US 12,130,319 B2
Electrostatic charge sensor with high impedance contact pads
Massimo Orio, Milan (IT)
Assigned to STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l., Agrate Brianza (IT)
Filed by STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l., Agrate Brianza (IT)
Filed on May 19, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/320,867.
Application 18/320,867 is a continuation of application No. 17/537,069, filed on Nov. 29, 2021, granted, now 11,693,039.
Prior Publication US 2023/0288467 A1, Sep. 14, 2023
Int. Cl. G01R 29/12 (2006.01); G01R 29/08 (2006.01); G01R 29/24 (2006.01)
CPC G01R 29/12 (2013.01) [G01R 29/0878 (2013.01); G01R 29/24 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A device, comprising:
an electrode configured to receive an electrostatic charge;
a contact pad electrically coupled to the electrode;
an electrostatic charge sensor electrically coupled to the contact pad, the electrostatic charge sensor configured to measure the electrostatic charge; and
a driver electrically coupled to the contact pad and ground, the driver configured to output a driving signal to the contact pad,
the driver configured to be set to an on state in which the driver outputs the driving signal to the contact pad, and set to an off state in which the driver does not output the driving signal to the contact pad,
the driver outputs the driving signal to the contact pad using a first electrical signal,
the driver is set to the off state using a second electrical signal having a greater voltage level than the first electrical signal and a third electrical signal having a voltage level below ground,
the electrostatic charge sensor does not measure the electrostatic charge in a case where the driver is set to the on state, and measures the electrostatic charge in a case where the driver is set to the off state;
a level up shifter configured to provide the second electrical signal to the driver; and
a level down shifter configured to provide the third electrical signal to the driver.