Patent ID: 7557562
Filing Date: 2009-07-07
Classification: G01R,H01L

Abstract:
1. A current determiner for providing at an output thereof representations of input currents provided therein from sources of such currents, said current determiner comprising: a substrate; a first input conductor supported on said substrate suited for conducting said input currents therethrough; a first shield/concentrator layer of material exhibiting a substantial magnetic permeability and positioned adjacent but spaced apart from that side of said first input conductor facing said substrate to serve as a magnetic field concentrator; and a first current sensor supported on said substrate on a side of said first input conductor opposite that said side thereof facing said substrate so as to be adjacent to, yet spaced apart from, said first input conductor at an opposite side thereof to thereby be electrically isolated from any direct circuit interconnection therewith on said substrate but positioned in those magnetic fields arising from said input currents, said first current sensor being formed of a plurality of magnetoresistive, anisotropic, ferromagnetic thin-film layers at least two of which are separated from one another by a nonmagnetic layer positioned therebetween and also being free of any supplied biasing magnetic fields.