Patent ID: 7589568
Filing Date: 2009-09-15
Classification: G01R,G06F,H03K

Abstract:
1. A variable power and response time brown-out-reset apparatus, comprising: a comparator having a first input, a second input and an output; a comparator bias circuit coupled to the comparator, wherein the comparator bias circuit is programmable to change the comparator speed and power usage characteristics; a fixed voltage reference having an output, wherein the output of the fixed voltage reference is coupled to the first input of the comparator, wherein the fixed voltage reference is programmable to change the fixed voltage reference speed and power usage characteristics; a power source voltage divider having an input and an output, wherein the input of the power source voltage divider is coupled to a power source and the output of the power source voltage divider is coupled to the second input of the comparator, wherein the power source voltage divider is programmable to change the power source voltage divider speed and power characteristics; and a n-bit wide power control bus coupled to the comparator bias circuit, the fixed voltage reference and the power source voltage divider, wherein the speed and power usage characteristics of the comparator, the fixed voltage reference and the power source voltage divider are programmed over the n-bit wide power control bus; wherein when a reference voltage from the output of the fixed voltage reference is greater than a divided power source voltage from the output of the power source voltage divider then a logic level changes on the output of the comparator.