Patent ID: 6047380
Filing Date: 2000-04-04
Classification: G06F,H02J

Abstract:
A semiconductor device for receiving a plurality of continuously variable analog input signals, said device comprising:a microprocessor for processing signal information;means for putting the microprocessor in a sleep mode when said microprocessor is not being called upon to process signal information;means for providing a digitally programmable threshold level;an external circuit coupled to said device and for providing said plurality of continuously variable analog input signals, wherein each of said plurality of continuously variable analog input signals derived from said external circuit is indicative of a specified monitored circuit function;means for interleaving said plurality of continuously variable analog input signals in a sequence for application to said device during successive preset time intervals, wherein said sequence represents a respective designated priority of each of said plurality of continuously variable analog input signals indicative of the specified monitored circuit function of said external circuit, so that a degree of control exercised over the external circuit by said device is a function of said designated priority of each of said plurality of continuously variable analog input signals;means responsive to at least one of said plurality of continuously variable analog input signals reaching the programmed threshold level for awakening the microprocessor from said sleep mode to process information contained in said at least one of said plurality of continuously variable analog input signals; andmeans responsive to the awakened microprocessor for controlling said external circuit to restore said at least one of said plurality of continuously variable analog input signals to a predetermined level distinct from said threshold level.