Patent ID: 11965923
Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
Field: Measurement (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G | IPC G

Claim 17:
18. A method, comprising:
receiving, by a receiving electrode, a first electrostatic charge variation in a surrounding environment;
generating, by an electrostatic charge variation sensor coupled to the receiving electrode, a first electrostatic charge variation measurement in response to the first electrostatic charge variation being received by the receiving electrode;
transmitting, by a stimulus electrode overlying the receiving electrode, a stimulus signal;
receiving, by the receiving electrode, the stimulus signal;
generating, by the electrostatic charge variation sensor, a second electrostatic charge variation measurement in response to stimulus signal being received by the receiving electrode,
the first electrostatic charge variation measurement indicating a change in electrostatic charge received by the receiving electrode without the stimulus signal being transmitted by the stimulus electrode and received by the receiving electrode,
the second electrostatic charge variation measurement indicating a change in electrostatic charge received by the receiving electrode with the stimulus signal being transmitted by the stimulus electrode and received by the receiving electrode;

performing a self-test on the electrostatic charge variation sensor using the first electrostatic charge variation measurement and the second electrostatic charge variation measurement; and
outputting a result of the self-test that indicates the electrostatic charge variation sensor has passed or failed the self-test.