Electronic part and method of detecting faults therein

摘要

An electronic component includes an oscillator element, a driving circuit outputting a driving signal to the oscillator element, a clock frequency generator outputting a clock signal to the driving circuit, a clock frequency controller controlling a frequency of the clock signal, a consumption-current detection unit detecting a consumption current of the driving circuit, and a fault detection unit electrically connected to the consumption-current detection unit and the clock frequency controller. When the clock frequency controller changes the frequency of the clock signal, the detected consumption current changes, and allows the consumption-current detection unit to detect the change of the consumption current. The fault detection unit detects a fault based on the change of the frequency of the clock signal and the change of the consumption current. This electronic component can have a fault detection function and a small size.

主权项

1. An electronic component comprising:
an oscillator element; a driving circuit that outputs a driving signal to the oscillator element; a detection signal processor that receives a sense signal output from the oscillator element; a clock frequency generator that outputs a clock signal to the driving circuit; a clock frequency controller that controls a frequency of the clock signal; a first consumption-current detection unit that detects a consumption current of at least a part of the driving circuit or at least a part of the detection signal processor; and a first fault detection unit that is electrically connected to the first consumption-current detection unit and the clock frequency controller, wherein, when the clock frequency controller changes the frequency of the clock signal, the detected consumption current changes, and allows the first consumption-current detection unit to detect the change of the consumption current, and wherein the first fault detection unit detects a fault based on the change of the consumption current caused by the change of the frequency of the clock signal.