Integrated circuit with an undervoltage detector

• US 7,369,382 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2005
• Issued: 05/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
• Original Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
• Inventors: Scheikl, Erich, Zitta, Heinz
• Primary Examiner(s): Sherry; Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): BAUER, SCOTT ALLEN
• Application Number:
  US11/304,494
• Publication Number:
  US 20060158808A1
• Time in Patent Office: 874 Days
• Field of Search: 361/90, 361/92
• US Class Current: 361/90
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/0251 for MOS devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/24 responsive to undervoltage or no-voltage H02H3/207 takes precedence

Abstract

An integrated circuit arrangement includes connection terminals, an undervoltage detector, and at least one circuit unit. The connection terminals are configured to receive a supply voltage. The undervoltage detector is coupled between the connection terminals and is configured to compare the supply voltage with a select reference value selected from a first reference value and a second reference value. The second reference value is less than the first reference value. The undervoltage detector is further operable to produce a detector signal on the basis of a result of the comparison. The circuit unit is coupled between the connection terminals, and includes a first operating state with a first drawn current and a second operating state with a second drawn current. The second drawn current exceeds the first drawn current. The select reference value corresponds to an operating state of the at least one circuit unit.

Claims

1. An integrated circuit arrangement comprising:

connection terminals configured to receive a supply voltage,

an undervoltage detector coupled between the connection terminals and configured to compare the supply voltage with a select reference value selected from a first reference value and a second reference value, the second reference value less than the first reference value, and to produce a detector signal on the basis of a result of the comparison,

at least one circuit unit coupled between the connection terminals, the at least one circuit unit including at least one first operating state with a first drawn current and a second operating state with a second drawn current, the second drawn current exceeding the first drawn current,

wherein the select reference value corresponds to the first reference value during the first operating state, and corresponds to the second reference value during the second reference state.

2. The circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the undervoltage detector comprises:

a comparator having a first input configured to receive the supply voltage, a second input and an output to which the detector signal is provided,

a voltage source arrangement configured to provide first and second reference voltages,

a changeover element coupled between the voltage source arrangement and the second input of the comparator and which supplies the second input with the select reference value in the form of a select one of the first and second reference voltages.

3. The circuit arrangement of claim 2 wherein the changeover element supplies the select reference value responsive to a switching signal.

4. The circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 3, wherein an actuation signal influencing the operating state of the at least one circuit unit is supplied to the undervoltage detector in order to produce the switching signal.

5. The circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 4, wherein the undervoltage detector is configured to compare the supply voltage with the second reference value and otherwise with the first reference value for a prescribed period of time after a prescribed edge of the actuation signal.

6. The circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 4, wherein the at least one circuit unit includes a switching unit.

7. The circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 6, wherein the switching unit includes a semiconductor switching element and a driver circuit for the semiconductor switching element, the driver circuit operable to turn the semiconductor switching element on or off on the basis of the actuation signal.

8. The circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one circuit unit includes a switching unit having a semiconductor switching element.

9. The circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an operating state detector coupled to the at least one circuit unit and which produces an operating state signal which is dependent on the operating state and which is supplied to the undervoltage detector.

10. The circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 9, wherein the operating state detector is configured to determine an input current flowing into the at least one switching unit and to provide the operating state signal on the basis of the determined input current.

11. An integrated circuit arrangement comprising:

connection terminals configured to receive a supply voltage,

a comparator having a first input configured to receive the supply voltage, a second input and an output to which the detector signal is provided, the second input configured to receive a select reference voltage from a first reference voltage and a second reference voltage, the second reference voltage less than the first reference voltage, and to produce a detector signal on the basis of a result of the comparison,

at least switching circuit coupled between the connection terminals and includes at least one first operating state with a first drawn current and a second operating state with a second drawn current, the second drawn current exceeding the first drawn current,

wherein the select reference voltage corresponds to the first reference value during the first operating state, and corresponds to the second reference value during the second reference state.

12. The circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:

a voltage source arrangement configured to provide first and second reference voltages,

a switching device coupled between the voltage source arrangement and the second input of the comparator and which supplies the second input with the select reference voltage.

13. The circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 12 wherein the switching device supplies the select reference voltage responsive to a switching signal.

14. The circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 13, wherein the switching signal corresponds to an actuation signal influencing the operating state of the at least one switching circuit.

15. The circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 14, further comprising a timer coupled to receive the actuation signal and configured to provide the switching signal based on the actuation signal.

16. The circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 15, wherein the timer is configured to generate the switching signal such that the first reference voltage is supplied to the second input of the comparator for a prescribed period of time after a prescribed edge of the actuation signal.

17. The circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 16, wherein the at least one switching circuit further includes a semiconductor switching element and a driver circuit for the semiconductor switching element, the driver circuit operable to turn the semiconductor switching element on or off on the basis of the actuation signal.

18. The circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 16, wherein the at least one switching circuit further includes a semiconductor switching element and a driver circuit for the semiconductor switching element, the driver circuit operable to turn the semiconductor switching element on or off on the basis of the actuation signal.

19. The circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 12, further comprising an operating state detector coupled to the at least one switching circuit and which produces an operating state signal which is dependent on the operating state and which is supplied to control the switching device.

20. The circuit arrangement as claimed in claim 19, wherein the operating state detector is configured to determine an input current flowing into the at least one switching circuit and to provide the operating state signal on the basis of the determined input current.