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:
May. 20, 1997
Filed:
Aug. 07, 1995
Mark B Kearney, Kokomo, IN (US);
Robert H Obremski, Kokomo, IN (US);
Delco Electronics Corporation, Kokomo, IN (US);
Abstract
An amplifier circuit and method of providing diagnostic testing to a Wheatstone bridge amplifier circuit are provided herein. The amplifier circuit includes a balanced circuit such as a Wheatstone bridge employed in a piezoresistive transducer which produces a differential output signal. The amplifier circuit also includes an amplifier having a differential input for amplifying differential input signals. A diagnostic test circuit is coupled between the balanced circuit and the amplifier circuit and includes a pair of resistors with current sources which may be switched in via electronic switches. With the current sources switched in, a known offset voltage is applied across the differential input to the amplifier and the amplifier output is monitored and compared to an initial output signal. By comparing the initial output signal with the test signal, a determination as to the gain and other characteristics of the amplifier circuit can be made.