The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 26, 1999
Filed:
May. 08, 1997
Valerio Giorgetta, Turin, IT;
Paolo Mastella, Camino, IT;
Giampietro Maggioni, Cornaredo, IT;
Mirco Contucci, Sant' Arcangelo Di Romagna, IT;
SGS-Thomson Microelectronics S.r.l., Agrate Brianza, IT;
Abstract
A circuit comprises a measurement resistor in series with a heater, a detector circuit for providing a signal indicative of the current flowing in the resistor, switching devices for controlling the connection of the heater to a voltage source and the connection of the measurement resistor in the supply circuit comprising the source and the heater, and a control unit arranged to drive the switching devices in a manner such that each time the heater is activated, the measurement resistor is kept disconnected from the supply circuit of the heater for a predetermined period of time and the measurement resistor is then connected in the supply circuit of the heater.