Circuitry for power supply voltage detection and system lockout for a nonvolatile memory
US5301161A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 12, 1993 |
| Grant date | Apr 5, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 12, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11C16/30
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A detection circuit is described that resides in a nonvolatile memory that includes a memory array and a control circuitry coupled to the memory array for controlling operations of the memory array. The detection circuit is coupled to the control circuitry and receives a power supply for detecting potential level of the power supply and for generating a reset signal to reset the control circuitry until the potential level of the power supply rises above a predetermined level. The detection circuit includes a resistor, a first, a second, and a third transistor. The first transistor has a first end coupled to receive the power supply, a second end coupled to a first node, and a third end coupled to the first node. The second transistor has a first end coupled to the first node, a second end coupled to ground, and a third end coupled to the ground. The first and second transistors function as a voltage divider. The third transistor has a first end coupled to the power supply, a second end coupled to an output node, and a third end coupled to the first node. The resistor is coupled between the output node and the ground for coupling the output node to the ground when the third transist…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.