Current detector having a hall-effect device

摘要

A current detector having a Hall-effect device formed in a semiconductor substrate for giving an output voltage proportional to the magnitude of an electric current. The detector has a first and a second current path terminal for the flow of the current to be detected. The two current path terminals are interconnected via two current paths having resistance values such that the current is divided at a prescribed ratio into two fractions on flowing into the current paths. While one current path directly interconnects the two terminals, the other path includes a conductor layer formed on the semiconductor substrate via an insulating layer so as to extend around the Hall-effect device. The magnitude of the complete current is detectable by the Hall-effect device from the current fraction flowing through the conductor layer. All but the terminals of the current detector is encapsulated to reduce a temperature difference between the two current paths to a minimum.