Resistor with temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) compensation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9400294-B2
Application number	US-201414531505-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 3, 2014
Priority date	Sep 4, 2009
Publication date	Jul 26, 2016
Grant date	Jul 26, 2016

Abstract

A current sense resistor and a method of manufacturing a current sensing resistor with temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) compensation are disclosed. The resistor has a resistive strip disposed between two conductive strips. A pair of main terminals and a pair of voltage sense terminals are formed in the conductive strips. A pair of rough TCR calibration slots is located between the main terminals and the voltage sense terminals, each of the rough TCR calibration slots have a depth selected to obtain a negative starting TCR value observed at the voltage sense terminals. A fine TCR calibration slot is formed between the pair of voltage sense terminals.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A resistor with temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) compensation, the resistor comprising:
a resistive strip disposed between two conductive strips;
a calibration slot formed within the resistive strip;
first and second main terminals formed in the conductive strips; and
first and second voltage sense terminals formed in inner areas of the conductive strips, wherein the first voltage sense terminal comprises a first and second leg positioned between the first main terminal and the resistive strip and the second voltage sense terminal comprises a first leg and second leg positioned between the second main terminal and the resistive strip.

2. The resistor of claim 1 , wherein the first leg of the first voltage sense terminal and second voltage sense terminal each have a length that extends substantially orthogonal to a main current path.

3. The resistor of claim 1 , wherein the second leg of the first voltage sense terminal and second voltage sense terminal each have a length that extends substantially parallel to a main current path.

4. The resistor of claim 1 , wherein a length of the first leg and a length of the second leg of the first voltage sense terminal are equal.

5. The resistor of claim 1 , wherein a length of the first leg and a length of the second leg of the first voltage sense terminal are different.

6. The resistor of claim 1 , wherein the first leg and second leg of the first and second voltage sense terminals intersect at a right angle.

7. The resistor of claim 6 , wherein an inner vertex of the intersection of the first and second leg of the first and second voltage sense terminals has a rectangular profile.

8. The resistor of claim 6 , wherein an outer vertex of the intersection of the first and second leg of the first and second voltage sense terminals has a rounded profile.

9. The resistor of claim 1 , wherein the first leg and second leg of the first and second voltage sense terminals intersect at an acute angle.

10. The resistor of claim 1 , wherein the first leg and second leg of the first and second voltage sense terminals intersect at an obtuse angle.

11. The resistor of claim 1 , wherein the calibration slot has a depth selected to obtain a TCR value observed at the first and second voltage sense terminals that approaches zero.

12. A method of manufacturing a resistor with temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) compensation, the method comprising:
forming a resistive strip disposed between two conductive strips;
forming a calibration slot within the resistive strip;
forming first and second main terminals in the conductive strips; and
forming first and second voltage sense terminals in inner areas of the conductive strips, wherein the first voltage sense terminal comprises a first and second leg positioned between the first main terminal and the resistive strip and the second voltage sense terminal comprises a first leg and second leg positioned between the second main terminal and the resistive strip.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first leg of the first voltage sense terminal and second voltage sense terminal each have a length that extends substantially orthogonal to a main current path.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the second leg of the first voltage sense terminal and second voltage sense terminal each have a length that extends substantially parallel to a main current path.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein a length of the first leg and a length of the second leg of the first voltage sense terminal are equal.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the calibration slot has a depth selected to obtain a TCR value observed at the first and second voltage sense terminals that approaches zero.

17. A resistor with temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) compensation, the resistor comprising:
a resistive strip disposed between a first conductive strip and a second conductive strip;
a calibration slot formed within the resistive strip;
first and second main terminals formed in the first and second conductive strips;
a first slot formed in an interior area of the first conductive strip, the first slot defining the dimensions of a first voltage sense terminal;
a second slot formed in an interior area of the second conductive strip, the second slot defining the dimensions of a second voltage sense terminal.

18. The resistor of claim 17 , wherein the first slot comprises a first leg extending generally parallel to the main current path, and the second slot comprises a first leg extending generally parallel to the main current path.

19. The resistor of claim 18 , wherein at least one of the first slot or the second slot further comprises a second leg extending generally perpendicular to the main current path.

20. The resistor of claim 17 , wherein the first slot has at least one generally U-shaped end portion.

21. The resistor of claim 17 , wherein the second slot has at least one generally U-shaped end portion.

22. A resistor with temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) compensation, the resistor comprising:
a resistive strip having a first edge, second edge, first side and second side, the resistive strip disposed between a first conductive strip on the first side of the resistive strip, and a second conductive strip on the second side of the resistive strip;
a first main terminal and a first voltage sense terminal formed contiguously in the first conductive strip, the first voltage sense terminal positioned adjacent the first edge of the resistive strip;
a second main terminal and a second voltage sense terminal formed contiguously in the second conductive strip, the second voltage sense terminal positioned adjacent the first edge of the resistive strip;
a first calibration slot formed in the conductive strip between the first voltage sense terminal and the first main terminal, the first calibration slot having a first end and a second end, the second end of the first calibration slot positioned further away from the resistive strip than the first end of the first calibration slot;
a second calibration slot formed in the conductive strip between the second voltage sense terminal and the second main terminal, the second calibration slot having a first end and a second end, the second end of the second calibration slot positioned further away from the resistive strip than the first end of the second calibration slot; and,
a third calibration slot formed at the first edge of the resistive strip between the first and second voltage sense terminals.

23. The resistor of claim 22 , wherein the first calibration slot and the second calibration are formed only in the conductive strips.

24. The resistor of claim 22 , wherein the third calibration slot does not meet either the first calibration slot or the second calibration slot.

25. The resistor of claim 22 , wherein the third calibration slot is formed longitudinally in the resistive strip.

26. The resistor of claim 22 , further comprising a fourth calibration slot formed at the second edge of the resistive strip between the first and second main terminals.

Assignees

• Vishay Dale Electronics Llc

Inventors

• Smith Clark L
• Bertsch Thomas L
• Wyatt Todd L
• Veik Thomas L

Classifications

• G01R19/0092

  Measuring current only · CPC title

• H01C1/148 Primary

  the terminals embracing or surrounding the resistive element (H01C1/142 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01C17/232

  Adjusting the temperature coefficient; Adjusting value of resistance by adjusting temperature coefficient of resistance · CPC title

• G01R19/32 Primary

  Compensating for temperature change · CPC title

• H01C1/00

  Details · CPC title