Comparator

Claim 2

A comparator system comprising: an amplifier having an electrical characteristic responsive to a level of current; current sources to be selectably enabled to adjust the level of the current to change the electrical characteristic; and a circuit comprising: fuses to be selectably blown to selectably enable the current sources, wherein at least one of the fuses is coupled between two potentials; a resistor coupled between one of the potentials and said one of the fuses, the resistor indicating whether said one of the fuses is blown; and logic coupled to the resistor to generate an indication of whether said one of the fuses is blown based on the indication from the resistor.

Claim 3

The comparator system of claim 1, wherein the electrical characteristic comprises an offset voltage of the amplifier.

Claim 4

The comparator system of claim 2, wherein the current sources move the offset voltage toward a desired value when enabled.

Claim 5

The comparator system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the current sources comprises: a first transistor having a current path and a control terminal, the first transistor to receive a bias voltage at the control terminal and furnish a predetermined current via the current path, a level of the predetermined current based on the bias voltage; and a second transistor to couple the current path of the first transistor to the amplifier when said at least one of the current sources is enabled.

Claim 6

The comparator system of claim 1, further comprising; an interface to store bits for selectably enabling the current sources.

Claim 7

The comparator system of claim 5, wherein the interface includes a register.

Claim 8

The comparator system of claim 1, wherein the amplifier compares two input signals and provides an indication of the comparison.

Claim 9

The comparator system of claim 1, wherein the amplifier comprises a differential amplifier.

Claim 10

The comparator system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the current sources, when enabled, furnishes more current than at least one of the other current sources when enable.

Claim 11

The comparator system of claim 1, wherein each current source, when enabled, furnishes a current that is binarily weighted with respect to a current furnished by another one of the current sources.

Claim 12

A sensor comprising: a sensing clement furnishing a first signal indicative of a temperature; a first circuit to generate a second signal indicative of a temperature threshold; an amplifier to receive the first and second signals and indicate a comparison of the temperature indicated by the first signal and the temperature threshold indicated by the second signal, the amplifier having an electrical characteristic responsive to a level of current; current sources being selectably enabled to adjust the level of the current to change the electrical characteristic; and a second circuit comprising: fuses to be selectably blown to selectably enable the current sources, wherein at least one of the fuses is coupled between two potentials; a resistor coupled between one of the potentials and said one of the fuses, the resistor indicating whether said one of the fuses is blown; and logic coupled to the resistor to generate an indication of whether said one of the fuses is blown based on the indication from the resistor.

Claim 13

A sensor comprising: a sensing clement furnishing a first signal indicative of a temperature; a first circuit to generate a second signal indicative of a temperature threshold; an amplifier to receive the first and second signals and indicate a comparison of the temperature indicated by the first signal and the temperature threshold indicated by the second signal, the amplifier having an electrical characteristic responsive to a level of current; current sources being selectably enabled to adjust the level of the current to change the electrical characteristic; and a second circuit comprising: fuses to be selectably blown to selectably enable the current sources, wherein at least one of the fuses is coupled between two potentials; a resistor coupled between one of the potentials and said one of the fuses, the resistor indicating whether said one of the fuses is blown; and logic coupled to the resistor to generate an indication of whether said one of the fuses is blown based on the indication from the resistor.

Claim 14

The sensor of claim 11, wherein the electrical characteristic comprises an offset voltage of the amplifier.

Claim 15

The sensor of claim 12, wherein the current sources move the characteristic toward a desired value when enabled.

Claim 16

The sensor of claim 11, wherein at least one of the current sources comprises: a first transistor having a current path and a control terminal, the first transistor to receive a bias voltage at the control terminal and furnish a predetermined current via the current path, a level of the predetermined current based on the bias voltage; and a second transistor to couple the current path of the first transistor to the amplifier when said at least one current source is enabled.

Claim 17

The sensor of claim 11, further comprising: an interface to store bits for selectably enabling the current sources.

Claim 18

The sensor of claim 15, wherein the interface includes a register.

Claim 19

The sensor of claim 11, wherein the amplifier comprises a differential amplifier.

Claim 20

The sensor of claim 11, wherein at least one of the current sources, when enabled, furnishes more current than at least one of the other current sources when enabled.

Claim 21

The sensor of claim 11, wherein each current source, when enabled, furnishes a current that is binarily weighted with respect to a current furnished by another one of the current sources.