Current sensor
First Claim
1. An integrated circuit, comprising:
- a lead frame portion having a plurality of leads;
a current conductor portion comprising at least two of the plurality of leads;
a substrate having first and second opposing surfaces, the first surface proximate to the current conductor portion and the second surface distal from the current conductor portion;
one or more magnetic field sensing elements disposed proximate to the current conductor portion;
a current sensing circuit disposed on the first surface of the substrate and coupled to the one or more magnetic field sensing elements, wherein the current sensing circuit is adapted to provide an output signal indicative of a current flowing through the current conductor portion; and
an overcurrent circuit disposed on the first surface of the substrate, wherein the overcurrent circuit is adapted to sense a voltage drop associated with a current and further adapted to provide an output signal in response to the voltage drop, wherein the output signal is indicative of the current sensed by the overcurrent circuit being above a predetermined current.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An integrated circuit current sensor includes a lead frame having at least two leads coupled to provide a current conductor portion, and a substrate having a first surface in which is disposed one or more magnetic field sensing elements, with the first surface being proximate to the current conductor portion and a second surface distal from the current conductor portion. In one particular embodiment, the substrate is disposed having the first surface of the substrate above the current conductor portion and the second surface of the substrate above the first surface. In this particular embodiment, the substrate is oriented upside-down in the integrated circuit in a flip-chap arrangement. The integrated circuit includes an overcurrent circuit responsive to a voltage drop generated by a current.
111 Citations
28 Claims
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1. An integrated circuit, comprising:
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a lead frame portion having a plurality of leads; a current conductor portion comprising at least two of the plurality of leads; a substrate having first and second opposing surfaces, the first surface proximate to the current conductor portion and the second surface distal from the current conductor portion; one or more magnetic field sensing elements disposed proximate to the current conductor portion; a current sensing circuit disposed on the first surface of the substrate and coupled to the one or more magnetic field sensing elements, wherein the current sensing circuit is adapted to provide an output signal indicative of a current flowing through the current conductor portion; and an overcurrent circuit disposed on the first surface of the substrate, wherein the overcurrent circuit is adapted to sense a voltage drop associated with a current and further adapted to provide an output signal in response to the voltage drop, wherein the output signal is indicative of the current sensed by the overcurrent circuit being above a predetermined current. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of manufacturing an integrated circuit, comprising:
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providing a lead frame portion having a plurality of leads comprising at least two leads forming a current conductor portion; providing a substrate having first and second opposing surfaces; forming one or more magnetic field sensing elements; mounting the substrate to the lead frame portion so that the first surface of the substrate is proximate to the current conductor portion and the second surface of the substrate is distal from the current conductor portion; forming a current sensing circuit on the first surface of the substrate, wherein the current sensing circuit is adapted to provide an output signal indicative of a current flowing through the current conductor portion; and forming an overcurrent circuit on the first surface of the substrate, wherein the overcurrent circuit is adapted to sense a voltage drop associated with a current and further adapted to provide an output signal in response to the voltage drop, wherein the output signal is indicative of the current sensed by the overcurrent circuit being above a predetermined current. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification