Patent · US Expired

Power-up reset conditioned on direction of voltage change

US5203000A · kind A · utility

39Cited by
27References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 15, 1990
Grant dateApr 13, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 15, 2010

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F11/1415
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A system which includes a microprocessor (or microcontroller) and an auxiliary chip which monitors the system power supply voltage and performs related functions for the microprocessor. In one mode of operation (for use with a low-power CMOS processor), the auxiliary chip sends an interrupt to the microprocessor when the power supply falls to a first level, and also resets the microprocessor when the supply voltage reaches a second preset level on the way up (i.e. while power is being restored). In a selectable second mode of operation (for use with NMOS processor), the auxiliary chip resets the processor when the power supply is on the way down.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.