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:
Jun. 02, 1998
Filed:
May. 15, 1996
Applicant:
Inventors:
Francesco Pulvirenti, Acireale, IT;
Roberto Gariboldi, Lacchiarella, IT;
Assignees:
SGS-Thomson Microelectronics S.r.l., Agrate Brianza, IT;
Consorzio per la Ricerca sulla Microelettronica nel Mezzogiorno, Catania, IT;
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H03K / ; G05F / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
327 67 ; 327 78 ; 327543 ;
Abstract
A method for detecting an open load includes the use of a driver having at least one main power transistor connected to the load and one auxiliary transistor connected in parallel with the main transistor between a first power supply voltage reference and a second voltage reference. The method compares a first voltage present on a terminal connected to the load of the main transistor with a second voltage present on a terminal of the auxiliary transistor. A circuit for detecting an open load performs the method.