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Current sensor

  • US 7,053,600 B2
  • Filed: 06/24/2004
  • Issued: 05/30/2006
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2003
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A current sensor comprising:

  • a Hall element;

    a differential amplifier to amplify an output voltage of the Hall element, thus producing a sensor output voltage; and

    a compensation circuit to compensate for variation in offset voltage of the current sensor, the compensation circuit having a plurality of series-connected diodes each exhibiting specific temperature characteristics based on a gradient of an approximated straight line given by a relationship between a residual Hall voltage of the Hall element at a given temperature and a rate of change in the residual Hall voltage due to temperature change, thus producing a compensation voltage in accordance with the temperature characteristics, the compensation voltage being added to the output voltage of the Hall element and input to the differential amplifier,wherein the series-connected diodes are divided into to a first diode group and a second diode group, the diode groups being connected in series in a forward bias direction via a resistor and having a specific same number of diodes connected in series in the forward bias direction, a resistor circuit being connected in parallel to the diode groups, the compensation voltage being output from the resistor circuit.

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