proximate to the sensor die. The electromagnetic shield has at least one feature selected to reduce an eddy current in the electromagnetic shield.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a Continuation-in-Part Application of and claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 383,021 filed May 12, 2006.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH [0002] Not Applicable. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0003] This invention relates generally to electrical current sensors, and more particularly to a miniaturized current sensor having an integrated conductor. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0004] As is known in the art, one type of conventional electrical current sensor uses a Hall effect magnetic field transducer in proximity to a current-carrying conductor. The Hall effect device generates an output signal having a magnitude proportional to the magnetic field induced by the current through the conductor. Typical current sensors of this type include a gapped toroid magnetic flux concentrator, with the Hall effect device positioned in the toroid gap. The Hall effect device and toroid are assembled in a...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a current sensor includes a current conductor for passing a current sensed by the current sensor. The current sensor also includes a magnetic field transducer proximate to the current conductor. The magnetic field transducer includes a sensor die with first and second opposing surfaces. The sensor die also has an end surface coupling the first and second opposing surfaces. The first surface of the sensor die supports a magnetic field sensing element. The current sensor also includes an electromagnetic shield proximate to the first surface of the sensor die. The electromagnetic shield has at least one feature selected to reduce an eddy current induced in the electromagnetic shield.

[0008] With the above-described arrangement, the electromagnetic shield reduces the influence of electromagnetic noise upon the current sensor. The at least one feature of the shield tends to reduce the reduction of the magnetic field, which reduction would otherwise be caused by eddy currents in the electromagnetic shield, and which eddy currents would otherwise result in the current sensor having less sensitivity. Furthermore, the shield tends to reduce the effect of trapped charge at an interface between an encapsulation (e.g., plastic) over the sensor die and a surface of the sensor die.

Problems solved by technology

Such devices tend to be undesirably large, both in terms of height and circuit board area.

This trapped charge tends to cause undesirable effects, for example “gate leakage” from the substrate of the integrated circuit, resulting in out-of-specification behavior of the integrated circuit.

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