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:
Jan. 20, 2004
Filed:
May. 23, 2002
David J. Edell, Lexington, MA (US);
Sean V. Sexton, Georgetown, MA (US);
Ying-Ping Liu, Bedford, MA (US);
Innersea Technology, Bedford, MA (US);
Abstract
A precision current source is disclosed that includes a voltage setting circuit that precisely sets the voltage across a range setting resistor to set the current flowing in a load resistance connected in series with the range setting resistor. The voltage setting circuit precisely sets the voltage across the range setting resistor as a function of an input reference voltage. The voltage setting circuit includes an instrumentation amplifier that determines the voltage across the range setting resistor and the difference between this voltage and the reference voltage is used drive a drive voltage amplifier. The drive voltage amplifier output adjusts to minimize the difference between the reference voltage and the voltage across the range setting resistor. Other embodiments include the use of a DC blocking capacitor to allow only AC coupling and various nulling. circuits to remove any charge buildup on a DC blocking capacitor.