Patent ID: 8835827
Filing Date: 2014-09-16
Classification: G01N,G01R

Abstract:
1. A determination circuit comprising: an integration unit for integrating a current over an integration time resulting in an integration value; a time counter unit for counting the integration time from the start of integrating the current to a predefined maximum integration time; a reset counter for counting the number of resets of the integration unit, wherein the determination circuit is configured to: output a first measurement result if the absolute value of the integration value is below a reset threshold at the expiration of the predefined maximum integration time; reset the integration unit if the absolute value of the integration value exceeds the reset threshold before the expiration of the predefined maximum integration time; repeat the outputting and resetting each time the absolute value of the integration value exceeds the reset threshold until expiration of the maximum integration time, counting the number of resets; output a second measurement result based on at least one of the integration value and the number of resets if the number of resets is nonzero wherein the integration unit comprises: a higher gain integration circuit for integrating the current if the absolute value of the integration value lies below a switching threshold before expiration of the predefined maximum integration time; a lower gain integration circuit for integrating the current until expiration of the predefined maximum integration time if the absolute value of the integration value generated by the higher gain integration circuit exceeds the switching threshold before expiration of the maximum integration time.