System and method for mode control using an input of an analog-to-digital converter

An integrated circuit comprising:

• an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) having an input coupled to an input pin of the integrated circuit, the ADC configured to have a first input range;
• a first comparator having an input coupled to the input pin, the first comparator having a first threshold outside of the first input range, wherein the ADC and the first comparator are disposed on a single semiconductor substrate, and the first threshold is set using a voltage reference circuit disposed on the single semiconductor substrate;
• and
• a control circuit coupled to the first comparator and configured to:
• operate the integrated circuit in a first mode when a signal at the input pin is within the first input range, and
• operate the integrated circuit in a second mode different from the first mode when the signal at the input pin is outside of the first input range and crosses the first threshold.

A system comprising:

• a driver integrated circuit, the driver integrated circuit comprising:
• an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) having an input coupled to an input pin of the driver integrated circuit, the ADC having a first input range,
• a first comparator having an input coupled to the input pin, the first comparator comprising a first threshold outside of the first input range, wherein the analog-to-digital converter and the first comparator are disposed on a single semiconductor substrate, and the first threshold is set using a voltage reference circuit disposed on the single semiconductor substrate, and
• a driver circuit coupled to an output of the first comparator, the driver circuit having an output configured to drive a control node of a transistor and being configured to operate in a normal operating mode, when a signal at the input pin is within the first input range, and in a safety mode, when the signal at the input pin crosses the first threshold.