Semiconductor Switch Load Current Measurement Error Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing semiconductor switches face challenges in accurately measuring low load currents due to high measurement errors caused by residual currents, which are influenced by manufacturing tolerances and temperature, leading to inaccurate detection of currents below 10 mA.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a semiconductor switch with two measuring units, each with a distinct transmission factor, allows for the comparison of measurement results to correct for errors, thereby reducing residual current impact and enhancing measurement accuracy by calculating a corrected measurement result using arithmetic operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a single measuring device with a fixed transmission factor is used, then the device complexity is low, but the measurement precision deteriorates at very low currents due to residual current errors
Solution Approach 1:
The measuring device is segmented into multiple measuring units (first measuring unit with first transmission factor, second measuring unit with second transmission factor), each optimized for different current ranges. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high measurement precision across a wide current range by selecting the appropriate measuring unit based on the current magnitude, thereby resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and device complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the measuring range is enlarged to detect currents from 0 A to 40 A, then the adaptability improves, but the measurement precision deteriorates at very low currents due to dominant error effects
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically selects between different measuring units based on the current magnitude. For very low currents, the first measuring unit with its specific transmission factor is used to achieve high precision, while for higher currents, the second measuring unit is activated. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between having a wide measuring range and maintaining high measurement precision across the entire range.
3Measurement precision
If residual current effects are reduced through hardware improvements, then the measurement precision improves, but the manufacturing cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of improving hardware to reduce residual current, the invention changes the operational parameters by using multiple measuring units with different transmission factors. Through arithmetic operations on the measurement results from these units, the system achieves high measurement precision without requiring expensive hardware improvements, thereby resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and ease of manufacture.
Data Source
AI summary
Determining a load current (IL) in a semiconductor switch, which has a measuring device, wherein a measurement of the load current (IL) is influenced by a transmission factor (k), depending on the measuring device, wherein the following steps are carried out: (a) execution of a first measurement of the load current (IL) with a first transmission factor (k1), wherein a first measurement result is determined with the first measurement; (b) execution of a second measurement of the load current (IL) with a second transmission factor (k2), wherein a second measurement result is determined with the second measurement, and the first transmission factor (k1) differs from the second transmission factor (k2), in order to identify an error (IF) in the measurement results; and (c) determination of a corrected measurement result through a comparison of the first measurement result with the second measurement result, such that the error (IF) is at least reduced.