Hysteresis-based processing for applications such as signal bias monitors
US7616029B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 9, 2007 |
| Grant date | Nov 10, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 23, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03K19/20
- WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
In one embodiment of the invention, a bias signal monitor has two signal comparators that compare two (power supply) voltages at two different bias points and a logic circuit that processes the outputs from the two signal monitors to generate a bias signal monitor output signal. The logic circuit implements hysteresis-based processing such that (1) if both signal comparators are active (indicating that a first voltage is greater than the second voltage relative to both bias points), then the monitor output is active, (2) if both signal comparators are inactive (indicating that the first voltage is not greater than the second voltage relative to either bias point), then the monitor output is inactive, and (3) if one signal comparator is active and the other is inactive, then the monitor output keeps its previous value. This hysteresis characteristic prevents relatively small oscillations between the voltages from changing the monitor output.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.