Patent ID: 8493097
Filing Date: 2013-07-23
Classification: G01R

Abstract:
1. A circuit comprising: a low-ohmic circuit; a power supply node configured and arranged for providing a supply voltage across the low-ohmic circuit to a load (“other blocks”) from which current can be drawn; a current reference circuit configured and arranged for setting a current threshold level based on and drawing a portion of the current from the power supply node; and a current-sensing circuit, responsive to and sensing current through the low-ohmic circuit, configured and arranged for operating in a normal mode, in which the current-sensing circuit senses an amount of current passing through the low-ohmic circuit that is less than the current threshold level, and in an over-current mode, in which the current-sensing circuit senses an amount of current passing through the low-ohmic circuit that is greater than the current threshold level.