Arrangements for a current sensing circuit and integrated current sensor

• US 7,816,905 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2008
• Issued: 10/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Allegro Microsystems Incorporated (Sanken Electric Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Allegro Microsystems Incorporated (Sanken Electric Company Limited)
• Inventors: Dickinson, Richard, Taylor, William P., Doogue, Michael C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hollington; Jermele M
• Application Number:
  US12/131,339
• Publication Number:
  US 20090295368A1
• Time in Patent Office: 869 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 324/117.00H
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/202 using Hall-effect devices Hall elements in arrangements for measuring electrical power G01R21/08
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/205 using magneto-resistance devices, e.g. field plates
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/207 Constructional details independent of the type of device used
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/05553 being rectangular
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/16145 the bodies being stacked
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/32145 the bodies being stacked
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48137 the bodies being arranged next to each other, e.g. on a common substrate
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48145 the bodies being stacked
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48247 connecting the wire to a bond pad of the item
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/49171 Fan-out arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/73265 Layer and wire connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00012 Relevant to the scope of the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/181 Encapsulation

Abstract

An electronic circuit for sensing a current includes a circuit board having first and second major opposing surfaces and a current conductor for carrying the current. The current conductor includes a circuit trace disposed upon the circuit board. The electronic circuit also includes an integrated circuit disposed upon and electrically coupled to the circuit board at a position so as to straddle the current conductor.

Claims

1. An electronic circuit for sensing a current, comprising:

a circuit board having first and second major opposing surfaces;

a current conductor for carrying the current, the current conductor comprising a circuit trace disposed upon the circuit board; and

an integrated circuit disposed upon and electrically coupled to the circuit board, wherein the integrated circuit comprises a magnetoresistance element for sensing a magnetic field associated with the current, wherein the current conductor is disposed upon the second surface of the circuit board, and wherein the integrated circuit is disposed upon the first surface of the circuit board at a position on the circuit board proximate to the current conductor.

2. The electronic circuit of claim 1, wherein the magnetoresistance element has a maximum response axis generally parallel to the first and second major opposing surfaces of the circuit board.

3. The electronic circuit of claim 2, wherein the magnetoresistance element is a giant magnetoresistance element.

4. The electronic circuit of claim 2, wherein the magnetoresistance element is a magnetic tunnel junction (MJT) element or a tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) element.

5. The electronic circuit of claim 1, wherein the integrated circuit comprises a first substrate supporting at least one amplifier and a second substrate supporting the magnetoresistance element.

6. The electronic circuit of claim 5, wherein the second substrate is relatively disposed with the first substrate in a flip-chip arrangement.

7. The electronic circuit of claim 5, wherein the first and second substrates are supported by a third substrate.

8. The electronic circuit of claim 5, wherein the first and second substrates are supported by a third substrate and wherein at least one of the first substrate or the second substrate is relatively disposed in a flip-chip arrangement with the third substrate.

9. The electronic circuit of claim 1, wherein the integrated circuit includes a substrate having a surface supporting at least one amplifier and also supporting the magnetoresistance element.

10. An electronic circuit for sensing a current, comprising:

a circuit board having first and second major opposing surfaces;

a current conductor for carrying the current, the current conductor comprising a circuit trace disposed upon the circuit board; and

an integrated circuit disposed upon and electrically coupled to the circuit board, wherein the integrated circuit comprises a Hall effect element for sensing a magnetic field associated with the current, wherein the current conductor is disposed upon the second surface of the circuit board and wherein the integrated circuit is disposed upon the first surface of the circuit board at a position on the circuit board proximate to the current conductor.

11. The electronic circuit of claim 10, wherein the Hall effect element has a maximum response axis generally perpendicular to the first and second major opposing surfaces of the circuit board.

12. The electronic circuit of claim 10, wherein the integrated circuit comprises a first substrate supporting at least one amplifier and a second substrate supporting the Hall effect element.

13. The electronic circuit of claim 12, wherein the second substrate is relatively disposed with the first substrate in a flip-chip arrangement.

14. The electronic circuit of claim 12, wherein the first and second substrates are supported by a third substrate.

15. The electronic circuit of claim 12, wherein the first and second substrates are supported by a third substrate and wherein at least one of the first substrate or the second substrate is relatively disposed in a flip-chip arrangement with the third substrate.

16. The electronic circuit of claim 10, wherein the integrated circuit includes a substrate having a surface supporting at least one amplifier and also supporting the Hall effect element.

17. An electronic circuit for sensing a current, comprising:

a circuit board having first and second major opposing surfaces;

a current conductor for carrying the current, the current conductor comprising a circuit trace disposed upon the circuit board; and

an integrated circuit disposed upon and electrically coupled to the circuit board at a position so as to straddle the current conductor, wherein the integrated circuit comprises a magnetoresistance element for sensing a magnetic field associated with the current, wherein the integrated circuit comprises a first substrate supporting at least one amplifier and a second substrate supporting the magnetoresistance element, and wherein the second substrate is relatively disposed with the first substrate in a flip-chip arrangement.

18. An electronic circuit for sensing a current, comprising:

a circuit board having first and second major opposing surfaces;

a current conductor for carrying the current, the current conductor comprising a circuit trace disposed upon the circuit board; and

an integrated circuit disposed upon and electrically coupled to the circuit board at a position so as to straddle the current conductor, wherein the integrated circuit comprises a magnetoresistance element for sensing a magnetic field associated with the current, wherein the integrated circuit comprises a first substrate supporting at least one amplifier and a second substrate supporting the magnetoresistance element, wherein the first and second substrates are supported by a third substrate, and wherein at least one of the first substrate or the second substrate is relatively disposed in a flip-chip arrangement with the third substrate.