Systems and methods for an open circuit current limiter
First Claim
1. A resistance measuring circuit with power saving capabilities, comprising:
- a first measurement terminal and a second measurement terminal;
a voltage measuring component configured to measure a voltage drop across the first measurement terminal and the second measurement terminal;
a current generating component configured to generate a first current along a current path to the first measurement terminal responsive to a target resistance couplable to the first measurement terminal and the second measurement terminal; and
a current control component configured to reduce power consumption by decreasing a magnitude of the current generated by the current generating component from the first current to a second current lower than the first current in response to a measured increase in the voltage drop caused by a disconnection of the first measurement terminal or the second measurement terminal from the target resistance, wherein the measured increase in the voltage drop is measured by the voltage measuring component.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A resistance measuring circuit includes a current generating component, a current control component, and a voltage measurement component. The magnitude of a target resistance can be measured by connecting the target resistance between first and second measurement terminals of the resistance measuring circuit, applying a current generated by the current generating component to the target resistance, and determining the voltage across the target resistance. When no target resistance is connected between the first and second measurement terminals, the current control component controls the current generating component to reduce current consumption of the resistance measuring circuit.
18 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A resistance measuring circuit with power saving capabilities, comprising:
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a first measurement terminal and a second measurement terminal; a voltage measuring component configured to measure a voltage drop across the first measurement terminal and the second measurement terminal; a current generating component configured to generate a first current along a current path to the first measurement terminal responsive to a target resistance couplable to the first measurement terminal and the second measurement terminal; and a current control component configured to reduce power consumption by decreasing a magnitude of the current generated by the current generating component from the first current to a second current lower than the first current in response to a measured increase in the voltage drop caused by a disconnection of the first measurement terminal or the second measurement terminal from the target resistance, wherein the measured increase in the voltage drop is measured by the voltage measuring component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of reducing power used by a resistance measuring circuit, comprising:
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measuring a voltage drop between a first measurement terminal and a second measurement terminal; generating a first current along a current path to the first measurement terminal, wherein the generating is responsive to a target resistance couplable to the first measurement terminal and a second measurement terminal; and reducing the current along the current path from the first current to a second current responsive to measuring an increase in the voltage drop between the first measurement terminal and the second measurement terminal caused by a disconnection of the first or second measurement terminals from the target resistance, wherein said reducing the current reduces an amount of power consumed. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A resistance measuring circuit with power saving capabilities, comprising:
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a first measurement terminal and a second measurement terminal; a voltage measuring component configured to measure a voltage drop across the first measurement terminal and the second measurement terminal; a current generating component configured to generate a first current along a current path to the first measurement terminal responsive to a target resistance couplable to the first measurement terminal and the second measurement terminal; and means for reducing a magnitude of the current generated by the current generating component from the first current to a second current responsive to a measured increase in the voltage drop caused by a disconnection of the first or second measurement terminals from the target resistance, wherein the measured increase in the voltage drop is measured by the voltage measuring component, and wherein said reducing the magnitude of the current generated by the current generating component from the first current to the second current reduces an amount of power consumed. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification