Circuits and methods for voltage detection
AssigneeO2 Micro, Inc.
InventorsXiaohu Tang, Weidong Xue, Yan Li
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A circuit for detecting an input voltage includes a voltage-to-current converter and a current comparator. The voltage-to-current converter is operable for generating a monitoring current that varies in accordance with the input voltage. The current comparator coupled to the voltage-to-current converter is operable for comparing the monitoring current to a threshold current proportional to the temperature of the circuit, and for generating a detection signal indicating a condition of the input voltage based on a result of the comparison.
Claims18
A circuit for detecting an input voltage, said circuit comprising:
- a voltage-to-current converter operable for generating a monitoring current that varies in accordance with said input voltage;
- and
- a current comparator coupled to said voltage-to-current converter and operable for comparing said monitoring current to a threshold current that is proportional to temperature of said circuit, and for generating a detection signal based on a result of said comparison, said detection signal indicating a comparison result between said input voltage and a voltage threshold,
- wherein said circuit controls said monitoring current and said threshold current based on said detection signal.
A method for comparing an input voltage with a voltage threshold, comprising:
- generating a monitoring current that varies according to said input voltage;
- comparing said monitoring current to a threshold current proportional to temperature;
- generating a detection signal according to a result of said comparison, said detection signal indicating a comparison result between said input voltage and said voltage threshold;
- and
- controlling said monitoring current and said threshold current based on said detection signal.
An electronic system comprising:
- a load being driven by a power having an input voltage;
- and
- a detection circuit coupled to said load and operable for comparing said input voltage with a voltage threshold, said detection circuit comprising:
- a voltage-to-current converter operable for generating a monitoring current that varies according to said input voltage, operable for providing a bandgap voltage, and operable for setting said voltage threshold to be equal to said bandgap voltage;
- and
- a current comparator coupled to said voltage-to-current converter and operable for comparing said monitoring current to a threshold current and for generating a detection signal according to a result of said comparison, said detection signal indicating a comparison result between said input voltage and said voltage threshold,
- wherein said detection circuit controls said monitoring current and said threshold current according to said detection signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.