Methods and apparatus to detect voltage class of a circuit

• US 7,987,380 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2007
• Issued: 07/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Atmel Rousset S.A.S. (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Atmel Rousset S.A.S. (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bracmard, Gaetan, Godzinski, Stephane
• Primary Examiner(s): Du; Thuan N
• Application Number:
  US11/691,875
• Publication Number:
  US 20080244279A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,582 Days
• Field of Search: 713/300, 713/310, 713/340
• US Class Current: 713/340
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips

Abstract

A method including monitoring whether an externally originating signal reaches a predetermined threshold value in a host, producing an output value based on the monitoring, and identifying a power environment for the host based on the output value is described. Also described is a method for determining the power environment of a host. Systems and hosts for implementing the methods are also described.

Claims

1. A system for detecting a voltage class of a circuit, the system comprising:

a processor configured for;

selecting a threshold voltage level corresponding to one of three or more voltage classes each having a respective class threshold voltage, and

transmitting a control signal indicative of the threshold voltage level;

a voltage class detector coupled to the processor and configured for;

receiving the control signal;

setting a detection voltage level based on the control signal;

comparing a voltage of the circuit with the detection voltage level and determining that the voltage of the circuit reaches the detection voltage level; and

in response to determining that the voltage of the circuit reaches the detection voltage level, determining that the voltage class of the circuit is the voltage class corresponding to the selected threshold voltage level.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more control registers for receiving the control signal and setting the detection voltage level based on the control signal.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein a software sequence executed by the processor changes values stored in the control registers using the control signal.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the values stored in the control registers are used in generating an output from the voltage class detector.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the voltage class detector comprises an analog supply monitor.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the voltage classes are predetermined, selectable voltage classes in accordance with a standard.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the detection voltage level comprises one of:

a first selectable voltage level between class A voltage and class B voltage; and

a second selectable voltage level between class B voltage and class C voltage.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a status register coupled to the voltage class detector and configured to receive a signal from the voltage class detector indicating a voltage class of the circuit.

9. A method for determining a voltage class for a host device, comprising:

selecting a first threshold voltage;

monitoring whether a supply voltage of the circuit reaches the first threshold voltage;

identifying a first voltage class for the host if the supply voltage does not reach the first threshold voltage;

if the supply voltage reaches the first threshold voltage, selecting a second threshold voltage;

monitoring whether the supply voltage reaches the second threshold voltage;

identifying a second voltage class for the host if the supply voltage does not reach the second threshold voltage

if the supply voltage reaches the second threshold voltage, selecting a third threshold Voltage;

monitoring whether the supply voltage reaches the third threshold voltage; and

identifying a third voltage class for the host if the supply voltage does not reach the third threshold voltage.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the host is a smart card.

11. A system for determining a voltage class of a circuit, the system comprising:

means for selecting a threshold voltage level corresponding to one of three or more voltage classes each having a respective class threshold voltage, and

means for transmitting a control signal indicative of the threshold voltage level;

means for receiving the control signal;

means for setting a detection voltage level based on the control signal;

means for comparing a supply voltage of the circuit with the detection voltage level and determining that the voltage of the circuit reaches the detection voltage level; and

means for determining that the voltage class of the circuit is the voltage class corresponding to the selected threshold voltage level.