Semiconductor Current Sensing Circuit With Parallel Shunt Resistors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing semiconductor devices face challenges in accurately detecting current while minimizing heat generation from shunt resistors, leading to inefficiencies in current control and overcurrent limiting due to increased losses and heat from multiple shunt resistors connected in series.
Innovation Solution
A semiconductor device design that includes a resistance circuit with shunt resistors connected in parallel and sense resistors to detect current accurately, reducing heat generation and improving detection accuracy by averaging voltage across multiple shunt resistors, and utilizing a configuration that minimizes the impact of current direction on voltage detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple shunt resistors are connected in series to improve current detection accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of energy increases and heat generation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the current detection function across multiple shunt resistors connected in parallel rather than series. Each shunt resistor handles a portion of the total current, and their combined effect provides accurate current detection while distributing the power loss across multiple components, thereby reducing total energy loss compared to a single high-value series resistor.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces sense resistors as intermediary components that work in conjunction with the shunt resistors. The sense resistors detect voltage drops across the shunt resistors, which indirectly provides current information without requiring the shunt resistors to directly bear the full detection burden, thus reducing their power loss while maintaining detection accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If multiple shunt resistors are connected in series to improve current detection accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but temperature increases due to heat generation
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the current path through multiple parallel shunt resistors instead of a single series resistor, the patent distributes the heat generation across multiple components. This segmentation prevents concentration of thermal energy in one location, thereby reducing overall temperature rise while maintaining current detection functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The sense resistors act as intermediaries that detect current information through voltage measurements across the shunt resistors without requiring high power dissipation in the shunt resistors themselves. This intermediary detection method allows for accurate current measurement with minimal heat generation from the shunt resistor network.
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
The solution effectively reduces current detection errors to less than 1% and enhances current control accuracy, while suppressing heat generation from shunt resistors, enabling efficient energy use and reproduction in power generation and transmission applications.
Implementation Method 1
a first shunt resistor that is electrically connected to the second terminal at one end thereof and electrically connected to the AC output terminal at the other end thereof, a second shunt resistor that is electrically connected to the third terminal at one end thereof, and electrically connected to the AC output terminal at the other end thereof
Implementation Method 2
a first sense resistor circuit including a first sense resistor and a second sense resistor that are connected to each other in series between the one end of the first shunt resistor and the one end of the second shunt resistor
Data Source
AI summary
According to the present invention, a semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor device, a second semiconductor device, an AC output terminal, a first shunt resistor connected to the first semiconductor device at one end thereof and the AC output terminal at the other end thereof, a second shunt resistor connected to the second semiconductor device at one end thereof and the AC output terminal at the other end thereof, a first wiring connecting the one end of the first shunt resistor and the one end of the second shunt resistor, a second wiring connecting the other end of the first shunt resistor and the other end of the second shunt resistor and a first sense resistor circuit including a first sense resistor and a second sense resistor connected in series between the one end of the first shunt resistor and the one end of the second shunt resistor.