Configuration with a plurality of sensor groups and method of determining its intactness

摘要

A method of determining an intactness of a configuration having a plurality of sensor groups, includes the steps of forming, for all of the sensor groups, associated test signals by summing up electric signals of all respective other ones of the sensor groups. All the test signals are compared with one another; and it is selectively determined that an intactness exists, if the test signals are all substantially equal to one another, and it is determined that the intactness does not exist if the test signals are not substantially equal to one another. The configuration is provided such that each sensor group can be disconnected so as to exclude its signal from the aggregate signal. The configuration is preferably provided in a CMOS circuit on a single semiconductor chip.