Small current detector circuit and locator device using the same

• US 5,783,951 A
• Filed: 10/09/1996
• Issued: 07/21/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.), ROHM Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.), ROHM Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Iwasaki, Mitsuharu, Matsumoto, deceased, Mikio, Watanabe, Akitoshi, Inoue, Kinya
• Primary Examiner(s): Callahan, Timothy P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ZWEIZIG, JEFFERY SHAWN
• Application Number:
  US08/728,382
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• Field of Search: 327/53, 327/66, 327/91, 327/94, 327/96, 327/103, 327/361, 327/560, 327/561, 327/562, 327/563, 327/51, 327/52, 324/522
• US Class Current: 327/52
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/24 by varying capacitance
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/2405 by varying dielectric
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/0092 measuring current only all subgroups of G01R19/00 take precedence

Abstract

Improved small current detector circuit and locator device each comprise a first and a second element in both of which a small current output occurs, a first and a second constant current generator circuit each generating a specified constant current, a first current mirror circuit which is supplied at the input with said output current occurring in said first element and said specified constant current generated from said first constant current generator circuit, and a second current mirror circuit which is supplied at the input with said output current occurring in said second element and said specified constant current generated from said second constant current generator circuit, and wherein either one of said first and second elements is disposed in a detecting portion and a current equal to the current from the output of either one of said first and second current mirror circuits is flowed to the output of the other current mirror circuit such that a detection output corresponding to the difference between said output currents from said first and second elements is drawn from said other current mirror circuit.

Claims

1. A small current detector circuit comprising a first and a second element in both of which a small current output occurs, a first and a second constant current generator circuit each generating a specified constant current, a first current mirror circuit which is supplied at the input with said output current occurring in said first element and said specified constant current generated from said first constant current generator circuit, and a second current mirror circuit which is supplied at the input with said output current occurring in said second element and said specified constant current generated from said second constant current generator circuit, and wherein either one of said first and second elements is disposed in a detecting portion and a current equal to the current from the output of either one of said first and second current mirror circuits is flowed to the output of the other current mirror circuit such that a detection output corresponding to the difference between said output currents from said first and second elements is drawn from said other current mirror circuit.

2. A small current detector circuit according to claim 1, wherein the other of said first and second elements which is not disposed in said detecting portion outputs a reference current, said inputs of said first and second current mirror circuits are sinks for current, and the current at the output of either one of said first and second current mirror circuits is flowed via a third current mirror circuit to the output of said other current mirror circuit.

3. A small current detector circuit according to claim 2, wherein said first and second elements are capacitors, said small current output is a charging current generated by charging said first and second elements in response to a pulse signal for a specified period, and said specified constant current is a bias current that sets said first and second mirror current circuits in a balanced state.

4. A small current detector circuit according to claim 3, wherein said first, second and third current mirror circuits and said first and second constant current generator circuits are each composed of field-effect transistors and said other current mirror circuit is provided at the output with a capacitor as a load from which said detection output is to be drawn.

5. A small current detector circuit according to claim 4, wherein each of said first, second and third current mirror circuits comprises field-effect transistors stacked in two stages and said load capacitor is provided with a switch circuit for discharging it.

6. A small current detector circuit according to claim 2, wherein said first and second elements are light-receiving elements and said small current output is generated by illuminating said first and second elements with light.

7. A locator device comprising a small current detector circuit comprising a first and a second capacitor in both of which a charge current output occurs, a first and a second constant current generator circuit each generating a specified constant current, a first current mirror circuit which is supplied at the input with said charge current output occurring in said first capacitor and said specified constant current generated from said first constant current generator circuit, and a second current mirror circuit which is supplied at the input with said charge output current occurring in said second capacitor and said specified constant current generated from said second constant current generator circuit, and wherein either one of said first and second capacitors is disposed in a detecting portion and a current equal to the current from the output of either one of said first and second current mirror circuits is flowed to the output of the other current mirror circuit such that a detection output corresponding to the difference between said output currents from said first and second capacitors is drawn from said other current mirror circuit, with the capacitor disposed in said detecting portion comprising an array of capacitors.

8. A locator device according to claim 7, wherein each of the capacitors disposed in said detecting portion is composed of two electrodes one of which is a plate to be touched, said device further including a multiplexer having a plurality of said plates connected respectively to a plurality of selection terminals, and wherein the capacitor not disposed in said detecting portion generates a reference charge current output, a common pulse signal being supplied to the other of the electrodes defining each of the capacitors disposed in said detecting portion, and the output of said multiplexer being supplied into either one of said first and second current mirrors as said charge current output while said reference charge current output is supplied to the other of said first and second current mirror circuits.

9. A locator device according to claim 8, wherein said inputs of said first and second current mirror circuits are sinks for current, and the current at the output of either one of said first and second current mirror circuits is flowed via a third current mirror circuit to the output of said other current mirror circuit whereas said specified constant current is a bias current that sets said first and second current mirror circuits in a balanced state.

10. A locator device according to claim 9, wherein said charge current output is generated by charging said first and second capacitors, and said first, second and third current mirror circuits and said first and second constant current generator circuits are each composed of field-effect transistors and wherein said other current mirror circuit is provided at the output with a capacitor as a load from which said detection output is drawn.