Integrated circuit for switching loads, circuit arrangement comprising an integrated circuit and a connected load, and method for operating such a circuit arrangement

A method, which comprises:

• providing a circuit arrangement including an integrated circuit having:
• a controllable switching element having load path connected between the output of the integrated circuit and a supply potential, a test unit connected to the switching element for performing tests, a control unit connected to the test unit via at least one control line, wherein the tests are performed depending on signals on the at least one control line, and a memory connected to the control unit and containing non-transitory information for determining a nature and a time of the tests, the memory being connected to the input of the integrated circuit for receiving the information;
• providing the circuit arrangement with a load connected to the output of the integrated circuit, wherein the information, which is for determining the nature and the time of the tests, and which is in the memory, is dependent on a type of the load connected to the output of the integrated circuit;
• inputting information relating to a type of load via the input of the integrated circuit into the memory;
• reading the information in the memory with the control unit and actuating the test unit with the control unit depending on the information;
• and testing the switching element with the test unit, wherein a type and a time of a test is determined by the control unit based on the information in the memory.