Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an integrated circuit arrangement. The circuit arrangement includes a semiconductor body having a first surface and defining a vertical direction running perpendicular to the first surface. At least one sensor line is at least partially arranged above the first surface, and includes a first and a second contact terminal and at least one vertical line section coupled between the first and second contact terminals and running in the vertical direction. An evaluation circuit is coupled to the first and second contact terminals and adapted to evaluate an impedance of the at least one sensor line.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for detection of a presence of a load. A method may include, for example, applying and subsequently removing a supply voltage across the pair of nodes, comparing an electrical potential at one of the pair of nodes at a time after the supply voltage is removed with a reference value, and generating a signal having a value that depends upon an outcome of the comparison.

Abstract: A driver circuit for providing an output signal for switching an electrical load on and off has a field-effect transistor having a gate terminal and an output for providing the output signal to the electrical load, a buffer circuit connected to the gate terminal of the field-effect transistor to impress a charge change current on the gate terminal of the field-effect transistor based on a drive signal, and a comparator having a first input for receiving the gate voltage and a second input for receiving the output signal to determine whether the gate voltage and the output voltage fulfill a predetermined relationship with respect to each other, and to provide the drive signal to the buffer circuit so that the charge change current is changed in magnitude when the predetermined relationship is fulfilled as compared to the charge change current when the predetermined relationship is not fulfilled.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for detection of a presence of a load. A method may include, for example, applying and subsequently removing a supply voltage across the pair of nodes, comparing an electrical potential at one of the pair of nodes at a time after the supply voltage is removed with a reference value, and generating a signal having a value that depends upon an outcome of the comparison.

Abstract: A driver circuit for providing an output signal for switching an electrical load on and off has a field-effect transistor having a gate terminal and an output for providing the output signal to the electrical load, a buffer circuit connected to the gate terminal of the field-effect transistor to impress a charge change current on the gate terminal of the field-effect transistor based on a drive signal, and a comparator having a first input for receiving the gate voltage and a second input for receiving the output signal to determine whether the gate voltage and the output voltage fulfill a predetermined relationship with respect to each other, and to provide the drive signal to the buffer circuit so that the charge change current is changed in magnitude when the predetermined relationship is fulfilled as compared to the charge change current when the predetermined relationship is not fulfilled.