Patent ID: 6028438
Filing Date: 2000-02-22
Classification: G01R

Abstract:
A current sense circuit for use in a semiconductor tester, the current sense circuit having a first node for connection to a pin of a device under test (DUT) and comprising:a current sense resistor means having a first terminal connected to said first node and a second terminal connected to a second node,a voltage source connected to the second node for supplying current to the first node by way of the current sense resistor means, anda means for measuring voltage drop across the current sense resistor means,and wherein the current sense resistor means comprises a network of switchable semiconductor resistor devices each having at least a first resistance state and a second resistance state, in which the resistor device has first and second different resistance values respectively, and a means for selectively controlling the states of the resistor devices, whereby the resistance value of the current sense resistor means can be selectively varied.