Voltage comparator having hysteresis characteristics

Claim 2

A comparator circuit comprising: level comparator means, coupled to a power source voltage and responsive to an input signal having a first input level higher than a predetermined first comparison level and to a second input level lower than a predetermined second comparison level, for generating an output signal which varies with level variation of the input signal between the first and second input levels, the output signal being varied from a first output level to a second output level when the level of the input signal is changed across the first comparison level, and being varied from the second output level to the first output level when the level of the input signal is changed across the second comparison level; resistance circuit means, connected to said level comparator means, for providing a voltage drop corresponding to the first and second comparison levels; and current circuit means, connected to said level comparator means and resistance circuit means, for supplying to said resistance circuit means a first current signal substantially free of variation caused by variation of the power source voltage, the first current signal providing a voltage drop corresponding to the first comparison level in said resistance circuit means after the output signal has been changed from the second output level to the first output level.

Claim 3

A comparator circuit according to claim 1, wherein said current circuit means supplies to said resistance circuit means a second current signal substantially free of variation caused by variation of the power source voltage, the second current signal causing a voltage drop corresponding to the second comparison level in said resistance circuit means after the output signal has been changed from the first output level to the second output level.

Claim 4

A comparator circuit according to claim 1, wherein said current circuit means includes constant current supplying means for supplying a constant current corresponding to the first current signal to said resistance circuit means after the output signal has been changed from the second output level to the first output level.

Claim 5

A comparator circuit according to claim 3, wherein the power source voltage is obtained from a positive power source circuit and a negative power source circuit; and said constant current supplying means includes: a first N-channel transistor having a source connected to said negative power source circuit; a first P-channel transistor having a source connected to said positive power source circuit and a gate connected to a drain of said first N-channel transistor; a resistive element connected between the drain of said first N-channel transistor and a drain of said first P-channel transistor; a second N-channel transistor having a source connected to said negative power source circuit and a gate and a drain both connected to the gate of said first N-channel transistor; a second P-channel transistor having a source connected to said positive power source circuit, a drain connected to the drain of said second N-channel transistor, and a gate connected to the drain of said first P-channel transistor; and a third P-channel transistor having a source connected to said positive power source circuit, a gate connected to the drain of said first P-channel transistor and a drain to be supplied with the first current signal, and wherein said constant current supplying means is circuit-integrated with said level comparator means.

Claim 6

A comparator circuit according to claim 2, wherein said current circuit means includes constant current supplying means for supplying a constant current corresponding to the second current signal to said resistance circuit means after the output signal has been changed from the first output level to the second output level.

Claim 7

A comparator circuit according to claim 5, wherein the power source voltage is obtained from a positive power source circuit and a negative power source circuit; and said constant current supplying means includes: a first P-channel transistor having a source connected to said positive power source circuit; a first N-channel transistor having a source connected to said negative power source circuit and a gate connected to a drain of said first P-channel transistor; a resistive element connected between the drain of said first P-channel transistor and a drain of said first N-channel transistor; a second P-channel transistor having a source connected to said positive power source circuit and a gate and a drain both connected to the gate of said first P-channel transistor; a second N-channel transistor having a source connected to said negative power source circuit, a drain connected to the drain of said second P-channel transistor, and a gate connected to the drain of said first N-channel transistor; and a third N-channel transistor having a source connected to said negative power source circuit, a gate connected to the drain of said first N-channel transistor and a drain to be supplied with the second current signal, and wherein said constant current supplying means is circuit-integrated with said level comparator means.

Claim 8

A comparator circuit according to claim 2, wherein said current circuit means includes: a first constant current circuit for discharging the first current signal; a second constant current circuit for absorbing the second current signal; and a switching circuit for causing the first current signal to be supplied to said resistance circuit means when the output signal is at the first output level and causing the second current signal to be extracted from said resistance circuit means when the output signal is at the second output level.

Claim 9

A comparator circuit according to claim 7, wherein said switching circuit includes a first switching transistor of a first conductivity type for making or breaking a circuit which supplies the first current signal to said resistance circuit means according to the signal level of the output signal, and a second switching transistor of a second conductivity type for making or breaking a circuit which supplies the second current signal to said resistance circuit means according to the signal level of the output signal, said first and second switching transistors being set in the ON state when said second and first switching transistors are set in the OFF state, respectively.

Claim 10

A comparator circuit according to claim 7, wherein said first constant current circuit includes a first current mirror circuit which receives a predetermined constant current and outputs the first current signal; and said second constant current circuit includes a second current mirror circuit which receives a predetermined constant current and outputs the second current signal.

Claim 11

A comparator circuit according to claim 9, wherein said first current mirror circuit includes a first transistor of a first conductivity type for outputting the first current signal from the drain thereof, and a second transistor of the first conductivity type having a drain in which the predetermined constant current flows and a gate connected to the gate of said first transistor, said second current mirror circuit includes a third transistor of a second conductivity type for outputting the second current signal from the drain thereof, and a fourth transistor of the second conductivity type having a drain in which the predetermined constant current flows and a gate connected to the gate of said third transistor, and said switching circuit includes a first switching transistor of the first conductivity type for making or breaking a circuit which is connected between said resistance circuit means and said first transistor and in which the first current signal flows according to the signal level of the output signal, and a second switching transistor of the second conductivity type for making or breaking a circuit which is connected between said resistance circuit means and said third transistor and in which the second current signal flows according to the signal level of the output signal, said first and second switching transistors being set in the ON state when said second and first switching transistors are set in the OFF state, respectively.

Claim 12

A comparator circuit according to claim 9, wherein said first current mirror circuit includes a first transistor of a first conductivity type for outputting the first current signal from the drain thereof, and a second transistor of the first conductivity type having a drain in which a current corresponding to the predetermined constant current flows, said second current mirror circuit includes a third transistor of a second conductivity type for outputting the second current signal from the drain thereof, and a fourth transistor of the second conductivity type having a drain in which a current corresponding to the predetermined constant current flows, and said switching circuit includes a fifth switching transistor of the first conductivity type for making or breaking a circuit between the gates of said first and second transistors according to the signal level of the output signal, a sixth transistor of the second conductivity type for making or breaking a circuit between the gates of said third and fourth transistors according to the signal level of the output signal, a seventh transistor of the first conductivity type having a drain-source path connected between the gate and source of said first transistor, and an eighth transistor of the second conductivity type having a drain-source path connected between the gate and source of said second transistor, said sixth transistor being set in the OFF state when said fifth and eighth transistors are set in the ON state, and said fifth transistor being set in the OFF state when said sixth and seventh transistors are set in the ON state.

Claim 13

A comparator circuit according to claim 1, wherein said current circuit means includes: constant current means for supplying a predetermined constant current; and circuit means for supplying the first current signal to said resistance circuit means when the output signal is at the first output level and supplying a composite current of the first current signal and the predetermined constant current to said resistance circuit means when the output signal is at the second output level.

Claim 14

A comparator circuit comprising: level comparator means, coupled to a power source voltage and responsive to an input signal having a first input level higher than a predetermined first comparison level and to a second input level lower than a predetermined second comparison level, for generating an output signal which varies with level variation of the input signal between the first and second input levels, the output signal being varied from a first output level to a second output level when the level of the input signal is changed across the first comparison level, and being varied from the second output level to the first output level when the level of the input signal is changed across the second comparison level; resistance circuit means, connected to said level comparator means, for providing a voltage drop corresponding to the first and second comparison levels; and current circuit means, connected to said level comparator means and resistance circuit means, for supplying to said resistance circuit means a first current signal substantially free of variation caused by the variation of the power source voltage of said level comparator means, the first current signal providing a voltage drop corresponding to the second comparison level in said resistance circuit means after the output signal has been changed from the second output level to the first output level.

Claim 15

A comparator circuit comprising: level comparator means, coupled to a power source voltage and responsive to an input signal having a first input level higher than a predetermined first comparison level and to a second input level lower than a predetermined second comparison level, for generating an output signal which varies with level variation of the input signal between the first and second input levels, the output signal being varied from a first output level to a second output level when the level of the input signal is changed across the first comparison level, and being varied from the second output level to the first output level when the level of the input signal is changed across the second comparison level; resistance circuit means, connected to said level comparator means, for providing a voltage drop corresponding to the first and second comparison levels; and current circuit means, connected to said level comparator means and resistance circuit means, for supplying to said resistance circuit means a first current signal substantially free of variation caused by the variation of the power source voltage of said level comparator means, the first current signal providing a voltage drop corresponding to the second comparison level in said resistance circuit means after the output signal has been changed from the second output level to the first output level.

Claim 16

A comparator circuit according to claim 13, wherein said current circuit means supplies to said resistance circuit means a second current signal substantially free of variation caused by the variation of the power source voltage, the second current signal causing a voltage drop corresponding to the first comparison level in said resistance circuit means after the output signal has been changed from the first output level to the second output level.

Claim 17

A comparator circuit according to claim 13, wherein said current circuit means includes constant current supplying means for supplying a constant current corresponding to the first current signal to said resistance circuit means after the output signal has been changed from the second output level to the first output level.

Claim 18

A comparator circuit according to claim 15, wherein the power source voltage is obtained from a positive power source circuit and a negative power source circuit; and said constant current supplying means includes; a first P-channel transistor having a source connected to said positive power source circuit; a first N-channel transistor having a source connected to said negative power source circuit and a gate connected to a drain of said first P-channel transistor; a resistive element connected between the drain of said first P-channel transistor and a drain of said first N-channel transistor; a second P-channel transistor having a source connected to said positive power source circuit and a gate and a drain both connected to the gate of said first P-channel transistor; a second N-channel transistor having a source connected to said negative power source circuit and a gate and a drain both connected to the drain of said second P-channel transistor; and a third N-channel transistor having a source connected to said negative power source circuit, a gate connected to the drain of said second N-channel transistor and a drain to be supplied with the first current signal, and wherein said constant current supplying means is circuit-integrated with said level comparator means.

Claim 19

A comparator circuit according to claim 14, wherein said current circuit means includes constant current supplying means for supplying a constant current corresponding to the second current signal to said resistance circuit means after the output signal has been changed from the first output level to the second output level.

Claim 20

A comparator circuit according to claim 17, wherein the power source voltage is obtained from a positive power source circuit and a negative power source circuit; and said constant current supplying means includes: a first N-channel transistor having a source connected to said negative power source circuit; a first P-channel transistor having a source connected to said positive power source circuit and a gate connected to a drain of said first N-channel transistor; a resistive element connected between the drain of said first N-channel transistor and a drain of said first P-channel transistor; a second N-channel transistor having a source connected to said negative power source circuit and a gate and a drain both connected to the gate of said first N-channel transistor; a second P-channel transistor having a source connected to said positive power source circuit and a gate and a drain both connected to the drain of said second N-channel transistor; and a third P-channel transistor having a source connected to said positive power source circuit and a gate and a drain both connected to the drain of said second N-channel transistor; and a third P-channel transistor having a source connected to said positive power source circuit, a gate connected to the drain of said second P-channel transistor and a drain to be supplied with the second current signal, and wherein said constant current supplying means is circuit-integrated with said level comparator means.

Claim 21

A voltage comparator circuit with hysteresis characteristics, comprising: voltage comparator means for comparing an input signal voltage with a comparison reference voltage and outputting a comparison result; a resistive element connected between a reference potential terminal and a comparison reference voltage input terminal of said voltage comparator means; first constant current source means for supplying current into the comparison reference voltage terminal, wherein said first constant current source means includes a first current mirror circuit having a first MOS transistor connected on the output side thereof, between said comparison reference voltage input terminal and a high potential side power source node; second constant current source means for deriving current out of the comparison reference voltage input terminal, wherein said second constant current source means includes a second current mirror circuit having a second MOS transistor connected on the output side thereof, between said comparison reference voltage input terminal and a low potential side power source node; and control means for selectively activating one of said first and second current source means, in accordance with the logic level of an output of the voltage comparator means.

Claim 22

A voltage comparator circuit with hysteresis characteristics, comprising: voltage comparator means for comparing an input signal voltage with a comparison reference voltage and outputting a comparison result; a resistive element connected between a reference potential terminal and a comparison reference voltage input terminal of said voltage comparator means; first constant current source means for supplying current into the comparison reference voltage terminal, wherein said first constant current source means includes a first current mirror circuit having a first MOS transistor connected on the output side thereof, between said comparison reference voltage input terminal and a high potential side power source node; second constant current source means for deriving current out of the comparison reference voltage input terminal, wherein said second constant current source means includes a second current mirror circuit having a second MOS transistor connected on the output side thereof, between said comparison reference voltage input terminal and a low potential side power source node; and control means for selectively activating one of said first and second current source means, in accordance with the logic level of an output of the voltage comparator means.

Claim 23

A voltage comparator circuit according to claim 19, wherein said first and second current mirror circuits are connected to each other in a current mirror fashion.

Claim 24

A voltage comparator circuit according to claim 19, wherein said control means includes a third MOS transistor for switching, connected in series with said first MOS transistor between said comparison reference voltage input terminal and high potential side power source node, a fourth MOS transistor for switching, connected in series with said second MOS transistor, between said comparison reference voltage input terminal and low potential side power source node, and a control circuit for selectively setting said third and fourth MOS transistors in conduction states opposite to each other, in accordance with the logic level of an output of said voltage comparator circuit.

Claim 25

A voltage comparator circuit according to claim 19, wherein said control means includes a third MOS transistor for switching, connected in series with a connection line connecting together the gates of the MOS transistors which are connected in a current mirror fashion in said first current mirror circuit, a fourth MOS transistor for switching connected in series with a connection line connecting together the gates of the MOS transistors which are connected in a current mirror fashion in said second current mirror circuit, and a control circuit for selectively setting said third and fourth MOS transistors in conduction states opposite to each other, in accordance with the logic level of an output of said voltage comparator circuit.

Claim 26

A voltage comparator circuit with hysteresis characteristics, comprising: voltage comparator means for comparing an input signal voltage with a comparison reference voltage and outputting a comparison result; a resistive element connected between a reference potential terminal and a comparison reference voltage input terminal of said voltage comparator means; first constant current source means for supplying current into the comparison reference voltage terminal wherein said first constant current source means includes a first current mirror circuit having a first transistor connected on the output side thereof, between said comparison reference voltage input terminal and a high potential side power source node; second constant current source means for deriving current out of the comparison reference voltage input terminal, wherein said second constant current source means includes a second current mirror circuit having a second transistor connected on the output side thereof, between said comparison reference voltage input terminal and a low potential side power source node; and control means for selectively activating one of said first and second current source means, in accordance with the logic level of an output of the voltage comparator means.

Claim 27

A voltage comparator circuit with hysteresis characteristics, comprising: voltage comparator means for comparing an input signal voltage with a comparison reference voltage and outputting a comparison result; a resistive element connected between a reference potential terminal and a comparison reference voltage input terminal of said voltage comparator means; first constant current source means for supplying current into the comparison reference voltage terminal wherein said first constant current source means includes a first current mirror circuit having a first transistor connected on the output side thereof, between said comparison reference voltage input terminal and a high potential side power source node; second constant current source means for deriving current out of the comparison reference voltage input terminal, wherein said second constant current source means includes a second current mirror circuit having a second transistor connected on the output side thereof, between said comparison reference voltage input terminal and a low potential side power source node; and control means for selectively activating one of said first and second current source means, in accordance with the logic level of an output of the voltage comparator means.

Claim 28

A voltage comparator circuit according to claim 23, wherein said first and second current mirror circuits are connected to each other in a current mirror fashion.

Claim 29

A voltage comparator circuit according to claim 23, wherein said control means includes a third transistor for switching, connected in series with said first transistor between said comparison reference voltage input terminal and high potential side power source node, a fourth transistor for switching, connected in series with said second transistor, between said comparison reference voltage input terminal and low potential side power source node, and a control circuit for selectively setting said third and fourth transistors in conduction states opposite to each other, in accordance with the logic level of an output of said voltage comparator circuit.

Claim 30

A voltage comparator circuit according to claim 23, wherein said control means includes a third transistor for switching, connected in series with a connection line connecting together the gates of the transistors which are connected in a current mirror fashion in said first current mirror circuit, a fourth transistor for switching connected in series with a connection line connecting together the gates of the transistors which are connected in a current mirror fashion in said second current mirror circuit, and a control circuit for selectively setting said third and fourth transistors in conduction states opposite to each other, in accordance with the logic level of an output of said voltage comparator circuit.