Patent · US Expired

Threshold/voltage detection circuit

US5278458A · kind A · utility

23Cited by
5References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 13, 1991
Grant dateJan 11, 1994
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 13, 2011

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH03K3/3565
  • WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

One aspect of the present invention includes a circuit for detecting when an input voltage exceeds a predetermined threshold. The circuit for detecting includes an input for receiving the input voltage. Further, the circuit includes a plurality of switching devices, wherein each of the switching devices comprises a first and second terminal for defining a variable conductive path, and a third terminal for receiving a signal to control said variable conductive path. The plurality of switching devices includes three switching devices. The first switching device has a first terminal coupled to the input and a second terminal coupled to a first node. The second switching device has a first terminal coupled to the first node and a second terminal coupled to a second node. Finally, the third switching device has a first terminal coupled to the second node. Each of the first, second and third switching devices are of like conductivity type, and the second node provides a first voltage if the input voltage is below the predetermined threshold and provides a second voltage if the input voltage is above the predetermined threshold.

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