Circuit for measuring quiescent current

• US 5,721,495 A
• Filed: 10/24/1995
• Issued: 02/24/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Unisys Corporation
• Original Assignee: Unisys Corporation
• Inventors: Scorsone, Joseph J., Jennion, Mark W., Fell, Joseph H. III, Selby, Paul H. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Vinh P.
• Application Number:
  US08/547,353
• Time in Patent Office: 854 Days
• Field of Search: 324/73.1, 324/158.1, 324/765, 324/716, 324/719, 371/22.1, 371/22.5, 371/22.6, 371/22.4, 371/15.1, 371/25.1, 437/8, 365/201
• US Class Current: 324/762.02
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3004 Current or voltage test

Abstract

A quiescent test circuit for interfacing a high precision integrated circuit tester to a device under test (DUT). The quiescent test circuit is capable of supplying a high powered (V1) voltage supply to a DUT while the DUT'"'"'s desired dynamics internal state is reached. At this point, the integrated circuit tester, sends an active select signal to the quiescent test circuit instantaneously which deselects the high-powered (V1) voltage supply to the DUT and selects the integrated circuit tester'"'"'s parametric measurement unit low power (V4) voltage supply for powering the DUT. The integrated circuit tester, through its parametric measurement unit is capable of precisely measuring the very low quiescent current of the DUT, while powering the DUT.

Claims

1. A quiescent test circuit interface for an integrated circuit tester that is used to measure quiescent current consumption of a device under test, comprising:

said test circuit interface having,

a first high current input coupled to a current power supply,

a second low current input coupled to the integrated circuit tester,

an output terminal connected to the device under test, and

a select line connected to the integrated circuit tester, for selecting one of said first or second inputs to be received at said output terminal;

said first input being selected by said integrated circuit tester when the device under test requires high dynamic power, and

said second input being selected after the device under test reaches a quiescent state thereby enabling the integrated circuit tester to accurately measure current consumption of the device under test.

2. The quiescent test circuit of claim 1, wherein said current consumption is first measured in terms of a precise low current.

3. A method of conducting quiescent current consumption measurements of an integrated CMOS circuit device under test, comprising the steps of:

(a) supplying a high-powered power supply to the device under test;

(b) initializing internal state changes of the device under test;

(c) waiting for said internal state changes of the device under test to halt;

(d) deselecting said high-powered power supply and simultaneously selecting a second low-power supply to the device under test in a quiescent state;

(e) measuring the quiescent current consumption of the integrated CMOS circuit device under test; and

(f) deselecting said second low-power supply while simultaneously selecting said high-powered power supply to the device under test; and

(g) repeating steps (a)-(f).

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said second power supply is supplied by an integrated circuit tester.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said second power supply is a high-powered power supply.