Apparatus for signaling that a predetermined time value has elapsed

US7116737B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Infineon Technologies AG · DE

Inventors

• Georg Eggers · Birkenfeld, DE
• Jorg Kliewer · Birkenfeld, DE
• Ralf Schneider · Birkenfeld, DE
• Norbert Wirth · Unterschleißheim, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 24, 2002
• Grant date: Oct 3, 2006
• Expiry date: Dec 8, 2024

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H03K2005/00247
• WIPO field: Basic communication processes
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus for signaling that a predetermined time value has elapsed, having a device for acquiring and storing the amplitude value of a clock signal at an acquisition instant in the temporal profile of the clock signal. A device is provided for continuously comparing the acquired and stored amplitude value of the clock signal with an instantaneous amplitude value of the clock signal and for outputting a comparison signal which has a first logic state if the instantaneous amplitude value of the clock signal is less than the stored amplitude value and has a second logic state if the instantaneous amplitude value of the clock signal is greater than the stored amplitude value. A device is also provided for counting the number of logic states of the comparison signal which occur after the acquisition instant, and for signaling that the predetermined time value has elapsed if the counted number of logic states is equal to a predetermined number of logic states which corresponds temporally to the predetermined time value.