Patent ID: 8111493

Claim:
A system, comprising: a plurality of current paths each of which is coupled to an input path, wherein each of the plurality of current paths are adapted to conduct current; one or more current switches adapted to interrupt current conduction through at least one of the plurality of current paths; the input path configured to receive current not interrupted by the one or more current switches from the plurality of current paths; a resistive device of a predetermined resistive value coupled to the input path and adapted to conduct the current not interrupted by the one or more current switches from the plurality of current paths to produce a voltage drop; a low reference voltage terminal operative to supply a low threshold voltage; a low-level comparator adapted to receive the low threshold voltage from the low reference voltage terminal and the current not interrupted by one or more current switches from the plurality of current paths from the input path, the low-level comparator further adapted to produce a signal, the signal being responsive to a comparison between the voltage drop and the low threshold voltage to operate the one or more current switches; and delay elements operatively coupled in series and operative, serially, to maintain a sequence of states, each state defining which of the one or more current switches are to interrupt current conduction through their respective current paths.