Apparatus for setting pin driver/sensor reference voltage level
US5235273A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 12, 1991 |
| Grant date | Aug 10, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 12, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01R31/31908
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An ATE system uses a single digital to analog converter and a single analog line for defining the reference voltage levels of a plurality of pin drivers and pin sensors. An advantage of using a single DAC is that the number of components for routing the reference voltage signals is reduced. Digital values for each high and low reference voltage level for each pin driver and each pin sensor are stored in memory. Such memory is addressed sequentially reference value by reference value, converted to analog format and routed along one common analog wire to a plurality of sample and hold circuits. The plurality of sample and hold circuits receive a pin driver/sensor address and the common analog signal. The address enables one of the plurality of sample and hold circuits and selects only one output line of the enabled sample and hold circuit. Such output line is coupled to a given reference terminal (e.g., reference high or reference low) of a given pin driver or a given pin sensor.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.