Integrated circuit with actuation circuit for actuating a driver circuit

US6351161B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Infineon Technologies AG · DE

Inventors

• Ralf Schneider · Birkenfeld, DE
• Stephan Schröder · Birkenfeld, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 23, 2001
• Grant date: Feb 26, 2002
• Expiry date: Mar 23, 2021

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01R31/31715
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An integrated circuit includes a terminal supplying a digital signal, a controllable driver circuit connected to the terminal and outputting the digital signal, and a comparator device. An actuating circuit actuates the driver circuit as a function of a clock signal. The comparator device compares the timing of signal transitions of the clock signal with transitions of the digital signal. The comparator has a first comparator input for receiving the clock signal and a second comparator input connected to the driver output for receiving the digital signal. The comparator device outputs an output signal having a first state if a signal transition of the clock signal at the first input takes place before a signal transition of the digital signal at the second input, and outputs a second state if the clock signal transition takes place after digital signal transition. In a test mode, the invention compares the clock and digital signal timings with a high degree of accuracy.