Semiconductor sensor apparatus
US5473253A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 7, 1994 |
| Grant date | Dec 5, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 7, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01P21/02
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A semiconductor sensor apparatus includes a resistor connected between an output terminal and a power source terminal or a ground terminal of the semiconductor sensor apparatus while an output voltage corresponding to a physical parameter measured by the apparatus is generated. An output voltage limiting circuit in the semiconductor apparatus, during normal operation, limits the output voltage to values between an upper limit and a lower limit. When at least one of the power source terminal, the output terminal, and a ground terminal is open, the limiting circuit causes the output voltage to fall outside of the predetermined range. Thus, the disconnection of any of the power source terminal, the output terminal, and the ground terminal can be detected from the output voltage.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.