Current leakage correction in humid environments

摘要

Apparatuses include a voltage divider that is connected to a current source, a humidity sensor within an internal humid location of an apparatus, and an amplifier connected to the voltage divider and the humidity sensor. The humidity sensor produces a current signal that increases with increases in the humidity level and the amplifier amplifies the signal produced by the humidity sensor to produce compensating output current. The amplifier provides amplification of the signal produced by the humidity sensor at a level that increases with increases of the primary output current. Thus, the amplifier provides the amplification of the signal produced by the humidity sensor at a level to make the compensating output current equal to the leakage current. This causes the electrical load element to receive the primary output current combined with the compensating output current as a power supply current that is unaffected by the leakage current.

主权项

1. An apparatus comprising:
an internal humid location having a humidity level that is higher relative to humidity levels of areas external to said apparatus; a current source within said internal humid location of said apparatus, said current source experiencing leakage current that increases with increases in said humidity level; a humidity sensor within said internal humid location of said apparatus, said humidity sensor producing a signal that increases with increases in said humidity level; an amplifier connected to said current source and said humidity sensor; and an electrical load element connected to said current source and said amplifier, said current source providing primary output current to said electrical load element, increases in said leakage current correspondingly decrease said primary output current, said amplifier amplifying said signal produced by said humidity sensor to produce compensating output current, said amplifier providing amplification of said signal produced by said humidity sensor at a level to make said compensating output current equal to said leakage current, and said amplifier providing said compensating output current to said electrical load element with said primary output current.