Initializing, Resetting, Or Protecting A Steady State Condition Patents (Class 327/198)
  • Publication number: 20150054556
    Abstract: In an embodiment of the invention, a dual-port negative level sensitive reset data retention latch contains a clocked inverter and a dual-port latch. Data is clocked through the clocked inverter when clock signal CKT goes low, CLKZ goes high, reset control signal REN is high and retention control signal RET is low. The dual-port latch is configured to receive the output of the clocked inverter, a second data bit D2, the clock signals CKT and CLKZ, the retain control signal RET, the reset control signal REN and the control signals SS and SSN. The signals CKT, CLKZ, RET, REN, SS and SSN determine whether the output of the clocked inverter or the second data bit D2 is latched in the dual-port latch. Control signal RET determines when data is stored in the dual-port latch during retention mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Steven Craig Bartling, Sudhanshu Khanna
  • Patent number: 8963590
    Abstract: A system for initializing circuitry is presented. The system employs a power-on reset circuit having a threshold voltage and a programmable switch circuit. The power-on reset circuit has a detector circuit for detecting a reference voltage, and a one-sided latch for generating an output voltage reflective of the reference voltage. The detector circuit has a threshold after which the one-sided latch is activated. The programmable switch circuit receives the output voltage of the power-on reset circuit and generates an enable signal and its complement based on the status of an internal fuse. The switch point of the power-on reset circuit provides for a rapid increase in output voltage that offsets parasitic leakage current in the programmable switch circuit that can result in improper enable signal output. A high resistance direct path to ground on an output node of the power-on reset circuit prevents residual charge from causing an undesired misfire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Joe G. Guimont, David K. Nelson, Walter W. Heikkila, Anuj Kohli
  • Publication number: 20150048872
    Abstract: In an embodiment of the invention, a dual-port positive level sensitive reset data retention latch contains a clocked inverter and a dual-port latch. Data is clocked through the clocked inverter when clock signal CKT goes high, CLKZ goes low, reset control signal REN is high and retention control signal RET is low. The dual-port latch is configured to receive the output of the clocked inverter, a second data bit D2, the clock signals CKT and CLN, the retain control signals RET, the reset control signal REN and the control signals SS and SSN. The signals CKT, CLKZ, RET, REN, SS and SSN determine whether the output of the clocked inverter or the second data bit D2 is latched in the dual-port latch. Control signal RET determines when data is stored in the dual-port latch during retention mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Steven Bartling, Sudhanshu Khanna
  • Patent number: 8957710
    Abstract: The present relates to a start-up circuit, which is used for starting up a variable power supply circuit, which comprises a detection circuit and a transition circuit. The detection circuit is used for detecting an output voltage of the variable power supply and producing a detection signal. The transition circuit is coupled to the detection circuit. It transits the level of the detection signal and produces a control signal for starting up or cutting off the variable power supply. Thereby, the problem of incapability in transition can be avoided as well as achieving the purpose of low power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Sitronix Technology Corp
    Inventor: Ping Lin Liu
  • Patent number: 8947137
    Abstract: Presented systems and methods facilitate efficient reset operation. In one embodiment, a system comprises a core domain portion an I/O domain portion and a core reset I/O by-pass component. The core domain portion is configured to operate at a nominal core domain voltage level. The I/O domain portion configured to operate at a nominal I/O domain voltage level. The core reset I/O by-pass component configured to forward a reset indication to the core domain independent of the I/O domain. In one exemplary implementation the core reset I/O by-pass component is operable to receive an input reset indication at a high domain voltage level and to convert the input reset indication to a core reset signal that is less than or substantially equal to the nominal core domain voltage, wherein the high domain is voltage higher than the core domain voltage level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
    Inventor: Alan Li
  • Patent number: 8941426
    Abstract: A critical path monitor (CPM) is configured in an integrated circuit (IC). The IC includes a set of critical paths. The CPM includes a set of split paths, a split path in the set of split paths corresponding to a critical path in the set of critical paths, and a split path in the set of split paths including an edge detector. The edge detector is configured with a set of edge detector latches. A set of set-reset (SR) latches is configured such that an edge detector latch is associated with a corresponding SR latch. A reset signal is configured to reach the set of edge detector latches in an offset synchronization with a latch clock signal used in the set of edge detector latches. The CPM is configured to operate using a frequency of the latch clock signal such that the frequency is higher than a threshold frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alan James Drake, Michael Stephen Floyd, Pawel Owczarczyk, Gregory Scott Still, Marshall Dale Tiner, Xiaobin Yuan
  • Patent number: 8941421
    Abstract: To provide a semiconductor device provided with a power-on reset circuit that can reliably detect decrease in power-supply voltage. The power-on reset circuit provided on the semiconductor device includes: a first comparison circuit that compares a primary voltage with a reference value; and a second comparison circuit that compares a secondary voltage with the reference value. The power-on reset circuit issues a reset signal based on comparison results of the first and second comparison circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeki Nakamura, Shintaro Mori, Yoshinori Tokioka, Kenji Tokami
  • Patent number: 8928372
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a first circuit, a second circuit, and a power on control (POC) circuit. The POC circuit includes an enable terminal electrically connected to a first output of the first circuit, a first input terminal electrically connected to a first voltage supply, a second input terminal electrically connected to a second voltage supply, and an output terminal. The second circuit includes a biasing-sensitive circuit, and a logic circuit including a first input terminal electrically connected to a second output of the first circuit, a second input terminal electrically connected to the output of the POC circuit, and an output terminal electrically connected to an enable terminal of the biasing-sensitive circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jerry Chen, Hsu-Shun Chen, Gu-Huan Li, Cheng-Hsiung Kuo, Yue-Der Chih
  • Patent number: 8928373
    Abstract: A semiconductor device for ignition performing a current control function and a self shut down function can include a pulse generating circuit, a switching circuit, and a current source circuit, the three circuits together generating a pulse current that discharges a capacitor in the self shut down process. This construction can serve to suppress oscillation of a collector current Ic of the output stage IGBT in the operating processes of the current control circuit and the self shut down circuit, thus preventing or minimizing the likelihood of the ignition plug from erroneous ignition. In addition, the discharge of the capacitor in a pulsed mode can allow for down-sizing of the capacitor, which can contribute to minimization of the semiconductor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigemi Miyazawa
  • Publication number: 20150003177
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a device includes a command generation circuit that activates first and second command signals, an internal circuit that includes a plurality of transistors that are brought into a first operation state when at least one of the first and second command signals is activated, and an output gate circuit that receives a first signal output from the internal circuit, the output gate circuit being configured to pass the first signal when the second command signal is deactivated and to block the first signal when the second command signal is activated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventor: Keisuke Fujishiro
  • Patent number: 8912829
    Abstract: An integrated circuit and method for using a synchronous reset pulse to reset a circuitry comprising a plurality of clock domains are disclosed. For example, the method of the present disclosure provides a reset signal that is synched to one clock, takes the synchronous signal and resets circuits in a plurality of clock domains. In order to reset a portion of the circuit which is in a particular clock domain, the reset needs to be synchronized to the clock of the particular domain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventors: James E. Ogden, James M. Simkins, Uma Durairajan, Subodh Kumar
  • Patent number: 8912826
    Abstract: A voltage change detection device, which reduces a deviation of a detection potential and detects a voltage change within a predetermined detection potential even when the threshold voltage of a field effect transistor is deviated. The voltage change detection device includes a first field effect transistor, a second field effect transistor, and a detection signal generator. The first field effect transistor has a drain connected to a power supply potential, a source connected to a first constant current source or a first resistor at a first node, and a gate connected to a fixed voltage. The second field effect transistor has a drain and a gate connected to the power supply potential and a source connected to a second constant current source or a second resistor at a second node. The detection signal generator generates a detection signal indicating that the power supply potential has crossed a predetermined detection potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: LAPIS Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kikuo Utsuno
  • Publication number: 20140361820
    Abstract: An integrated circuit including a global supply bus, a gated supply bus, and a digital power gating system with controlled resume. The digital power gating system includes gating devices and a power gating control system. Each gating device has a pair of current terminals coupled between the global supply bus and the gated supply bus and each has a control terminal. The power gating control system controls a digital control value which controls activation of the gating devices. The power gating control system is configured to successively adjust the digital control value to increase a voltage of the gated supply bus from a reduced voltage level to a normal operating voltage level in response to a resume indication. The reduced voltage level may be a state retention level or full power gating. Successive adjustment may be with constant or adjusted gain using a constant clock or a dynamically adjusted clock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Applicant: VIA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: James R. Lundberg
  • Publication number: 20140361819
    Abstract: A digital power gating system for performing power gating to reduce a voltage of a gated supply bus to a state retention voltage level that reduces leakage current while retaining a digital state of a functional circuit. The power gating system includes gating devices and a power gating control system. Each gating device has current terminals coupled between a global supply bus and the gated supply bus, and a control terminal controlled by a bit of a digital control value. The power gating control system successively adjusts the digital control value to reduce a voltage of the gated supply bus to the state retention voltage level. Adjustment gain and/or adjustment periods may be changed, such as when the digital control value reaches certain values or when the gated supply reaches certain voltage levels. Various parameters are programmable to adjust for particular configurations or to achieve desired operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventor: James R. Lundberg
  • Publication number: 20140354337
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling retention of data includes a logic circuit, a retention control cell circuit, and an I/O cell circuit. The logic circuit generates at least one retention enable signal before a chip enters a reduced power mode. The retention control cell circuit latches the retention enable signal and outputs a retention enable control signal based on a first power signal of the logic circuit and a detection result of a second power signal for inputoutput (I/O). And, the I/O cell circuit latches data based on the retention control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventor: Eonguk KIM
  • Patent number: 8896370
    Abstract: A voltage regulator bypass circuit to control bypass of a voltage regulator of an integrated circuit device, the voltage regulator bypass circuit including a first voltage detector, a second voltage detector, and circuit. The first voltage detector to detect that a core circuitry voltage level is above a first threshold and to assert a first detect signal at an output in response to the detection. The second voltage detector to detect that an unregulated supply voltage is above a second threshold and to assert a second detect signal at an output in response to the detection. The circuit having a first input coupled to the output of the first voltage detector and a second input coupled to the output of the second voltage detector, the circuit to bypass the voltage regulator in response the output of the latch being cleared.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignees: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc., STMicroelectronics SRL, STMicroelectronics Private Ltd.
    Inventors: Stefano Pietri, Chris C. Dao, Juxiang Ren, Nicolas Grossier, V Srinivasan
  • Publication number: 20140340134
    Abstract: To reduce power consumption of a circuit (TEDC) which detects timing errors in a main flip-flop by determining whether or not output data signals of the main flip-flop and a shadow flip-flop correspond. The TEDC includes a power gating circuit (PGC) which performs power gating of the shadow FF and a reset circuit (RSTC) which resets an output signal of the shadow FF. The PGC makes the shadow FF in an active mode only when error detection needs to be performed; other than that, the PGC makes the shadow FF in a power saving mode. The RSTC supplies a certain voltage to an output terminal of the shadow FF in the power saving mode to suppress malfunction of the TEDC. A transistor using an oxide semiconductor is used to supply the voltage to the output terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yutaka Shionoiri
  • Patent number: 8890594
    Abstract: A system for synchronizing a functional reset between first and second clock domains that operate on first and second clock signals, respectively. The system includes first, second and third synchronizer flip-flops that operate on the second clock signal. The first synchronizer flip-flop receives a functional reset signal generated by the first clock domain at its reset terminal and generates a low output signal. The low output signal causes the second synchronizer flip-flop and subsequently the third synchronizer flip-flop to generate low output signals at positive edges of the second clock signal. The low output signal generated by the third synchronizer flip-flop is used to reset the second clock domain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Surendra Kumar Tadi, Nitin Kumar Jaiswal
  • Publication number: 20140333362
    Abstract: A first circuit is configured to communicatively couple to a second circuit including an analog circuit and a digital circuit. The first circuit comprises a lock unit and a sleep unit. The lock unit is configured to receive a lock enable signal and to lock a configuration signal of the digital circuit in response to the lock enable signal. The sleep unit is configured to receive a sleep triggering signal indicating to switch into sleep mode and to generate an off signal to switch off the digital circuit in response to the sleep triggering signal, while the analog circuit remains on.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Inventors: Lizhen Zhu, Ronghui Kong
  • Patent number: 8884668
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and fabrication techniques relating to improved propagation of fuse data through an integrated circuit device during scan shift reset. In some embodiments, the methods comprise loading a first value of at least one fuse bit to an integrated circuit device, during a time period when a clock signal having a first frequency is provided to at least one component of the integrated circuit device; disabling a scan shift after the loading of the first value; inactivating the clock signal after the loading of the first value; propagating the first value of the at least one fuse bit to the at least one component of the integrated circuit device; and reactivating the clock signal after the propagation of the first value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven J. Kommrusch, Bill K. C. Kwan
  • Patent number: 8884669
    Abstract: An electronic device has a power control module for causing selected functional blocks to run in a low power mode of operation, while leaving other functional blocks supplied continuously with power. A power mode control distribution network includes serially connected chains of buffers in a distribution tree for distributing power mode control signals received at a common input end to respective output ends which are connected to respective functional blocks. In the low power mode of operation the power control module causes power to be supplied continuously to output buffers at the output ends of the chains while causing power supplied to other buffers to be reduced or cut-off. The output buffers include feedback paths for causing the states of the output buffers prior to the low power mode of operation to latch during the low power mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaoxiang Geng, Zhihong Cheng, Huabin Du, Miaolin Tan
  • Patent number: 8872555
    Abstract: A power-on reset circuit has a first impedance device, a first switch device, a first capacitor, a second switch device, a third switch device, a fourth switch device, a second impedance device, a second capacitor, and a control circuit coupled to a reset input terminal of a circuit device. When the power-on reset circuit is supplied with electric power, the first switch device and the third switch device are turned on and the second switch device and the fourth switch device are turned off. When the electric power is removed from the power-on reset circuit, the first switch device and the third switch device are turned off and the second switch device and the fourth switch device are turned on. The second capacitor is discharged through the fourth switch to a voltage level being close to a ground voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Princeton Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Ko-Han Chen, Ming-Yuan Tsao, Dang-Ching Lin, Shih-Chou Kuo
  • Patent number: 8872554
    Abstract: Externally configurable power-on-reset systems and methods for integrated circuits are disclosed that utilize internal power-on-reset circuitry and reset control circuitry to provide operational configurations determined by external connections. In one configuration where no dedicated external reset signal is desired, the reset control circuitry relies upon the internal power-one-reset circuitry to generate the internal reset control signal. In another configuration where an external reset signal is utilized, the reset control circuitry relies upon the external reset signal, which overrides the internal power-on-reset circuitry, to generate the internal reset control signal. In further configurations, the reset control circuitry utilizes logic circuitry controlled through a digital interface to determine when the internal reset control signal can be de-asserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventor: Pio Balmelli
  • Patent number: 8866518
    Abstract: A semiconductor device having a power tracking circuit configured for activating a power tracking signal for a period corresponding to a period during which an external voltage retains a level lower than a level of a low power mode reference voltage if the external voltage retains the level lower than the level of the low power mode reference voltage for at least a preselected time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Min Su Park, Hoon Choi
  • Publication number: 20140306735
    Abstract: A circuit including a logic gate responsive to a clock signal and to a control signal. The circuit also includes a master stage of a flip-flop. The circuit further includes a slave stage of the flip-flop responsive to the master stage. The circuit further includes an inverter responsive to the logic gate and configured to output a delayed version of the clock signal. An output of the logic gate and the delayed version of the clock signal are provided to the master stage and to the slave stage of the flip-flop. The master stage is responsive to the control signal to control the slave stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Seid Hadi Rasouli, Animesh Datta, Jay Madhukar Shah, Martin Saint-Laurent, Peeyush Kumar Parkar, Sachin Bapat, Ramaprasath Vilangudipitchai, Mohamed Hassan Abu-Rahma, Prayag Bhanubhai Patel
  • Publication number: 20140300396
    Abstract: A low power State Retention Power Gating (SRPG) cell has a retention component and a non-retention component, and is operable in a run state, a first retention state, and a second retention state. In the run state, the retention and non-retention components are powered with a supply voltage. In the first retention state, the retention component is powered at the same supply voltage as in the run state, and the non-retention component is powered down. In the second retention state, the retention component is powered at a lower supply voltage than in the run state, and the non-retention component is powered down.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventors: Baiquan Shen, Xiaoxiang Geng, Shayan Zhang
  • Publication number: 20140285248
    Abstract: A current-mode D latch includes a first load element, a second load element, a first bias current source, a first switch transistor, a second switch transistor, a first stage circuit and a second stage circuit. The first switch transistor is controlled by an inverted reset signal. The second switch transistor is controlled by a reset signal. When an inverted clock signal is in a first level state and the reset signal is inactive, the first input signal is converted into the first output signal and the first inverted input signal is converted into the first inverted output signal by the first stage circuit. When a clock signal is in the first level state and the reset signal is inactive, the first output signal and the first inverted output signal are maintained by the second stage circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicants: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD., GLOBAL UNICHIP CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsai-Ming Yang, Yen-Chung Chen, Yi-Lin Lee, Jen-Tai Hsu
  • Patent number: 8841945
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a division unit configured to divide an oscillation signal and to generate a plurality of divided signals having different division ratios each other, a delay amount determination unit configured to combine an source signal, the oscillation signal, and the plurality of divided signals and to generate a delay amount information signal with information on a given delay amount, and an edge-delayed signal output unit configured to generate at least one edge-delayed signal corresponding to the given delay amount in response to the source signal and the delay amount information signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Sung-Soo Chi
  • Patent number: 8841961
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a processor and a device. The processor generates an output signal and a control signal. The device consumes power while operating in first and second states. The device consumes less power while in the first state than while in the second state. The processor: accounts for a transition time for the device to transition among a powered off state, the first state, and the second state; and generates the control signal based on the transition time. The device: in response to the control signal, transitions to the second state at a speed of periodicity of a periodic signal of the processor; subsequent to the transitioning to the second state, performs a function based on the output signal; and subsequent to performing the function, transitions from the second state to either the first state or the powered off state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Marvell World Trade Ltd.
    Inventor: Sasan Cyrusian
  • Patent number: 8841946
    Abstract: An electronic circuit comprises a reset input for receiving an input reset signal, a clock input for receiving a clock signal, and a reset output for providing an output reset signal. And it comprises a synchronous reset signal path comprising a synchronization unit, arranged to receive the input reset signal and provide the input reset signal synchronized with the clock signal to the reset output when the clock signal is available, and an asynchronous reset signal path arranged to provide the input reset signal to the reset output when a current clock availability information in a clock monitoring signal indicates that the clock signal is not available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Luedeke, Joachim Kruecken
  • Patent number: 8836386
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a voltage detection circuit suitable for detecting an external power supply voltage and for sequentially activating first and second power-up signals in a power-up period of the external power supply voltage, and a control circuit suitable for activating at least one first control signal for controlling an internal voltage to be generated based on the first power-up signal, and for activating at least one second control signal for controlling an operation of an internal circuit using the internal voltage when a predetermined time lapses after the first control signal is activated, based on the second power-up signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Jeong-Tae Hwang
  • Patent number: 8829956
    Abstract: A signal generating circuit for generating a fan driving signal includes a phase adjusting circuit, a direct digital frequency synthesizer, a first operating circuit, a driving signal generator and a second operating circuit. The phase adjusting circuit receives a hall signal and adjusts a phase of the hall signal to generate a synchronization signal. The direct digital frequency synthesizer generates a modulating signal according to the synchronization signal. The first operating circuit receives a load current and generates a modulated signal according to the load current. The driving signal generator generates an original driving signal according to the synchronization signal. The second operating circuit generates a control signal according to the modulating signal and the modulated signal. The original driving signal is selectively outputted as the fan driving signal in response to the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Yueh-Lung Huang, Chin-Hsin Wu
  • Patent number: 8823418
    Abstract: A power-on-detection (POD) circuit includes first and second comparators, a voltage divider, a detection circuit coupled to a first voltage source node and the voltage divider, and logic circuitry coupled to outputs of the first and second comparators. The detection circuit outputs a control signal identifying if a first voltage source node has a voltage potential that is higher than ground. The control signal turns on and off the first and second comparators, which are respectively coupled to first and second nodes of the voltage divider and to a reference voltage node. The logic circuitry outputs a power identification signal based on the signals received from the outputs of the first and second comparators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chun-Chi Chang, Chia-Hsiang Chang, Jun-Chen Chen
  • Publication number: 20140240016
    Abstract: A double-edge-triggered flip-flop circuit and a method for operating the double-edge-trigger flip-flop circuit are provided. Sub-circuits of a flip-flop circuit are coupled to a ground supply and decoupled the sub-circuits from a power supply when a clock signal is asserted. The sub-circuits generate trigger signals including a first pair of signals and a second pair of signals. The first pair of signals is evaluated, levels of the second pair of signals are maintained when the clock signal is asserted, and an output signal is transitioned to equal an input signal based on the trigger signals when the clock signal is asserted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: NVIDIA CORPORATION
    Inventor: William J. Dally
  • Patent number: 8810289
    Abstract: Apparatuses, circuits, methods, and other embodiments associated with digital power on reset are described. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a digital electronic component configured to produce a clock signal. A first counter is configured to output a first count signal based on the clock signal and a second counter is configured to output a second count signal based on the clock signal. A power on reset logic is configured to provide a power on reset signal based on the first count signal and the second count signal, where the power on reset logic is configured to disable the digital electronic component after providing the power on reset signal to prevent the digital electronic component from drawing power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventor: Yongjiang Wang
  • Patent number: 8806234
    Abstract: A motherboard includes a motherboard power supply connector and a time delay circuit. The motherboard power supply connector connects a power supply unit. The motherboard power supply connector has a power supply on pin and a power good pin. The power good pin is configured for receiving a power good signal from the power supply unit. The time delay circuit has an input terminal and an output terminal. The input terminal is configured for receiving a power supply on signal. The output terminal is connected to the power supply on pin and is configured for sending the power supply on signal to the power supply on pin after a time delay determined by the time delay circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Song-Lin Tong, Qi-Yan Luo, Peng Chen
  • Patent number: 8803580
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a Power-On-Reset (POR) circuit with zero steady-state current consumption and stable pull-up voltage. The POR circuit achieves zero steady-state current consumption during steady operation after the POR process by cutting off a power supply to a band-gap comparator circuit and a current comparator circuit after the POR process. The present invention has high reliability and stable pull-up voltage, is less susceptible to the impact of power-on rate of power supply, temperature, and process variation, has very low steady-state power consumption, and can be integrated in a SOC chip in low-power consumption applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Southeast University
    Inventors: Longxing Shi, Weiwei Shan, Peng Cao, Na Bai, Xuexiang Wang, Tao Zhao
  • Patent number: 8797072
    Abstract: Integrated Circuits (ICs) comprising circuits configured to generate a power on reset (POR) pulse are disclosed. An IC comprises a power supply sense circuit configured to generate a sense signal in response to a transition of a power supply signal from a first level to a second level, and a pulse generation circuit coupled with the power supply sense circuit. The pulse generation circuit is configured to generate a power on reset (POR) pulse of a threshold duration based on the sense signal. The IC further includes a reset generation circuit coupled with the pulse generation circuit to receive the POR pulse. The reset generation circuit is configured to generate a reset pulse based on the POR signal and of at least one control signal, where the reset pulse is configured to be utilized to perform a reset of one or more elements of the integrated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Aatmesh Shrivastava, Rajesh Yadav
  • Patent number: 8797071
    Abstract: A semiconductor device including a power-on-reset (POR) circuit. The semiconductor device includes a driving voltage generator configured to generate a first voltage that rises at a first slope and subsequently rises at a second slope greater than the first slope and a first POR signal generator configured to receive the first voltage and generate a first POR signal having a first ramp-up time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Fairchild Korea Semiconductor Ltd.
    Inventors: Jung-ho Lee, Hyun-soo Bae, Won-hi Oh, Jong-mu Lee
  • Patent number: 8791738
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a circuit. The circuit includes a depletion mode transistor coupled to a power supply and a current path coupled with the depletion mode transistor in series to provide a current to charge a capacitor. The current path has a first resistance during a first stage, such as when the circuit initially receives power, and has a second resistance during a second stage when the capacitor is charged to have a predetermined voltage level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Marvell World Trade Ltd.
    Inventors: Siew Yong Chui, Jun Li
  • Patent number: 8791731
    Abstract: A reset circuit and a reset method of a portable terminal are provided. The reset circuit of a portable terminal includes an input unit for generating a certain input signal for reset according to a user input, a reset unit for generating a manual reset input signal according to an input of the certain input signal, for performing a control operation to cut-off power to be supplied to a Power Management IC (PMIC) using a signal generated during an operation maintenance time interval of the portable terminal and the manual reset input signal, and for performing a control operation to resupply the power to the PMIC according to an input signal from the input unit or completion of a preset timer, and a power supply unit for supplying the power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Woo Cheol Lee
  • Patent number: 8786332
    Abstract: A clock divider may provide a lower speed clock to a logic block portion, but during reset, the clock divider may not operate properly, causing the logic block portion to be reset at a clock frequency greater than the frequency for which that logic was designed. However, an extended reset may be employed in which the clock divider is reset normally first before the logic block portion, allowing that logic to be reset according to the divided clock (e.g., rather than a higher speed clock). An asynchronous reset may also be employed in which one or more clock dividers first emerge from reset before being provided with a (synchronized) high speed clock signal, causing the clock dividers to be in phase with each other. This may enable communication between different areas of an IC that might not otherwise be in proper phase with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Erik P. Machnicki, David S. Warren, Shane J. Keil, Sukalpa Biswas
  • Patent number: 8773179
    Abstract: An input receiver includes a first input receiving unit, a second input receiving unit, a delay unit, and a first logic unit. The first input receiving unit receives an inverse wake-up signal, an external clock enable signal, a first voltage, and a reference signal, and then generates a first enable signal according to the external clock enable signal and the reference signal. The second input receiving unit receives the external clock enable signal, the first voltage, and an inverse enable voltage, and then generates a second enable signal as its output according to the external clock enable signal. The delay unit generates a wake-up signal according to the second enable signal. The first logic unit receives the wake-up signal and the first enable signal, and then generates an internal clock enable signal according to the wake-up signal and the first enable signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Etron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yi-Hao Chang, Shih-Hsing Wang, Wen-Tung Yang, Yen-An Chang
  • Patent number: 8773180
    Abstract: A reset signal generation apparatus includes a reset signal generation unit and a reset signal expansion unit. The reset signal generation unit enables a reset signal and an enable signal in response to a reset input signal, and disables the reset signal in response to a pulse width extension signal. The reset signal expansion unit generates the pulse width extension signal that is enabled for a predetermined time, in response to the enable signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Jae Min Jang, Yong Ju Kim, Dan Han Kwon, Hae Rang Choi
  • Patent number: 8742792
    Abstract: Switching circuits, latches and methods are provided, such as those that may respond to an input signal that transitions from a first binary level to a second binary level. One such switching circuit may have a metastable state that is closer to a first voltage corresponding to the first binary level than it is to a second voltage corresponding to the second binary level. In other embodiments, the metastable state may be dynamically adjustable so that it is at one voltage before the circuit switches and at a different voltage after the circuit switches. As a result, the switching circuit may respond relatively quickly to the input signal transitioning from the first binary level to the second binary level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: John McCoy
  • Patent number: 8742805
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are a power on reset device capable of performing a precise brown out detection (BOD) function and a power on reset method using the same. The power on reset device may include a delay signal generating unit, a reference voltage generating unit, and a reset signal generating comparing a delay signal with a reference voltage to generate a reset signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Soo Woong Lee
  • Patent number: 8736319
    Abstract: The disclosed power-on reset circuit provides an indication of when and whether a supply voltage Vdd has reached a trigger voltage level Vtrig. The disclosed circuit includes a flip-flop circuit and a first comparator circuit. The circuit according to the invention has a D input node of the flip-flop circuit coupled to the supply voltage. The first comparator circuit outputs a clock signal, where the flip-flop circuit is clocked by the clock signal. A Q output node of the flip-flop circuit provides the power-on reset signal, where the power-on reset signal is in a LO state when the supply voltage is at a voltage level that is less than the trigger voltage level Vtrig. The power-on reset signal is in a HI state when the supply voltage is at a voltage level that is greater than the trigger voltage level Vtrig.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Sand 9, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce M. Newman, Dean A. Badillo, Reimund Rebel, Klaus Juergen Schoepf, Mohammad Asmani
  • Patent number: 8729935
    Abstract: One or more techniques and systems for starting an output driver and an associated start-up circuit are provided herein. In some embodiments, a voltage provider is configured to charge a charge store to a pre-turn-on voltage. In some embodiments, an output driver is configured to control a connection between the charge store and the output driver. For example, the connection enables the charge store to discharge a voltage to the output driver, thus starting the output driver. Accordingly, a response time associated with starting the output driver is mitigated at least because the charge store is charged to the pre-turn-on voltage and connected to the output driver such that a gate of the driver is biased in a sudden fashion. In this manner, the driver is turned on more quickly. Additionally, effects associated with process, voltage, and temperature variations are mitigated, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Cheng-Ting Ko, Tsung-Hsin Yu
  • Patent number: 8729934
    Abstract: An electronic circuit of the present disclosure includes a noise eliminating circuit configured to eliminate noise in a reset signal and output a signal obtained by eliminating the noise in the reset signal; a digital circuit configured to be reset by the signal outputted from the noise eliminating circuit; and an early-initialization circuit configured to fix an output signal of the digital circuit at a predetermined value until a reset status due to the reset signal is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Osada
  • Patent number: 8717072
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a comparison unit configured to compare the phases of a plurality of clocks having different frequencies and output a phase comparison signal, a phase inversion control unit configured to generate a phase inversion control signal, and a start control unit configured to generate a start control signal in response to a clock enable signal, wherein the comparison unit is configured to start an operation in response to the start control signal and invert, in response to the phase inversion control signal, a phase of an internal clock generated from one of the plurality of clocks when the plurality of clocks have different phases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Jung-Hoon Park