Patent ID: 7818137
Filing Date: 2010-10-19
Classification: G01R

Abstract:
1. A device characterization circuit comprising: a plurality of capacitive elements to be characterized; a first switching circuit for enabling, according to a plurality of control signals, a subset of the plurality of capacitive elements for charging during measurement; a test interface for providing said plurality of control signals; a clock circuit for providing a clock that controls charging of the subset of capacitive elements at a charging rate; a sensing circuit for sensing a current required to charge the subset of capacitive elements, whereby a change in the current due to removing one of the plurality of capacitive elements from the subset is measured as an indication of a capacitance of the capacitive element removed from the subset; and at least one low-pass filter for filtering transients at the output of the sensing circuit generated at the charging rate, wherein the charging rate is substantially faster than a switching rate of the first switching circuit.