Patent ID: 6377086
Filing Date: 2002-04-23
Classification: H03K

Abstract:
An integrated circuit having a dual-voltage sense circuit, said sense circuit comprising:a sense circuit input node supplied with an input voltage; a sense circuit power input node supplied with a power-supply voltage; a sense circuit output node outputting a digital signal of a voltage level equal to or less than the voltage level of a low-voltage digital signal, regardless of the voltage level of said input voltage; a sensing inverter comprising a plurality of transistors having gates connected in common to form a common-gate power supply input node, and having a voltage input connected to said sense circuit input node, said common-gate power-supply input node connected to said sense circuit power input node, and an output node; and a high-voltage-tolerant buffer having an input connected to the output node of said sensing inverter, and an output node connected to said sense circuit output node; wherein said sensing inverter receives said input voltage and outputs a first digital signal to the input of said high-voltage-tolerant buffer if said input voltage is within a first voltage range and outputs a second digital signal to the input of said high-voltage-tolerant buffer if said input voltage is within a second voltage range.