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. 01, 1999
Filed:
May. 17, 1996
Francesco Chrappan Soldavini, Bresso, IT;
Alberto Salina, Limbiate, IT;
SGS-Thomson Microrlectronics S.r.l., Agrate Brianza, IT;
Abstract
A device presenting pairs of split contact pad portions, each pair of pads having multiple bonding wire, and metal connecting strips associated therewith. The end portion of the metal connecting strips being split into parallel strip segments, each connected to a respective contact pad, so as to form a plurality of parallel current paths between a node and an external contact pin connected to the node. When current is supplied along the connecting strip a voltage drop along each segment connected to a sound bonding wire is produced, but not along the segments connected to broken or non-bonded wires. By determining the existence of a voltage difference between the contact pad portions, it is possible to detect the interruption of one or more of the bonding wires.