Sensor integrated circuit load current monitoring circuitry and associated methods

A sensor integrated circuit comprising a regulator for generating a regulated voltage based on a supply voltage coupled to the sensor integrated circuit, comprising:

• a digital load configured to draw a load current from the regulator in response to a clock signal during in situ operation, wherein the load current is less than or equal to a predetermined level in the absence of a fault and wherein the load current is greater than the predetermined level in the presence of a fault, wherein the clock signal corresponds to a low activity clock associated with a low sensor activity interval;
• and
• a comparator responsive to the load current and to a threshold level and configured to generate a comparator output signal having a level indicative of whether the load current is less than or greater than the threshold level in order to thereby determine the absence or presence of a fault during in situ operation, respectively;
• and
• a flip-flop responsive to the comparator output signal and configured to latch the comparator output signal at a detection time, wherein the detection time follows the low sensor activity interval.