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

Claim 20:
21. A device, comprising:
a first stimulus electrode configured to transmit a stimulus signal, the stimulus signal being a constant voltage 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;
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 and generate a second electrostatic charge variation measurement of the electrostatic charge variation, the second electrostatic charge variation measurement being generated in a case where the first electrostatic charge variation measurement is greater than a first threshold value and in response to the stimulus signal being transmitted by the first stimulus 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,
the processor determines the electrostatic charge variation sensor passed the self-test in a case where the second electrostatic charge variation measurement is less than a second threshold value, and determines the electrostatic charge variation sensor failed the self-test in a case where the second electrostatic charge variation measurement is not less than the second threshold value.