Patent ID: 8159800

Claim:
A semiconductor device comprising: a current generating circuit unit configured to generate and output an output current according to a resistance of a resistor connected to a predetermined external terminal; a load circuit unit to which the output current from the current generating circuit is supplied; and a terminal voltage detecting circuit unit configured to detect a connection state between the external terminal and the resistor based on a voltage of the external terminal, and output a signal according to a result of the detection, wherein: the current generating circuit unit controls another current supplied to the resistor through the external terminal and controls the output current, so that the voltage of the external terminal corresponds to a predetermined first reference voltage; and the terminal voltage detecting circuit unit detects whether a voltage difference between the voltage of the external terminal and the first reference voltage is less than or equal to a predetermined value, and stops an operation of the load circuit unit in the event that the voltage difference exceeds the predetermined value.