Electronic part and method of detecting faults therein

Abstract

An electronic component includes an oscillator element, a driving circuit outputting a driving signal to the oscillator element, a clock frequency generator outputting a clock signal to the driving circuit, a clock frequency controller controlling a frequency of the clock signal, a consumption-current detection unit detecting a consumption current of the driving circuit, and a fault detection unit electrically connected to the consumption-current detection unit and the clock frequency controller. When the clock frequency controller changes the frequency of the clock signal, the detected consumption current changes, and allows the consumption-current detection unit to detect the change of the consumption current. The fault detection unit detects a fault based on the change of the frequency of the clock signal and the change of the consumption current. This electronic component can have a fault detection function and a small size.