Patent ID: 7307412

Claim:
An apparatus for measuring a parameter associated with an inductor in a circuit, the apparatus comprising: a transistor that is arranged to selectively couple the inductor to a power source such that the inductor is charged during a charging cycle for the inductor by an input voltage associated with the power source when the transistor is active; a voltage sense means that is arranged to sense a first signal associated with the inductor during the charging cycle for the inductor; a current sense means that is arranged to sense a second signal; a first calculation means that is arranged to determine a first value from the first signal, wherein the first value is associated with a time rate of change of a voltage associated with the inductor during the charging cycle for the inductor; a second calculation means for calculating that is arranged to determine a second value from the second signal, wherein the second value is associated with a time rate of change of a current associated with the inductor; and a third calculation means that is arranged to calculate the parameter associated with the inductor from the first value and the second value, wherein the third calculation means comprises a digital processing logic that is responsive at least one member of a group consisting of the first value, the second value, the first signal, and the second signal.