Flexible voltage transient detector circuit

• US 6,025,981 A
• Filed: 11/04/1998
• Issued: 02/15/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ProMOS Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Mosel Vitelic Incorporated
• Inventors: Wu, James
• Primary Examiner(s): SHERRY, MICHAEL JUDE
• Application Number:
  US09/185,522
• Time in Patent Office: 468 Days
• Field of Search: 361/91.1, 361/86, 361/111
• US Class Current: 361/91.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/24 Resetting means
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/207 also responsive to under-voltage window comparators for indication G01R19/165

Abstract

A flexible voltage transient detector circuit is disclosed. The detector circuit includes an initialization unit, a first comparator, and a second comparator. The output of the initialization unit decides the operational modes of an integrated circuit. When the power voltage suddenly falls below the lower reference voltage, the first comparator will give an output to reset the initialization unit and force the integrated circuit into the initialized mode. Once the power voltage rises back above the higher reference voltage, the second comparator will order the counting of the initialization unit to start. The integrated circuit remains in the initialized mode until the counting stops after a period of delay time which can be flexibly set as needed and then returns the normal situation. This circuit design prevents the unpredictable operation of the integrated circuit.

Claims

1. A flexible voltage transient detector circuit, comprising

an initialization unit, wherein the output (INIT) of said initialization unit decides the operational modes of an integrated circuit;

a first comparator, comprising an output terminal connected to an input terminal of the initialization unit so that the output of said first comparator can reset said initialization unit, a noninverting input terminal connected to a first reference voltage, and an inverting input terminal connected to a power supply for comparing the power voltage with the first reference voltage; and

a second comparator, comprising an output terminal connected to second input terminal of the initialization unit so that the output of said comparator can start the counting of said initialization unit, an inverting input terminal connected to a second reference voltage, and a noninverting input terminal connected to said power supply for comparing the power voltage with the second reference voltage.

2. The circuit according to claim 1, wherein said initialization unit comprises a counter for producing a delay time.

3. The circuit according to claim 2, wherein said counter is a ripple counter.

4. The circuit according to claim 1, further comprising a level shifter between the noninverting input terminal of said second comparator and said power supply for lowering the power voltage to a constant voltage.

5. The circuit according to claim 1, wherein said initialization unit is non-active when the output (INIT) is low, and said integrated circuit is in normal mode.

6. The circuit according to claim 1, wherein said initialization unit is active when the output (INIT) is high, and the integrated circuit is in initialized mode.

7. The circuit according to claim 1, wherein said second reference voltage is higher than said first reference voltage.

8. The circuit according to claim 1, wherein the output of said initialization unit is non-active and said integrated circuit is in the normal mode when said power supply is steady at a normal value.

9. The circuit according to claim 1, wherein said first comparator produces an output to said initialization unit and thus resets said integrated circuit to initialized mode when said power voltage drops below said first reference voltage.

10. The circuit according to claim 1, wherein said initialization unit starts to count and the integrated circuit stays in normal mode when said power voltage rises above second reference voltage.

11. The circuit according to claim 1, wherein said initialization unit counts a constant value to let said integrated circuit return to normal mode.

12. The circuit according to claim 11, wherein said constant value can be set flexibly as needed for supplying said integrated circuit enough time to return the normal mode.