Abstract: A high-amperage current sensor is disclosed which is suitable for use in an automotive electrical system and which is operatively unaffected by changes in ambient temperature. The current sensor utilizes a shunt assembly having at least one low-resistance shunt element connectable in line between a source of electrical energy and a load. Circuitry preferably configured on an application specific integrated circuit measures voltage drop across the shunt element due to current flow. As a result, an output signal is produced which may be fed to external circuitry for further processing. In presently preferred embodiments, the sensor may comprise analog circuitry producing an analog output signal and/or digital circuitry producing a digital output signal.

Abstract: The present invention is a multimode sensor system that transmits power down a common bus coaxial cable typically using an alternating current power source. Each remote unit connected to the coaxial cable and through an isolation transformer converts the alternating current power to direct current power for an integrated circuit bus interface. The interface is connected to the sensors. The interface is externally pin programmable to provide a carrier at a frequency for a channel assigned to the remote unit. The carrier is provided by a ripple counter producing a frequency divided signal compared to a fixed reference frequency, where the result of the comparison controls a voltage controlled oscillator. When plural low frequency analog signals are to be transmitted over the common bus, an on-chip multiplexer multiplexes the signals to an off-chip, external analog-to-digital converter.

Abstract: The present invention is a multimode sensor system that transmits power down a common bus coaxial cable typically using an alternating current power source. Each remote unit connected to the coaxial cable and through an isolation transformer converts the alternating current power to direct current power for an integrated circuit bus interface. The interface is connected to the sensors. The interface is externally pin programmable to provide a carrier at a frequency for a channel assigned to the remote unit. The carrier is provided by a ripple counter producing a frequency divided signal compared to a fixed reference frequency, where the result of the comparison controls a voltage controlled oscillator. When plural low frequency analog signals are to be transmitted over the common bus, an on-chip multiplexer multiplexes the signals to an off-chip, external analog-to-digital converter.