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US4377781A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Selectively adjustable voltage detection integrated circuit

Assignee: Suwa Seikosha KK
•
Filing: 1980-05-16
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Granted: 1983-03-22
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Expires: 2000-05-16
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Abstract

Abstract A voltage detection integrated circuit including a voltage regulation circuit for controlling the operation thereof is provided. The voltage detection integrated circuit includes a reference voltage circuit for producing a predetermined reference voltage, a voltage converter for converting a detected voltage for measurement and a comparator circuit for comparing the level of the reference voltage to the level of the converted voltage and for producing a comparison signal representative of the difference in voltage levels compared thereby. The voltage regulation circuit is coupled to the comparator circuit and the reference voltage circuit and/or voltage conversion circuit for selectively adjusting the level of the reference voltage produced by the reference voltage circuit and/or the converted voltage produced by the voltage converter, to thereby control the comparison signal produced by the comparator circuit.

Inventors

  • 👤 Asakawa Tatsushi
  • 👤 Morozumi Shinji

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-29 02:40
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R19/00; G01R19/165; G01R19/16566; G01R19/16571; G01R35/00; G01R35/005; G04; G04C; G04C10/00; G04C10/04; G04G; G04G19/00; G04G19/02; G04G19/06; G05; G05F; G05F3/00; G05F3/02; G05F3/08; G05F3/10; G05F3/16; G05F3/20; G05F3/24; H; H10; H10D; H10D84/00; H10D84/80; H10D84/82; H10D84/83; H10D84/85

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim 191 words
In a voltage detection circuit, the improvement comprising a source voltage, a reference voltage circuit means for receiving said source voltage, said reference voltage circuit means including at least first and second pairs of complementary coupled P-channel and N-channel MOS transistors, said P-channel transistor in said first pair being coupled in series with said N-channel transistor in said first pair, said P-channel transistor in said second pair being coupled in series with said N-channel transistor in said second pair, at least one of said transistors in said first pair of complementary coupled P-channel and N-channel transistors having a different threshold voltage than the like polarity transistor in the second pair of complementary coupled P-channel and N-channel transistors, said reference voltage circuit means defining at least a first predetermined voltage having a magnitude that is related to the difference in threshold voltages between said respective like polarity transistors in said first and second pairs, said predetermined voltage being substantially independent of variations in temperature and minor variations in said source voltage, said reference voltage circuit means producing a set reference output voltage at said predetermined voltage in response to said source voltage.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 191 words
In a voltage detection circuit, the improvement comprising a source voltage, a reference voltage circuit means for receiving said source voltage, said reference voltage circuit means including at least first and second pairs of complementary coupled P-channel and N-channel MOS transistors, said P-channel transistor in said first pair being coupled in series with said N-channel transistor in said first pair, said P-channel transistor in said second pair being coupled in series with said N-channel transistor in said second pair, at least one of said transistors in said first pair of complementary coupled P-channel and N-channel transistors having a different threshold voltage than the like polarity transistor in the second pair of complementary coupled P-channel and N-channel transistors, said reference voltage circuit means defining at least a first predetermined voltage having a magnitude that is related to the difference in threshold voltages between said respective like polarity transistors in said first and second pairs, said predetermined voltage being substantially independent of variations in temperature and minor variations in said source voltage, said reference voltage circuit means producing a set reference output voltage at said predetermined voltage in response to said source voltage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 40 words
The voltage detection circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said P-channel and N-channel transistors in said first pair includes a first gate and a first drain, said first gate being coupled to said first drain.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 93 words
The voltage detection circuit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the other of said P-channel and N-channel transistors in said first pair includes a second gate, said transistor in said second pair which is of like polarity to said other transistor in said first pair having a third gate and a second drain, said second gate of said other transistor in said first pair and said third gate of said like polarity transistor in said second pair both being coupled to said second drain of said like polarity transistor in said second pair.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 93 words
The voltage detection circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said P-channel transistor in said first pair of transistors includes a gate and a drain, said gate being coupled to said drain, said N-channel transistor in said first pair having a gate, said N-channel transistor in said second pair of transistors including a gate and a drain, said gate of said N-channel transistor in said first pair and said gate of said N-channel transistor in said second pair being coupled to said drain of said N-channel transistor in said second pair of transistors.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 65 words
The voltage detection circuit as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, and including a voltage source adapted to deliver said source voltage, voltage converter means for producing a converted voltage representative of said source voltage delivered by said voltage source, and comparator means for receiving said set reference output voltage and said converted voltage and for providing a comparison signal in response thereto.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 39 words
The voltage detection circuit as claimed in claim 5, wherein each of said reference voltage means, voltage converter means and comparator means are comprised of integrated elements that are fabricated into the same metal oxide semiconductor integrated circuit chip.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 44 words
The voltage detection circuit as claimed in claim 5, wherein said voltage converter means includes a linear resistive network coupled to said voltage source for selectively dividing said source voltage into one of at least two distinct voltage levels defined by said resistive network.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 23 words
The voltage detection circuit as claimed in claim 7, wherein said resistive network is comprised of a plurality of integrated circuit resistive elements.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 25 words
The voltage detection circuit as claimed in claim 5, wherein said comparator means includes a current mirror defining an inverted input and a non-inverted input.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 46 words
The voltage detection circuit as claimed in claim 5, wherein said reference voltage means includes a voltage divider circuit for linearly converting said reference output voltage produced in response to the difference in threshold voltages between said respective like polarity transistors forming said reference voltage means.

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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1986-03-21 1986-09-20 1987-03-22 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1990-03-21 1990-09-20 1991-03-22 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1994-03-21 1994-09-20 1995-03-22 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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