SENSEFET
PRODUCT
Current sensing power MOSFETs provide a highly
effective way of measuring load current in power
conditioning circuits. Conceptually simple in nature, these
devices split load current into power and sense
components, and thereby allow signal level resistors to be
used for sampling. Since this technique results in higher
efficiency and lower costs than competing alternatives,
understanding how to use SENSEFET product is an
important design issue.
Getting accustomed to these devices is relatively, but not
completely, straightforward. They are conceptually simple,
but have their own unique set of characteristics and subtle
properties. The following discussion examines both, and
starts with a description of how SENSEFET devices work.