High Side Current Sensing Circuit for Power Deviation Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional power monitors fail to accurately detect and measure both transient and prolonged deviations in power supply output current, leading to unreliable diagnostics and potential device damage.
Innovation Solution
A power monitoring circuit that differentiates between transient and prolonged deviations using threshold currents and duration thresholds, with shunt resistor-based current measurement, peak detection, and integrating sampler for energy calculation, enabling detailed reporting of deviation characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If conventional power monitors use temperature measurements to approximate power deviations, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision and reliability of deviation detection deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces indirect temperature-based approximation with direct electrical measurement using a shunt resistor and integrating sampler circuit. This substitution of measurement methodology enables precise quantification of both transient and prolonged power deviations by directly integrating current over time, eliminating the imprecision of temperature-based inference while maintaining practical device complexity through integrated circuit implementation.
2Device complexity
If conventional power monitors use simple threshold detection, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to differentiate between transient and prolonged deviations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the power deviation detection function into two distinct operational modes within the integrating sampler circuit: transient deviation detection for brief current spikes and prolonged deviation detection for sustained overcurrent conditions. This segmentation enables the single circuit to differentiate between the two deviation types by comparing the integrated charge against separate threshold criteria, providing versatile diagnostic capability without requiring multiple separate monitoring systems.
3Device complexity
If no duration threshold is used for deviation detection, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to measure prolonged deviations accurately deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a duration threshold parameter as an intermediary criterion in the deviation detection process. The integrating sampler circuit compares the integrated current charge against both a magnitude threshold and a duration threshold, where the duration threshold acts as a mediator to distinguish between transient spikes and prolonged deviations. This intermediary parameter enables accurate measurement of prolonged deviation duration while maintaining a relatively simple circuit implementation through standard comparator and timer components.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables precise detection and measurement of both types of deviations, providing diagnostic information to identify root causes and anticipate potential damage, thereby enhancing device reliability and longevity.
Implementation Method 1
shunt resistor-based current measurement
Implementation Method 2
integrating sampler for energy calculation
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
A power monitoring circuit and method for detecting deviations in the output of a power supply. The power monitor is configured to detect and measure two different types of deviations: transient deviations short surges or spikes in the current drawn by the device being powered and prolonged deviations over a threshold current that may be intentional, temporary increases in the output of the power supply. The power monitor collects information such as the number of each type of deviation, the duration of each deviation and the peak current describing identified deviations. This collected information can then be used, especially during the development phase, to locate the root cause of the deviation. The components of the power monitor used to detect and measure these deviations may be disabled and enabled as needed.