Microcomputer reset device for positively resetting microcomputer before starting operation

• US 6,370,643 B1
• Filed: 06/11/1999
• Issued: 04/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation), Mitsubishi Electric System (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation), Mitsubishi Electric System (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Kubo, Kenji
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mai, Rijue
• Application Number:
  US09/330,176
• Time in Patent Office: 1,033 Days
• Field of Search: 713/1, 713/100, 713/600, 710/131, 363/20, 363/97, 363/131, 320/167, 307/85, 307/66, 307/64
• US Class Current: 713/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/24 Resetting means

Abstract

A microcomputer reset device includes a switching circuit for comparing, after a reset of a CPU is released during power-up, a reference voltage Vref with a second divided voltage Vd2 which is proportional to a supply voltage and is adjusted by the CPU, and for switching, when the second divided voltage Vd2 exceeds the reference voltage Vref, a clock source of the CPU from an internal clock signal to an external clock signal. This makes it possible to solve a problem of a conventional microcomputer reset device in that it is not unlikely that the microcomputer starts its operation before its reset has been completed, which hinders the normal operation of the microcomputer.

Claims

1. A microcomputer reset device comprising:

an initializing circuit for placing a microcomputer in a reset state as long as a first divided voltage proportional to a supply voltage is lower than a reference voltage, and for releasing the reset state of the microcomputer when the first divided voltage exceeds the reference voltage;

an adjusting circuit for adjusting, in response to an operation frequency of the microcomputer, a second divided voltage which is proportional to the supply voltage; and

a switching circuit for comparing the second divided voltage adjusted by said adjusting circuit with the reference voltage, and for switching, when the second divided voltage exceeds the reference voltage, a clock source of the CPU from an internal clock signal to an external clock signal.

2. The microcomputer reset device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a reset circuit for resetting, after said switching circuit switches the clock source of the microcomputer from the internal clock signal to the external clock signal, said microcomputer if the second divided voltage adjusted by said adjusting circuit drops below the reference voltage with canceling a reset operation of the initializing circuit.

3. The microcomputer reset device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said reset circuit releases the reset of the microcomputer when the second divided voltage exceeds the reference voltage.

4. A microcomputer reset device comprising:

an initializing circuit for placing a microcomputer in a reset state as long as a first divided voltage proportional to a supply voltage is lower than a reference voltage, and for releasing the reset state of the microcomputer when the first divided voltage exceeds the reference voltage;

an adjusting circuit for adjusting, in response to an operation frequency of the microcomputer, a second divided voltage which is proportional to the supply voltage;

a counter for counting an interval from a time when said initializing circuit releases the reset of said microcomputer to a time when the second divided voltage adjusted by said adjusting circuit exceeds the reference voltage; and

a switching circuit for calculating a clock switching time from the interval counted by said counter, and for switching, when the clock switching time comes, a clock source of the CPU from an internal clock signal to an external clock signal.