Integration of high frequency current shunts in power electronic circuits

The majority of power electronic converters employ some kind of current measurement. Current transformers and current sensors employing Hall elements are convenient to use since they are galvanically isolated, and have therefore very good noise characteristics. Shunts on the other hand are very cost effective since it only involves placing a low value resistance in the circuit and amplifying the voltage drop to an acceptable level. Novel geometries are suggested as extensions of shunt design concepts for integrating inexpensive current measurement shunts directly into loads and various other structures. Typical applications would be as high power dissipation loads with low inductance, for use at low voltages where it is necessary to measure current or as permanently installed current sensors