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:
Oct. 09, 2007
Filed:
Mar. 26, 2004
Pavel Horsky, Brno, CZ;
Ivan Koudar, Slapanice U Brna, CZ;
Pavel Horsky, Brno, CZ;
Ivan Koudar, Slapanice U Brna, CZ;
AMI Semiconductor Belgium BVBA, Oudenaarde, BE;
Abstract
A method or apparatus is provided for detecting an error condition associated with a load (R) or a connection (P) to the load (R). The load (R) may comprise an energy storing element (Cext). During a first diagnosis phase, it is determined whether the load (R) or the connection (P) to the load (R) is in a normal operation condition or in an error condition. If the load (R) or the connection (P) to the load (R) is in an error condition, during a second diagnosis phase it is determined whether the error condition is an open load condition, short circuit condition to ground or a short circuit condition to a power supply. When the load is in a starting state before the first diagnosis phase, the method or apparatus may further comprise carrying out, after the second diagnosis phase, a resetting phase for resetting the load to the starting state.