Power on reset circuit

• US 8,949,584 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2011
• Issued: 02/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Jeong, Ji-Yong, Baek, Seunghwan, Cha, Soo-Ik
• Primary Examiner(s): YANCHUS III, PAUL B
• Application Number:
  US13/239,066
• Publication Number:
  US 20120117410A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,231 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 713/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/24 Resetting means
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/223 in field-effect transistor switches

Abstract

Embodiments may disclose a power on reset circuit, which includes: a current mirror connected to a power node, the power node receiving a variable power supply voltage, the current mirror being configured to supply a first current to a first line and a second current to a second line; a comparative voltage generator configured to generate a comparative voltage using the first current provided via the first line; a driver connected to the second line, the driver being configured to activate a reset signal in response to a voltage of the second line; and a ground selecting transistor configured to connect the second line and a ground node according to the comparative voltage.

Claims

1. A power on reset circuit, comprising:

a current mirror connected to a power node, the power node receiving a variable power supply voltage, the current mirror to supply a first current to a first line and a second current to a second line;

a comparative voltage generator to generate a comparative voltage using the first current provided via the first line;

a driver connected to the second line, the driver to activate a reset signal in response to a voltage of the second line; and

a ground selecting transistor to connect the second line and a ground node according to the comparative voltage, wherein the comparative voltage generator includes;

a first impedance element connected to the first line and a second impedance element connected between the first impedance element and the ground node, wherein a node voltage of a node between the first and second impedance elements is provided as the comparative voltage, and

a detection transistor having a gate connected with the node formed between the first and second impedance elements, a first end of the detection transistor connected with a first node formed between the first line and the first impedance element and a second end of the detection transistor connected with the ground node.

2. The power on reset circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the voltage of the second line increases according to an increase of the variable power supply voltage and decreases according to a turn-on operation of the ground selecting transistor.

3. The power on reset circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the driver activates the reset signal when the voltage of the second line is higher than a predetermined voltage and inactivates the reset signal when the voltage of the second line is lower than the predetermined voltage.

4. The power on reset circuit as claimed in claim 3, wherein the driver activates the reset signal after the voltage of the second line becomes higher than the predetermined voltage and a period of time lapses.

5. The power on reset circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein a first value of the first current provided via the first line varies according to the variable power supply voltage and a second value of the second current provided via the second line is determined according to the first value of the first current provided via the first line.

6. A power on reset circuit, comprising:

a voltage level detecting part to receive a power supply voltage, the voltage level detecting part including a detection node having a voltage varied according to the power supply voltage; and

a driver to output a reset signal when the voltage of the detection node is higher than a predetermined voltage,

wherein the voltage level detecting part includes;

a comparative voltage generator to generate a comparative voltage varied according to the power supply voltage; and

a ground selecting transistor to connect the detection node and a ground node according to the comparative voltage, wherein the voltage level detecting part includes a current mirror which includes;

a first transistor having a first end connected to receive the power supply voltage;

a second transistor having a first end connected to receive the power supply voltage; and

a control impedance element connected to a second end of the first transistor and the comparative voltage generator, wherein gates of the first and second transistors are connected to each other, the gate of the first transistor connected with the second end of the first transistor and a second end of the second transistor connected with the detection node.

7. The power on reset circuit as claimed in claim 6, wherein the ground selecting transistor is connected between the detection node and the ground node and has a gate connected to receive the comparative voltage, and whether or not the ground selecting transistor is turned-on is determined according to the comparative voltage.

8. The power on reset circuit as claimed in claim 6, wherein the current mirror generates a first current and a second current using the power supply voltage, the first current being provided to the comparative voltage generator and the second current being provided to the detection node.

9. The power on reset circuit as claimed in claim 8, wherein a first amount of the first current is varied according to the power supply voltage and a second amount of the second current is varied according to the first amount of the first current.

10. The power on reset circuit as claimed in claim 8, wherein the comparative voltage generator generates the comparative voltage using the first current.

11. The power on reset circuit as claimed in claim 8, wherein, when the ground selecting transistor is turned off, the voltage of the detection node increases as the second current is provided.

12. The power on reset circuit as claimed in claim 6, wherein the comparative voltage generator includes:

a first impedance element connected with the control impedance element;

a second impedance element between the first impedance element and the ground node; and

a detection transistor having a gate connected to a node formed between the first and second impedance elements, wherein a first end of the detection transistor is connected with a first node formed between the control impedance element and the first impedance element, and a second end of the detection transistor is connected with the ground node, a node voltage of the node formed between the first and second impedance elements being provided as the comparative voltage.

13. A computing system, comprising:

a memory;

a user interface;

a central processing unit;

a power on reset circuit providing a reset signal for controlling a reset operation of the memory, the power on reset circuit including;

a voltage level detecting part to receive a power supply voltage, the voltage level detecting part including a detection node having a voltage varied according to the power supply voltage; and

a driver being to output the reset signal when the voltage of the detection node is higher than a predetermined voltage, the voltage level detecting part including;

a comparative voltage generator to generate a comparative voltage varied according to the power supply voltage; and

a ground selecting transistor being configured to connect the detection node and a ground node according to the comparative voltage; and

a bus which is electrically connected to the memory, the user interface, the central processing unit, and the power on reset circuit, wherein the current mirror includes;

a first transistor having a first end connected to receive the power supply voltage;

a second transistor having a first end connected to receive the power supply voltage; and

a control impedance element connected to a second end of the first transistor and the comparative voltage generator, wherein gates of the first and second transistors are connected to each other, the gate of the first transistor connected with the second end of the first transistor, and a second end of the second transistor connected with the detection node.

14. The computing system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the current mirror generates a first current and a second current using the power supply voltage, the first current being provided to the comparative voltage generator and the second current being provided to the detection node.

15. The computing system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the ground selecting transistor is connected between the detection node and the ground node and has a gate connected to receive the comparative voltage, and whether or not the ground selecting transistor is turned-on is determined according to the comparative voltage.

16. The computing system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the comparative voltage generator includes:

a first impedance element connected with the control impedance element;

a second impedance element between the first impedance element and the ground node; and

a detection transistor having a gate connected to a node formed between the first and second impedance elements, wherein a first end of the detection transistor is connected with a first node formed between the control impedance element and the first impedance element, and a second end of the detection transistor is connected with the ground node, a node voltage of the node formed between the first and second impedance elements being provided as the comparative voltage.