Calibration Of Copper Sensors Enhances Accuracy Of Nonintrusive Current Monitoring

Focus:

Sensor calibration can be implemented with copper traces used for current sensing of system loads (such as CPU, memory, hard drives, etc.) in a power distribution network. However, applying conventional calibration methods to such low-resistance copper sensors typically requires using precision high-current electronic loads that are not realizable on the PCB. This article introduces a calibration method that corrects for changes in trace impedance caused by geometric variations and temperature without requiring use of high-power equipment. This technique can be implemented with a miniature circuit that draws only a few tens of milliwatts when active, and can be disabled once calibration is complete. This circuit can be integrated into existing system components. Article begins by discussing applications for this technique and includes experimental results.

What you’ll learn:

• How to achieve accurate (1%) current sensing of system loads using copper PCB traces as sensors
• How to continuously calibrate PCB trace current sensors during system operation using a simple circuit

View the Source

Author & Publication:

Viktor Vogman, Power Conversion Consulting, Olympia, Wash, How2Power Today, Jun 15 2018

This article summary appears
in the HOW2POWER Design Guide.

The Design Guide offers
organized access to
hundreds of articles
on dozens of power conversion
and power management topics.

The Design Guide search results
include exclusive summaries
and accurate "how to" analysis
to help you make faster,
more informed decisions.

Search
for more articles