Patent ID: 6756787
Filing Date: 2004-06-29
Classification: G01R

Abstract:
An integrated circuit, comprising:a circuit for conducting a current therein; an external connection; and a current measuring unit for obtaining a measured current representing the current in said circuit; said current measuring unit including an output device for outputting a value of the measured current to an external test system via said external connection; said current measuring unit including a measurement current path; said current measuring unit including a current measuring circuit; said current measuring unit including a current mirror circuit for obtaining a mirrored current by mirroring the current in said circuit into said measurement current path; said measurement current path being led through said current measuring circuit so that the measured current can be obtained by measuring the mirrored current and so that the value of the measured current can be output by said output device; said current measuring circuit including a capacitor; said current measuring circuit including a switching device for charging said capacitor from a low voltage value to a high voltage value by using the mirrored current and for reversing a polarity of said capacitor when a voltage value stored in said capacitor exceeds the high voltage value; and a number of charging operations of said capacitor occurring during a predetermined time period depending in an unambiguous way on the mirrored current.