Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.

Robert A McCarthy

John Archie Mossman

A method for detecting a fault condition of an operational amplifier of an integrated circuit during operation includes operating an integrated circuit which includes an operational amplifier (op-amp) having a V+ input, a V&#x2212; input and an op-amp output and an on-line fault detector electrically coupled to the V+ input and the V&#x2212; input of the op-amp of the on-line fault detector, monitoring an operation of the op-amp with the on-line fault detector, and developing a fault signal at a fault detector output if the op-amp is in a fault condition as determined by the on-line fault detector.

Method for detecting a fault condition of an operational amplifier

An integrated circuit with analog device fault detection includes an integrated circuit die having an analog device, an on-line fault detector and a control circuit. The analog device has a power input, an analog device input and an analog device output and the on-line fault detector is coupled to at least one of the power input, the analog device input and the analog device output and has a fault detector output. The control circuit is coupled to the fault detector and responsive to the fault detector output. Detector self-test (DST) circuitry can be provided to test the on-line fault detector and one or more circuit breakers can be provided to protect the analog device and other devices attached to the analog device.

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Algonquin, IL, United States of America

Robert A McCarthy