Patent ID: 8248082

Claim:
A method for determining a current return path integrity in an electric device with a plurality of signal lines and supply lines, said electric device is connected or connectable to a further device, wherein at least one group of the supply lines is electrically interconnected together and said method comprises: a) providing a library with at least one reference signal pattern of a near end crosstalk signal on a defined signal line arising from an input signal on another defined signal line, wherein the library has been created with a reference device, which is identical with said electric device and its effectiveness has been positively tested otherwise; b) applying a predetermined signal to a selected signal line of the electric device; c) detecting the near end crosstalk signal on at least one further signal line of the electric device within a predetermined time window; d) comparing said near end crosstalk signal with the corresponding reference signal pattern from the library; and e) in response to a deviation between the near end crosstalk signal and the corresponding reference signal pattern, f) giving out an information that there is at least one open in an interconnected group of supply lines in the electric device.