Comparator with process and temperature insensitive hysteresis and threshold potentials
US6316978A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 3, 2000 |
| Grant date | Nov 13, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 3, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03K3/011
- WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A comparator circuit having a first state and a second state, a threshold potential for transition from the first state to the second state, another threshold potential for transition from the second state to the first state, and hysteresis characteristics that are independent of process, temperature, and supply voltage variations. Preferably, the threshold potentials and hysteresis characteristics depend only on a reference potential and on ratios of resistances of pairs of resistors. In some embodiments, the circuit asserts an output signal in response to an input potential and a reference potential, and includes a comparator (having an output which asserts a binary output signal and two comparator inputs) and additional circuitry coupled to the comparator inputs and coupled to receive the input potential, the additional circuitry including a set of resistors and a current source, the current source is coupled to the output and configured to draw a first current when the output signal has its first value and a second current when the output signal has its second value, the current source includes a second set of resistors and is coupled to receive the reference potential, and the…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.