Current sensing buffer for digital signal line testing
US5043655A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 14, 1989 |
| Grant date | Aug 27, 1991 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 14, 2009 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01R19/0092
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A current sensing buffer 26 for driving a digital signal line of a unit under test 12 is composed of current mirror circuits in series with output switching transistors supplying test signals to the digital signal line. The current mirror circuits 66, 72 and 80, 84 generate sample currents corresponding to the magnitude of current through the respective drivers 68 and 78 to detect drive faults caused by bus or component failures. In buses comprised of several digital signal lines, one current sensing buffer 26 is used per line, and each curent sensing buffer 26 is controlled by a programmable circuit tester 10. The current sensing buffer 26 can be incorporated into an interface pod 14 which is substituted for a control component of a unit under test 12.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.