Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
Current sensing line fault detector

Abstract:

A current sensing line fault detector includes a unity gain buffer coupling a reference voltage to an IC pin, a current controlled current source coupled to the buffer, a current mode A/D converter developing a digital signal representative of the IC pin current, and logic for determining the state of a transmission line coupled to the IC pin. An alternative current sensing line fault detector includes an OPAMP having a first input coupled to an input node and to a reference current source and having a second input coupled to a reference voltage source. A voltage controlled current source (VCCS) is coupled between the first input of the OPAMP and ground and is controlled by an output of the OPAMP. An A/D converter is coupled to the output of the OPAMP to develop a digital output signal representative of the current flowing through the current sensor.