Threshold amplifier
AssigneeSTMicroelectronics S.r.l.
InventorFrançois Tailliet
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A threshold amplifier receives a logic supply voltage and a ground voltage and includes a Schmitt trigger comprising an inverter stage and a hysteresis stage connected to the inverter stage for setting a high and a low hysteresis threshold. A disabling circuit disables the hysteresis stage as a function of a level of the logic supply voltage. The threshold amplifier further includes a detection circuit for detecting the level of the logic supply voltage with respect to a detection threshold, and for activating the disabling circuit for disabling the hysteresis stage when the level of the logic supply voltage is below the detection threshold.
Claims33
A threshold amplifier receiving a logic supply voltage and a reference voltage and comprising:
- a Schmitt trigger comprising an inverter stage and a hysteresis stage connected to said inverter stage for setting a high and a low hysteresis threshold;
- and
- a disabling circuit for disabling said hysteresis stage based upon a level of the logic supply voltage.
A threshold amplifier receiving a logic supply voltage and a reference voltage and comprising:
- an inverter stage;
- a hysteresis stage connected to said inverter stage for setting a high and a low hysteresis threshold;
- a disabling circuit for disabling said hysteresis stage based upon a level of the logic supply voltage;
- and
- a detection circuit for detecting the level of the logic supply voltage with respect to a detection threshold, and for activating said hysteresis stage when the level of the logic supply voltage is above a detection threshold.
An integrated circuit comprising:
- at least one threshold amplifier receiving a logic supply voltage and a reference voltage and comprising
- a Schmitt trigger comprising an inverter stage and a hysteresis stage connected to said inverter stage for setting a high and a low hysteresis threshold, and
- a disabling circuit for disabling said hysteresis stage based upon a level of the logic supply voltage.
A method for operating a threshold amplifier receiving a logic supply voltage and a reference voltage and comprising an inverter stage and a hysteresis stage connected to said inverter stage for setting a high and a low hysteresis threshold, the method comprising:
- disabling the hysteresis stage based upon a level of the logic supply voltage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.