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

Claim 0:
1. A device, comprising:
a first stimulus electrode configured to transmit a stimulus signal;
a first receiving electrode underlying the first stimulus electrode, the first receiving electrode configured to receive an electrostatic charge variation in a surrounding environment and receive the stimulus signal transmitted from the first stimulus electrode;
an electrostatic charge variation sensor coupled to the first receiving electrode, the electrostatic charge variation sensor configured to:
generate a first electrostatic charge variation measurement of the electrostatic charge variation that indicates a change in electrostatic charge received by the first receiving electrode without the stimulus signal being transmitted by the first stimulus electrode and received by the first receiving electrode; and
generate a second electrostatic charge variation measurement of the electrostatic charge variation that indicates a change in electrostatic charge received by the first receiving electrode with the stimulus signal being transmitted by the first stimulus electrode and received by the first receiving electrode; and

a processor coupled to the electrostatic charge variation sensor, the processor configured to perform a self-test on the electrostatic charge variation sensor using the first electrostatic charge variation measurement and the second electrostatic charge variation measurement, and output a result of the self-test that indicates the electrostatic charge variation sensor has passed or failed the self-test.