Charles A Mcdonald

US Patent:

57317003, Mar 24, 1998

Filed:

Jun 19, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/668004

Inventors:

Charles McDonald - Mountain View CA

Assignee:

LSI Logic Corporation - Milpitas CA

International Classification:

G01R 3126

US Classification:

3241581

Abstract:

An active load is connected to a power supply terminal of an electronic device such as an integrated circuit. The active load receives a reference voltage that is equal to a normal power supply voltage for application to the terminal, and a source current that is equal to a maximum quiescent power supply current that the device should sink through the terminal. A vector generator applies test signals to the device that cause it to switch between respective operating states. During each operating state, a voltage source that generates the normal power supply voltage is connected to the terminal for a length of time sufficient for the device to attain the respective operating state, and is then removed such that the device is powered only by the active load. After a sufficient length of time has elapsed for the device to achieve a quiescent state, the voltage at the terminal is sensed. If the current flowing from the active load into the terminal is less than the maximum quiescent power supply current, the sensed voltage will be equal to the reference voltage.

US Patent:

43705766, Jan 25, 1983

Filed:

Feb 21, 1962

Appl. No.:

4/175393

Inventors:

John S. Foster - Pleasanton CA
James R. Wilson - Livermore CA
Charles A. McDonald - Danville CA

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the United States
Department of Energy - Washington DC

International Classification:

H02K 100
G21B 100
G01R 3302

US Classification:

310 10

Abstract:

1. In an electrical energy generator, the combination comprising a first elongated annular electrical current conductor having at least one bare surface extending longitudinally and facing radially inwards therein, a second elongated annular electrical current conductor disposed coaxially within said first conductor and having an outer bare surface area extending longitudinally and facing said bare surface of said first conductor, the contiguous coaxial areas of said first and second conductors defining an inductive element, means for applying an electrical current to at least one of said conductors for generating a magnetic field encompassing said inductive element, and explosive charge means disposed concentrically with respect to said conductors including at least the area of said inductive element, said explosive charge means including means disposed to initiate an explosive wave front in said explosive advancing longitudinally along said inductive element, said wave front being effective to progressively deform at least one of said conductors to bring said bare surfaces thereof into electrically conductive contact to progressively reduce the inductance of the inductive element defined by said conductors and transferring explosive energy to said magnetic field effective to generate an electrical potential between undeformed portions of said conductors ahead of said explosive wave front.