The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 28, 1993
Filed:
Dec. 12, 1990
Michael W Yung, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Hughes Aircraft Company, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Abstract
Short circuits in the power distribution network of a circuit structure are accurately located and isolated by providing selected power distribution lines with areas whose width is reduced sufficiently to produce a highly resolved current-induced hot spot in response to a downstream short circuit. The invention is particularly applicable to crossovers of power distribution lines separated by an insulating layer. The upper line is divided into a plurality of spaced parallel channels in the crossover vicinity. The channels each include areas of further reduced width at their opposite ends, preferably outside of but proximate to the crossover area, where the hot spots are formed. A short circuit on any of the channels is isolated by cutting at the areas of further reduced width on either side of the fault. Terminal lines of the power distribution network can also be provided with areas of reduced width proximate to the global power distribution line from which they are supplied; these areas form a hot spot in response to a short circuit on the terminal line, and can be cut to isolate the terminal line. Low level faults can be detected with a high degree of resolution and very small space requirements.