A voltage detection device comprises a voltage detection circuit, which is a fully-differential type and a control circuit for controlling an operation of the voltage detection circuit. The voltage detection circuit includes a switched capacitor circuit, a differential amplifier, a common mode feedback circuit for controlling a common mode level of an output voltage of the differential amplifier and a bias circuit for supplying biases to the differential amplifier and the common mode feedback circuit. The control circuit controls the voltage detection circuit to execute intermittently a detection operation for detecting the voltage. The control circuit controls the voltage detection circuit to execute a pseudo operation of an execution period, which is shorter than that of the detection operation, during a transition period from a stop state, in which no detection operation is executed, to the operation state, in which the detection operation is executed.

A voltage detection device comprises a voltage detection circuit, which is a fully-differential type and a control circuit for controlling an operation of the voltage detection circuit. The voltage detection circuit includes a switched capacitor circuit, a differential amplifier, a common mode feedback circuit for controlling a common mode level of an output voltage of the differential amplifier and a bias circuit for supplying biases to the differential amplifier and the common mode feedback circuit. The control circuit controls the voltage detection circuit to execute intermittently a detection operation for detecting the voltage. The control circuit controls the voltage detection circuit to execute a pseudo operation of an execution period, which is shorter than that of the detection operation, during a transition period from a stop state, in which no detection operation is executed, to the operation state, in which the detection operation is executed.

A current shunt monitor (CSM) circuit for monitoring the current through a sense resistor. An analog circuit provides an analog output signal proportional to the voltage across the sense resistor. A power supply includes a fixed voltage power supply at a first voltage supply level and a floating power supply. The floating power supply operates at a second voltage supply level referenced from the voltage level on a voltage input and a floating ground. The voltage input varies from a voltage level above the first voltage supply level to a voltage level below the first voltage supply level, and the floating power supply provides power to the analog circuit at least when the voltage level of the voltage input is above the first voltage supply level. A crossover circuit switches power from the floating power to the fixed voltage power supply at the first voltage supply level upon detecting the voltage level on the voltage input proximate in value to the first voltage supply level.

A current shunt monitor (CSM) circuit for monitoring the current through a sense resistor. An analog circuit provides an analog output signal proportional to the voltage across the sense resistor. A power supply includes a fixed voltage power supply at a first voltage supply level and a floating power supply. The floating power supply operates at a second voltage supply level referenced from the voltage level on a voltage input and a floating ground. The voltage input varies from a voltage level above the first voltage supply level to a voltage level below the first voltage supply level, and the floating power supply provides power to the analog circuit at least when the voltage level of the voltage input is above the first voltage supply level. A crossover circuit switches power from the floating power to the fixed voltage power supply at the first voltage supply level upon detecting the voltage level on the voltage input proximate in value to the first voltage supply level.

A capacitive sensor arrangement (4), for sensing an approaching object (5), is configured as a contact sensor (9) including a plurality of aligned, flat, spaced apart electrodes (4.1 to 4.n). One electrode (4.1) is a main electrode (S) and other electrodes are auxiliary electrodes (H). The evaluation unit (6) monitors the electrodes (4.1 to 4.n) together, such that changes in the capacitances of the plurality of auxiliary electrodes and changes in the capacitance of the main electrode are sensed and compared with one another and/or are compared with prescribed reference values. The evaluation unit (6) plausibility checks the sensed changes (D(S)) in the capacitance of the main electrode (S) on the basis of the sensed changes (D(H)) in the capacitances of the plurality of auxiliary electrodes (H) as to whether or not contacting of the main electrode or an approach towards the main electrode (S) has taken place.

A current shunt monitor (CSM) circuit for monitoring the current through a sense resistor. An analog circuit provides an analog output signal proportional to the voltage across the sense resistor. A power supply includes a fixed voltage power supply at a first voltage supply level and a floating power supply. The floating power supply operates at a second voltage supply level referenced from the voltage level on a voltage input and a floating ground. The voltage input varies from a voltage level above the first voltage supply level to a voltage level below the first voltage supply level, and the floating power supply provides power to the analog circuit at least when the voltage level of the voltage input is above the first voltage supply level. A crossover circuit switches power from the floating power to the fixed voltage power supply at the first voltage supply level upon detecting the voltage level on the voltage input proximate in value to the first voltage supply level.

A current shunt monitor (CSM) circuit for monitoring the current through a sense resistor. An analog circuit provides an analog output signal proportional to the voltage across the sense resistor. A power supply includes a fixed voltage power supply at a first voltage supply level and a floating power supply. The floating power supply operates at a second voltage supply level referenced from the voltage level on a voltage input and a floating ground. The voltage input varies from a voltage level above the first voltage supply level to a voltage level below the first voltage supply level, and the floating power supply provides power to the analog circuit at least when the voltage level of the voltage input is above the first voltage supply level. A crossover circuit switches power from the floating power to the fixed voltage power supply at the first voltage supply level upon detecting the voltage level on the voltage input proximate in value to the first voltage supply level.

An example system includes an array of capacitive elements, a measurement lead, and a ground plane lead. One or more respective capacitive elements of the array of capacitive elements include a dielectric substrate and a corresponding top conductive layer, with each dielectric substrate configured to be positioned between the top conductive layer and a common ground plane. The measurement lead is coupled to the top conductive layer of each of the one or more respective capacitive elements. The ground plane lead is configured to be coupled to the common ground plane. The capacitive elements are structured such that the capacitive elements have varying respective capacitances, and the capacitive elements are arranged positionally within the array of capacitive elements such that a change in total capacitance is indicative of damage to a particular capacitive element at a particular position within the array of capacitive elements.

The present application relates to a circuit arrangement for sensing a current. The circuit arrangement comprises a current sense circuit configured to cause the sense current through a sense transistor, wherein the sense current is representative of a load current through a load transistor. The current sense circuit comprises a differential difference amplifier with a first differential input terminal pair coupled across the drain electrode and the source electrode of the load transistor and a second differential input terminal pair coupled across the drain electrode and the source electrode of the sense transistor. The current sense circuit is operable to force the same voltage difference value across the drain electrode and the source electrode of the load transistor as across the drain electrode and the source electrode of the sense transistor.

The present application relates to a circuit arrangement for sensing a current. The circuit arrangement comprises a current sense circuit configured to cause the sense current through a sense transistor, wherein the sense current is representative of a load current through a load transistor. The current sense circuit comprises a differential difference amplifier with a first differential input terminal pair coupled across the drain electrode and the source electrode of the load transistor and a second differential input terminal pair coupled across the drain electrode and the source electrode of the sense transistor. The current sense circuit is operable to force the same voltage difference value across the drain electrode and the source electrode of the load transistor as across the drain electrode and the source electrode of the sense transistor.