Apparatus to compare an input voltage with a threshold voltage

• US 7,592,859 B2
• Filed: 03/19/2007
• Issued: 09/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Hastings, Roy Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, DINH THANH
• Application Number:
  US11/725,278
• Publication Number:
  US 20080157820A1
• Time in Patent Office: 918 Days
• Field of Search: 327/538, 327/539, 327/513, 323/315, 323/316, 323/313
• US Class Current: 327/539
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/16576 comparing DC or AC voltage with one threshold G01R19/16514, G01R19/16519, G01R19/16528, G01R19/16533 and G01R19/1659 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/32 Compensating for temperature change

Abstract

Apparatus to compare an input signal to a threshold level are disclosed. An example circuit described herein includes a Widlar bandgap circuit to receive the input signal, an intermediate stage coupled with the output of the Widlar bandgap circuit, and a final stage coupled with the output of the intermediate stage, the final stage to provide an output based on the input signal and the threshold level.

Claims

1. A circuit to compare an input signal with a threshold level, the circuit comprising:

a Widlar bandgap circuit including;

a first resistor that receives the input signal;

a first bipolar transistor that is diode-connect and that is coupled to the first resistor at its collector;

a second resistor that receives the input signal;

a second bipolar transistor that is coupled to the base of the first transistor at its base and that is coupled to the second resistor at its collector;

a third resistor that is coupled to the second transistor at its emitter;

an intermediate stage coupled with the output of the Widlar bandgap circuit, wherein the intermediate stage includes;

a fourth resistor that receives the input signal

a third bipolar transistor that is coupled to the fourth resistor at its collector and that is coupled to the collector of the second bipolar transistor at its base;

a final stage coupled with the output of the intermediate stage, the final stage to provide an output based on the input signal and the threshold level;

a fifth resistor that is coupled between the collector of the first bipolar transistor and the ground potential;

a sixth resistor that is coupled between the that is coupled between the collector of the second bipolar transistor and the ground potential, wherein the ratio of the first resistor to the fifth resistor is approximately equal to the ratio of the second resistor to the sixth resistor.

2. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the final stage includes a transistor switch.

3. The circuit of claim 2, wherein the transistor switch comprises:

a current source; and

a transistor having a base coupled with the output of the intermediate stage, a collector coupled with the current source, and an emitter coupled with the ground potential.

4. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the threshold level is a predefined voltage potential.

5. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the final stage is to provide an output when the input signal exceeds the threshold level.

6. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the Widlar bandgap circuit is to output an appreciable current to the intermediate stage when the input signal exceeds the threshold level.

7. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the intermediate stage is to output an appreciable current to the final stage when an appreciable current is not received from the Widlar bandgap circuit.

8. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the circuit further comprises a seventh resistor that is coupled between the collector of the third bipolar resistor and the ground potential, wherein the ratio of the fourth resistor to the seventh resistor is approximately equal to the ratio of the first resistor to the fifth resistor.