Summary:
A German university developed an optimised amplifier circuit in the field of electric power transmission for e.g. electric vehicles and charging stations. The circuit makes it possible to ramp up the amplifier to its operating point rapidly and with low noise. Licensees are sought. A technical co-operation agreement is also offered to industrial partners.
Description:
Electric vehicles and charging stations use shunt-based current measuring technology. This technology is also used in electric power transmission, where it measures electric currents.
An invention from a German university integrated DC (direct current)-coupled programmable gain amplifiers in differential mode to measure current, with a number of resistors and switches allowing for adjustable gain. The advantage over conventional circuits and methods is a unique control mechanism for the circuit that makes it possible to ramp up the amplifier to its operating point rapidly, safely, and reliably. The gain can be adjusted across three orders of magnitude, meaning both DC and AC (alternating current) currents can be measured with high precision. A 10-bit resolution can be achieved within a configured measuring range. The circuit produces no coloured 1/f (frequency) noise, only thermal noise. The amplifier has a downstream delta-sigma modulator that can turn this circuit into a modern current-to-digital converter system.
The German university offers interested companies the opportunity to license and make use of the technology and to continue to develop this technology with the inventors within a technical cooperation agreement. This invention is of particular interest to electronics manufacturers that sell programmable gain amplifiers.
Type (e.g. company, R&D institution…), field of industry and Role of Partner Sought:
This invention is a step forward from state of the art and should particularly interest electronics manufacturers that sell programmable gain amplifiers. They can integrate the technology under a license agreement .
Technological cooperation is also conceivable. Together with the inventors from the university, the technology can be further developed to increase the technology readiness level (TRL) or to adapt this technology to the product needs of the cooperation partner.
The university also has extensive expertise, in jointly applying for R&D funding to further develop projects/products.
Stage of Development:
Prototype available for demonstration
Comments Regarding Stage of Development:
Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4
A prototype was built with 350 nm CMOS (Complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor) technology, so interested parties should have no technical difficulties with implementation.
IPR Status:
Patent(s) applied for but not yet granted
Comments Regarding IPR Status:
An application was submitted to the German Patent and Trademark Office on November 20th, 2020, with subsequent applications in other countries possible in the priority year.
External code:
TODE20211116001
