Patent ID: 6658597
Filing Date: 2003-12-02
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A device for automatic recovery of an integrated circuit after occurrence of an electrostatic discharge received by said integrated circuit, said integrated circuit comprising at least one of a microprocessor and a microcontroller and having a VDD line and a VSS line, said device being incorporated into said integrated circuit, said device comprising:(a) an electrostatic discharge sensor means, connected between said VDD and VSS lines, for sensing an electrostatic discharge voltage, associated with said electrostatic discharge, on said VDD and VSS lines, and for generating a sensor output signal when said electrostatic discharge voltage is sensed; (b) an electrostatic discharge flag means for, in response to said sensor output signal, outputting a flag signal indicating sensing of said electrostatic voltage by said sensor means; and (c) control means for (i) performing a reset procedure on said integrated circuit in response to power-on of said integrated circuit and (ii) performing a recovery procedure to restore predetermined functions of said integrated circuit in response to said flag signal indicating sensing of said electrostatic voltage by said sensor means, wherein said reset procedure comprises a first set of operations and said recovery procedure comprises a second set of operations which is different from said first set of operations, and said second set of operations is a subset of said first set of operations.