Patent ID: 8018349

Claim:
A detection circuit to detect an inline power shutoff failure in an electronic device having a power source, a first terminal, a second terminal, and power control circuitry which is disposed between (i) the power source and (ii) the first and second terminals, the power control circuitry being constructed and arranged to (i) apply an inline power signal from the power source to the first and second terminals when a control signal delivered to the power control circuitry has an inline-power-ON value and (ii) shutoff the inline power signal from the power source to the first and second terminals when the control signal delivered to the power control circuitry has an inline-power-OFF value which is different than the inline-power-ON value, the detection circuit comprising: sensing circuitry constructed and arranged to electrically connect to the first and second terminals of the electronic device; and a notification circuit coupled to the sensing circuitry, the notification circuit being constructed and arranged to (i) obtain a measurement signal from the sensing circuitry while the control signal delivered to the power control circuitry has the inline-power-OFF value, and (ii) generate a result signal based on the measurement signal, the result signal indicating whether the power control circuitry is applying the inline power signal from the power source to the first and second terminals while the control signal delivered to the power control circuitry has the inline-power-OFF value due to an inline power shutoff failure.