DC-DC converter switching transistor current measurement technique
First Claim
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a direct-current to direct-current (DC-to-DC) converter circuit includinga current measurement circuit having a first pair of transistors with respective channels of the first pair of transistors coupled in series, a drain of a first transistor of the first pair of transistors coupled to a first end of a conductive channel of a switching transistor, and a source of a second transistor of the first pair of transistors coupled to a second end of the channel of the switching transistor;
an amplifier having a measurement leg coupled to a node between the first pair of transistors; and
a second pair of transistors with respective channels of the second pair of transistor being coupled in parallel, a node between the second pair of transistors being coupled to a reference leg of the amplifier.
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Abstract
A method is described comprising conducting a first current through a switching transistor. The method also comprises conducting a second current through a pair of transistors whose conductive channels are coupled in series with respect to each other and are together coupled in parallel across the switching transistor'"'"'s conductive channel. The second current is less than and proportional to the first current.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
a direct-current to direct-current (DC-to-DC) converter circuit including a current measurement circuit having a first pair of transistors with respective channels of the first pair of transistors coupled in series, a drain of a first transistor of the first pair of transistors coupled to a first end of a conductive channel of a switching transistor, and a source of a second transistor of the first pair of transistors coupled to a second end of the channel of the switching transistor; an amplifier having a measurement leg coupled to a node between the first pair of transistors; and a second pair of transistors with respective channels of the second pair of transistor being coupled in parallel, a node between the second pair of transistors being coupled to a reference leg of the amplifier. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method, comprising:
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conducting a first current through a switching transistor of a direct-current to direct-current (DC-to-DC) converter circuit; and conducting a second current through a pair of transistors that are coupled to the switching transistor, the second current being less than and proportional to the first current, a common node of the pair of transistors being coupled to a measurement leg of an amplifier to produce an output signal for monitoring the first current. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An apparatus to monitor current, the apparatus comprising:
a direct-current to direct-current (DC-to-DC) converter circuit including one or more processors to monitor a current of the direct-current to direct-current converter circuit; a current measurement circuit having a pair of transistors with respective channels of the pair of transistors coupled in series, a drain of a first transistor of the pair of transistors coupled to a first end of a conductive channel of a switching transistor, and a source of a second transistor of the pair of transistors coupled to a second end of a channel of the switching transistor; and an amplifier having a measurement leg coupled to a node between the pair of transistors to receive a current from the pair of transistors that is smaller than and proportional to a drain-to-source current flowing through the switching transistor. - View Dependent Claims (20)
Specification