Patent ID: 7791494
Filing Date: 2010-09-07
Classification: G01R

Abstract:
1. A voltage monitoring device comprising: a first comparison voltage generating circuit for providing a first comparison voltage which equals an upper limit of a specified voltage range as determined by the design of a component; a first comparator comprising an inverting input for receiving the first comparison voltage, a non-inverting input for receiving a voltage output by a power supply, and an output for outputting a first control signal when the voltage is greater than the first comparison voltage; a first electronic switch comprising a first terminal connected to the output of the first comparator, a second terminal connected to a reference voltage, and a third terminal connected to ground; a first light emitting diode (LED) comprising an anode connected to the reference voltage, and a cathode connected to the second terminal of the first electronic switch, wherein the first electronic switch turns on, when receiving the first control signal, to allow current to pass through the first LED such that the first LED lights to indicate the voltage is greater than the upper limit of the specified voltage range; a second comparison voltage generating circuit for providing a second comparison voltage which equals a lower limit of the specified voltage range as determined by the design of the component; a second comparator comprising a non-inverting input for receiving the second comparison voltage, an inverting input for receiving the voltage output by the power supply, and an output for outputting a second control signal when the voltage is less than the second comparison voltage; a second electronic switch comprising a first terminal connected to the output of the second comparator, a second terminal connected to the reference voltage, and a third terminal connected to ground; and a second LED comprising an anode connected to the reference voltage, and a cathode connected to the second terminal of the second electronic switch, wherein the second electronic switch turns on, when receiving the second control signal, to allow current to pass through the second LED such that the second LED lights to indicate the voltage provided by the power supply is below the lower limit of the specified voltage range; a third LED comprising an anode connected to the anodes of the first and second LEDs directly, and a cathode; a third electronic switch comprising a first terminal connected to the cathode of the third LED, a second terminal connected to the reference voltage, and a third terminal grounded; a fourth electronic switch comprising a first terminal connected to the second terminal of the third electronic switch, a second terminal connected to the reference voltage via a buzzer; wherein in response to at least one of the first and second LEDs being turned on, the anodes of the first and second LEDs have the same voltage equal to a threshold voltage of the third LED to turn off the third LED, the third electronic switch is turned off, and the fourth electronic switch is turned on to allow current to pass through the buzzer such that the buzzer alarms; and wherein in response to the first and second LEDs being turned off, a voltage of the anode of the third LED is greater than the threshold voltage, such that the third LED is turned on to indicate the voltage provided by the power supply is within the specified voltage range, the third electronic switch is turned on, the fourth electronic switch is turned off, and the buzzer does not alarm.