Method and circuit for testing the output connections of a driver circuit for a plasma display panel
US6124677A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 27, 1999 |
| Grant date | Sep 26, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 27, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01R31/2825
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method for testing output connections of at least one driver circuit that drives a plasma display panel. According to the method, at least one output of the driver circuit is switched to a high level for a predetermined time period. The output of the driver circuit is switched to a low level, and the time to discharge the output of the driver circuit with a constant discharge current is measured. It is determined whether a capacitive load is connected to the output of the driver circuit based on the measured time to discharge. In one preferred method, these steps are repeated for each of the outputs of the driver circuit. A driver circuit for driving a plasma display panel is also provided. The driver circuit includes driver output stages, and means for selectively sinking a constant discharge current from the output of at least one of the driver output stages to ground. Additionally, the driver circuit includes means for producing a measuring logic pulse whose duration is a function of a time required to discharge the output, and means for determining whether a capacitive load is connected to the output based on the measuring logic pulse.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.