Method and apparatus for flash voltage detection and lockout
AssigneeIntel Corporation
InventorsSandeep K. Guliani, Rajesh Sundaram, Hari M. Rao, Johnny Javanifard
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Abstract
A method for voltage detection and lockout. The method of one embodiment first compares a reference voltage to a supply voltage to determine whether the voltage supply voltage is greater than the reference voltage. The reference voltage is validated by determining whether the reference voltage is at least a valid voltage potential. An unlock signal is generated if the supply voltage is greater than the reference voltage and if the reference voltage is valid.
Claims30
A method of voltage detection comprising:
- comparing a reference voltage to a supply voltage to determine whether said supply voltage is greater than said reference voltage;
- validating said reference voltage by determining whether said reference voltage is at least a valid voltage potential;
- and
- generating an unlock signal if said supply voltage is greater than said reference voltage and if said reference voltage is valid.
An apparatus for voltage detection comprising:
- power up detection turn on logic, said turn on logic to enable power up circuitry during a power up sequence;
- a lockout voltage detector coupled to said turn on logic, said voltage detector to compare a first reference voltage with a power supply voltage to determine whether said power supply voltage has a greater voltage potential than said first reference voltage;
- a validation detector coupled to said turn on logic, said validation detector to determine whether said first reference voltage is valid;
- and
- summation logic to generate an unlock signal, said unlock signal active if said power supply voltage is greater than said first reference voltage and if said first reference voltage is valid.
An integrated circuit device comprising:
- power up detection turn on logic, said turn on logic to enable power up circuitry during a power up sequence;
- a reference generator to generate a first reference voltage;
- a lockout voltage detector coupled to said turn on logic, said voltage detector to compare said first reference voltage with a power supply voltage to determine whether said power supply voltage has a greater voltage potential than said first reference voltage;
- a validation detector coupled to said turn on logic, said validation detector to determine whether said first reference voltage is valid;
- and
- a summation device to generate an unlock signal, said unlock signal active if said supply voltage is greater than said first reference voltage and if said reference voltage is valid.
A system comprising:
- a low voltage power supply to provide a power supply voltage;
- a processor coupled to said power supply;
- a memory coupled to said processor and said power supply, said memory comprising:
- power up detection turn on logic, said turn on logic to enable power up circuitry during a power up sequence;
- a reference generator to generate a first reference voltage;
- a lockout voltage detector coupled to said turn on logic, said voltage detector to compare said first reference voltage with said power supply voltage to determine whether said power supply voltage has a greater voltage potential than said first reference voltage;
- a validation detector coupled to said turn on logic, said validation detector to determine whether said first reference voltage is valid;
- and
- a summation device to generate an unlock signal, said unlock signal active if said supply voltage is greater than said first reference voltage and if said reference voltage is valid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.