Patent Document ID: 8920026
Application ID: 13035884
Patent Flag: 1

Claim One:
1. A circuit comprising: a power source for generating current; a resistive sense element connected to conduct the current, the resistive sense element having a temperature coefficient of resistance; a temperature sensor, not in physical contact with the resistive sense element, positioned to detect a temperature of an environment of the resistive sense element; a voltage detector connected to detect a voltage across the resistive sense element; and processing circuitry connected to receive a first signal corresponding to the voltage across the resistive 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 resistive sense element based on at least the first signal, the third signal being related to an increased temperature of the resistive sense element, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to derive a resistance of the resistive sense resistor at the increased temperature based on the third signal and the temperature coefficient of resistance of the resistive sense element, to create a derived resistance, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to derive a current through the resistive sense element based on the derived resistance of the resistive sense element and a detected voltage across the resistive sense element, to create a derived current, and wherein the processing circuitry is configured to perform an iterative process to recalculate the third signal based on the derived resistance and the derived current to increase an accuracy of the derived current.