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:
Mar. 09, 2004
Filed:
May. 22, 2002
Giuseppe Scilla, Catania, IT;
STMicroelectronics S.r.l., Agrate Brianza, IT;
Abstract
A method is provided for detecting a discontinuity in electrical connections of a microchip that includes an input pin connected to a voltage supply line, multiple circuit sections, an output voltage line for connecting the circuit sections to an output pin, and a resistive output divider. According to the method, there is determined a number of electrical connections as a function of the short circuit current for the input and output pins. The voltage supply line is sectioned as a function of the number of electrical connections determined for the input pin, and the sections of the voltage supply line are connected independently to the circuit sections. The output voltage line is sectioned as a function of the number of electrical connections determined for the output pin. As a function of the number of electrical connections determined, the number and value of the resistances of the output divider is increased.