Patent ID: 7504846

Claim:
A method for testing a cascode circuit including a plurality of electronic elements to be protected from high voltage and a plurality of cascode elements connected to said electronic elements, the method comprising the steps of: arranging a plurality of test nodes between each electronic element and each cascode element; for each test node, allocating a different switching element and connecting said switching element thereto, each switching element having a plurality of switching states that are changed when the voltage at a connected test node, in the plurality of test nodes, exceeds or falls below a given voltage limit; connecting each test node to a first test line and a second test line, the first test line indicating whether the switching state of at least one switching element from the switching elements is in a changed switching state; applying a first voltage to the first test line and a second voltage to the second test line; activating at least one cascode element using an activation circuit; and detecting, in response to the step of activating, the switching state of at least one switching element using a detection circuit and, therein, indicating whether the cascade circuit tests positively or negatively.