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:
Sep. 18, 2001
Filed:
Apr. 21, 1999
Andrea Milanesi, Castelnoceto, IT;
Stefania Chicca, Vecchiano, IT;
Marco Morelli, Milan, IT;
Vanni Poletto, Casale Monferrato, IT;
STMicroelectronics S.r.l., Agrate Brianza, IT;
Abstract
A protection circuit of a diagnostic output line (K-line) of a control unit for protection of the control unit in the event of a ground disconnection or of a “below ground” condition is provided. The diagnostic output line includes a first interface DMOS transistor with a source connected to ground and a drain coupled to the diagnostic output line through a second DMOS transistor with a source connected to the output line and a drain connected to the source of the first DMOS transistor. The protection circuit also includes a comparator for the voltage of the diagnostic output line with the potential of the ground node, and a two-input logic gate, whose output controls a current generator forcing a current, limited by a resistor, on the diagnostic output line.