Supply voltage detection circuit
US6492849B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 30, 2001 |
| Grant date | Dec 10, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 30, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11C5/14
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A monitor circuit for supplying a detection voltage reflecting a supply voltage, a reference voltage generation circuit for generating a high-precision reference voltage not depending upon the supply voltage, and a comparator for comparing the detection voltage with the reference voltage and outputting the result of the comparison are provided and, in addition, a controller is provided which is made up of an auxiliary reference voltage generation circuit for generating a low-precision auxiliary reference voltage with less power dissipation and an auxiliary comparator for comparing the detection voltage with the auxiliary reference voltage. The auxiliary reference voltage is set higher than the reference voltage, and when the detection voltage becomes higher than the auxiliary reference voltage to cause the comparison output of the auxiliary comparator to become active, the reference voltage generation circuit is placed in a power-down state, thereby achieving a reduction in current dissipation.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.