Intelligent power supervisor

• US 8,058,910 B1
• Filed: 12/27/2007
• Issued: 11/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tamiras Per Pte Ltd LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation (Infineon Technologies AG)
• Inventors: Wright, David G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Donovan; Lincoln
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jager; Ryan C
• Application Number:
  US12/005,768
• Time in Patent Office: 1,419 Days
• Field of Search: 327/142, 327/143, 327/198
• US Class Current: 327/143
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/10 Regulating voltage or current G05F1/02 takes precedence; for electric railways B60M3/02
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/46 wherein the variable actually regulated by the final control device is dc G05F1/625 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/24 Resetting means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/24 using interrupt G06F13/32 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/08 Circuits specially adapted for the generation of control voltages for semiconductor devices incorporated in static converters
• CPC Class Codes: H03L 5/02 of power
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

An intelligent power-on reset circuit in accordance with one embodiment of the invention can include a programmable voltage divider. The intelligent power-on reset circuit can also include a comparator that is coupled to the programmable voltage divider and that is coupled to receive a reference voltage. Furthermore, the intelligent power-on reset circuit can include a processing element that is coupled to the programmable voltage divider. The processing element can be coupled to receive programming for controlling a characteristic of the intelligent power-on reset circuit. The processing element can be for dynamically changing the programming during operation of the intelligent power-on reset circuit.

Claims

1. An intelligent power-on reset circuit comprising:

a programmable voltage divider;

a comparator coupled to the programmable voltage divider and coupled to receive a reference voltage;

a memory configured to store programming comprising instructions; and

a processing element coupled to the programmable voltage divider and configured to execute the instructions, wherein the processing element is coupled to receive the programming to control an operational characteristic of the intelligent power-on reset circuit, and wherein the processing element is configured to dynamically change the operational characteristic based on the received programming during operation of the intelligent power-on reset circuit.

2. The intelligent power-on reset circuit of claim 1, wherein the programming sets a voltage threshold for the intelligent power-on reset circuit.

3. The intelligent power-on reset circuit of claim 1, wherein the programmable voltage divider comprises a resistor ladder and a multiplexer.

4. The intelligent power-on reset circuit of claim 1, wherein the intelligent power-on reset circuit configured to learn from its surroundings.

5. The intelligent power-on reset circuit of claim 1, wherein the programming sets a delay period for the intelligent power-on reset circuit, and wherein the intelligent power-on reset circuit is configured to de-assert a reset signal after a lapse of the delay period.

6. The intelligent power-on reset circuit of claim 1, wherein the programming sets a glitch detection interval for the intelligent power-on reset circuit, and wherein the intelligent power-on reset circuit is configured to assert a reset signal in response to detecting a glitch in an output voltage having a duration exceeding the glitch detection interval.

7. The intelligent power-on reset circuit of claim 1, wherein the processing element is configured to perform a watch-dog timer function and wherein the programming is for setting a count value for the watch-dog timer, and wherein the processing element is configured to increment a counter and assert a rest signal after the counter exceeds the count value.

8. A intelligent power-on reset circuit comprising:

a programmable voltage divider;

a comparator circuit coupled to the programmable voltage divider and coupled to receive a reference voltage;

a processing element coupled to the programmable voltage divider; and

a non-volatile memory coupled to the processing element, the non-volatile memory coupled to receive and store programming associated with an operational characteristic of the intelligent power-on reset circuit, wherein the processing element is configured to change the operational characteristic based on the received programming during run time of the intelligent power-on circuit.

9. The intelligent power-on reset circuit of claim 8, wherein the processing element is configured to generate a reset signal.

10. The intelligent power-on reset circuit of claim 8, wherein the processing element is configured to set a voltage threshold for the intelligent power-on reset circuit based on the received programming.

11. The intelligent power-on reset circuit of claim 8, wherein the processing element is configured to implement a delay period based on the received programming.

12. The intelligent power-on reset circuit of claim 8, wherein the processing element is configured to implement a glitch detection interval based on the received programming.

13. The intelligent power-on reset circuit of claim 8, wherein the processing element is configured to change the value of a previously programmed voltage threshold.

14. The intelligent power-on reset circuit of claim 8, wherein the processing element is coupled to an output of the comparator circuit.

15. A method comprising:

receiving an input voltage;

receiving programming data, the programming data for dynamically changing a threshold reference voltage of an intelligent power-on reset circuit during run time of the intelligent power-on reset circuit;

storing the programming data in a memory; and

outputting a reset signal if the input voltage falls below the threshold reference voltage.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the receiving the programming data is performed by the intelligent power-on reset circuit.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the programming data for dynamically changing a delay period is associated with the outputting the reset signal.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the programming data is for dynamically changing a glitch detection interval of the intelligent power-on reset circuit, and wherein the intelligent power-on reset circuit is configured to assert a reset signal in response to detecting a glitch in an output voltage having a duration exceeding the glitch detection interval.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

dynamically changing a count value for a watch-dog timer of the intelligent power-on reset circuit based on the programming data; and

asserting a reset signal in response to detecting that the count value for the watch-dog timer is exceeded.