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US 6,636,082 B1Granted
System and method for detecting a negative supply fault
AssigneeTexas Instruments Incorporated
InventorJohn J. Price, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A negative supply, low-voltage supply fault detection circuit is implemented without the need for a current mirror thereby providing for the elimination of inaccuracies generally associated with a current mirror, and resulting in less power consumption when compared with known negative supply, low-voltage detection circuits that employ a current mirror and associated support circuitry.
Claims7
A circuit for detecting a negative supply, low-voltage fault comprising:
- a negative supply voltage;
- a circuit configured to generate a reference voltage;
- a resistor string coupling the negative supply voltage to the reference voltage and having a tap configured to provide a tap voltage that will be at a detection threshold voltage when the negative supply voltage reaches a threshold level;
- a circuit configured to compare the tap voltage and the detection threshold voltage and generate an output signal when the negative supply voltage reaches the threshold level;
- and
- a circuit configured to adjust the threshold level to provide a hysteresis.
3 more elements
A circuit for detecting a negative supply, low-voltage fault comprising:
- a negative supply voltage;
- means for generating a reference voltage;
- a resistor string coupling the negative supply voltage to the reference voltage and having a resistor tap that will be at a detection threshold voltage when the negative supply voltage reaches a threshold level;
- means for comparing the resistor tap voltage with the detection threshold voltage to generate an output signal when the negative supply voltage reaches the threshold level;
- and
- means for adjusting the threshold level to provide a hysteresis.
3 more elements
A method of detecting a negative supply fault comprising the steps of:
- providing a negative supply, low-voltage detection circuit devoid of current mirrors and having a negative supply voltage, means for generating a reference voltage, a resistor string coupling the negative supply voltage to the reference voltage and having a resistor tap that will be at a detection threshold voltage when the negative supply voltage reaches a threshold level, and a comparator;
- comparing the resistor tap voltage with the detection threshold voltage;
- generating an output signal when the negative supply voltage reaches the threshold level;
- and
- adjusting the threshold level to achieve a hysteresis effect.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.