Weak power supply operation and control
First Claim
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1. Apparatus comprising:
- a power supply; and
power monitoring circuitry, configured to monitor the power supply, and comprising;
a clock configured to generate a clock signal using power supplied by the power supply;
a capacitor configured to receive a current, so as to charge the capacitor;
a switching device, connected to the capacitor, configured to discharge the capacitor at fixed time intervals in response to receipt of the clock signal; and
a comparator, configured (a) to perform the monitoring of the power supply by performing a comparison of a voltage developed by the capacitor with a threshold voltage, and (b) to output an indication of a reduction in power supplied by the power supply when the switching device ceases to discharge the capacitor at the fixed time intervals due to the reduction in power.
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Abstract
Power monitoring circuitry is provided, comprising a capacitor configured to receive a current, so as to charge the capacitor and a switching device, connected to the capacitor. The switching device is configured to periodically discharge the capacitor in response to receipt of a clock signal from a circuit being monitored. The power monitoring circuitry also comprises a comparator, configured to perform a comparison of a voltage developed by the capacitor with a threshold voltage, and to output an indication of a change in power supplied to the circuit in response to the comparison. Other embodiments are also described.
64 Citations
12 Claims
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1. Apparatus comprising:
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a power supply; and power monitoring circuitry, configured to monitor the power supply, and comprising; a clock configured to generate a clock signal using power supplied by the power supply; a capacitor configured to receive a current, so as to charge the capacitor; a switching device, connected to the capacitor, configured to discharge the capacitor at fixed time intervals in response to receipt of the clock signal; and a comparator, configured (a) to perform the monitoring of the power supply by performing a comparison of a voltage developed by the capacitor with a threshold voltage, and (b) to output an indication of a reduction in power supplied by the power supply when the switching device ceases to discharge the capacitor at the fixed time intervals due to the reduction in power. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for monitoring a power supply, the method comprising:
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configuring a capacitor to receive a current, so as to charge the capacitor; discharging the capacitor at fixed time intervals in response to receipt of a clock signal from a clock that uses power supplied by the power supply; and performing a comparison of a voltage developed by the capacitor with a threshold voltage, and outputting an indication of a reduction in power supplied by the power supply in response to a ceasing of the discharging of the capacitor at the fixed time intervals due to the reduction in power. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification