US5185651A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Integrated circuit with current detection
Assignee: US Philips Corp
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Filing: 1990-07-12
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Granted: 1993-02-09
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Expires: 2010-07-12
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for monitoring the current in an integrated circuit provided with a current conductor which is to supply current to a semiconductor structure at least temporarily and to supply current to other parts of the circuit. The current conductor is locally split into a first and a second parallel partial current conductor, with the semiconductor structure connected to the first partial current conductor. The first and second partial current conductors are connected to respective first and second connection contacts across which a voltage drop can be derived which is a measure of the value of the current flowing through the semiconductor structure.
Inventors
- 👤 Hendrik Boezen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 06:25
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10D; H10D89/00; G; G11; G11C; G11C5/00; G11C5/14; H10D86/00; H10D86/80; H10D86/85; H10D84/00; H10D84/201; H10D84/204; H10D84/209; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S257/00; Y10S257/923
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
140 words
An integrated circuit comprising: a current conductor of sufficient width and thickness for supplying current, during operation, to a semiconductor structure via a current path of the semiconductor structure and for supplying current to other parts of the circuit, wherein the current conductor is locally divided into a first and a second parallel partial current conductor in an area where said current path is connected to said current conductor, a semiconductor structure including said current path and designed to pass a current during operation and with the current path connected to a portion of the first partial current conductor, and first and second connection contacts connected to said first and second partial current conductors, respectively, and between which first and second connection contacts a voltage drop is developed which is proportional to the current through the semiconductor structure during operation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
140 words
An integrated circuit comprising: a current conductor of sufficient width and thickness for supplying current, during operation, to a semiconductor structure via a current path of the semiconductor structure and for supplying current to other parts of the circuit, wherein the current conductor is locally divided into a first and a second parallel partial current conductor in an area where said current path is connected to said current conductor, a semiconductor structure including said current path and designed to pass a current during operation and with the current path connected to a portion of the first partial current conductor, and first and second connection contacts connected to said first and second partial current conductors, respectively, and between which first and second connection contacts a voltage drop is developed which is proportional to the current through the semiconductor structure during operation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
100 words
An integrated circuit comprising: a circuit element connected to a current conductor, means for measuring a voltage drop proportional to the magnitude of a current flowing through said circuit element during operation and which includes first and second connection contacts across which said voltage drop can be derived, wherein at an area where the circuit element is connected to the current conductor, the current conductor is divided into at least first and second sub-conductors with the first sub-conductor connected to the circuit element, and wherein said first and second sub-conductors are connected to said first and second connection contacts, respectively.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
100 words
An integrated circuit comprising: a circuit element connected to a current conductor, means for measuring a voltage drop proportional to the magnitude of a current flowing through said circuit element during operation and which includes first and second connection contacts across which said voltage drop can be derived, wherein at an area where the circuit element is connected to the current conductor, the current conductor is divided into at least first and second sub-conductors with the first sub-conductor connected to the circuit element, and wherein said first and second sub-conductors are connected to said first and second connection contacts, respectively.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
An integrated circuit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first is situated near a border of the first sub-conductor which is remote from the second sub-conductor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
An integrated circuit as claimed 3, wherein the first and second sub-conductors are at least approximately the same length.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
An integrated circuit as claimed in claim 4, wherein the sub-conductors are formed by a longitudinal split in the current conductor dividing it into said first and second sub-conductors.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
An integrated circuit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second sub-conductor is laterally spaced from the current conductor and has first and second ends connected to the current conductor at areas lying upstream and downstream, respectively, of the area where the current conductor is connected to the circuit element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
An integrated circuit as claimed in claim 6, wherein the second sub-conductor is at least substantially parallel to the current conductor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
An integrated circuit as claimed in claim 7, wherein the second sub-conductor is formed during the same metallization stage as the first sub-conductor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
An integrated circuit as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first and second sub-conductors are at least locally positioned one above the other.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
An integrated circuit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first and second sub-conductors are at least substantially the same length.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
47 words
An integrated circuit as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first and second sub-conductors are formed by a longitudinal slot in the current conductor and the length of the slot is such that a current path of the circuit element is coupled exclusively to the first sub-conductor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
50 words
An integrated circuit as claimed in claim 10 wherein the second sub-conductor is laterally spaced from the current conductor and has first and second ends connected to the current conductor at areas lying upstream and downstream, respectively, of the area where the current conductor is connected to the circuit element.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
An integrated circuit as claimed in claim 2 wherein, at the area where the circuit element is connected to the current conductor, the current conductor includes a longitudinal slot dividing it into said first and second sub-conductors.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
An integrated circuit as claimed in claim 3 wherein, at the area where the circuit element is connected to the current conductor, the current conductor includes a longitudinal slot dividing it into said first and second sub-conductors.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
53 words
An integrated circuit as claimed in claim 3 wherein the second sub-conductor is laterally spaced from the current conductor and has first and second ends which are connected to the current conductor at areas which lie upstream and downstream, respectively, of the area where the current conductor is connected to the circuit element.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
An integrated circuit as claimed in claim 15, wherein the second sub-conductor extends in substantially the same direction as the current conductor.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
An integrated circuit as claimed in claim 6, wherein the second sub-conductor is formed during the same metallization stage as the first sub-conductor.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
47 words
An integrated circuit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first and second sub-conductors are at least locally positioned one above the other and separated by a dielectric layer, and the circuit element is connected to the current conductor in the area where the sub-conductors are superimposed.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
39 words
An integrated circuit as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second partial current conductor has ends which are connected to the first partial current conductor at areas which lie upstream and downstream of the first and second connection contacts.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-02-09 | 1996-08-10 | 1997-02-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-02-09 | 2000-08-10 | 2001-02-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-02-09 | 2004-08-10 | 2005-02-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |