Patent Document ID: 20120218022
Application ID: 13035884
Patent Flag: 0

Claim One:
1. A circuit comprising: a power source for generating current; a resistive sense element connected to conduct the current, the sense element having a temperature coefficient of resistance; a temperature sensor connected to detect a temperature of an environment of the sense element; a voltage detector connected to detect a voltage across the sense element; and processing circuitry connected to receive a first signal corresponding to the voltage across the sense element and connected to receive a second signal corresponding to the temperature detected by the temperature sensor, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to derive a third signal related to a power dissipated by the sense element based on at least the first signal, the third signal being related to an increased temperature of the sense element, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to derive a resistance of the sense resistor at the increased temperature based on the third signal and the temperature coefficient of resistance of the sense element, and wherein the processing circuitry is configured to derive a current through the sense element based on the derived resistance of the sense element and a detected voltage across the sense element.