Patent ID: 7908508

Claim:
A method of monitoring voltage while maintaining a relatively low power state, the method comprising: (a) receiving a first voltage signal at a first input terminal of a first differential amplifier; (b) receiving a second voltage signal at a second input terminal of the first differential amplifier, where said first differential amplifier is operatively coupled to an output buffer having an output node; (c) in response to said second voltage signal dropping below said first voltage signal switching said output buffer with use of an output boost effect such that said output node of the output buffer is driven rapidly, due to the boost effect, from a first output state indicative of the second voltage signal being greater than the first voltage signal toward a second output state indicative of the second voltage signal being less than or equal to the first voltage signal, where such a boost effect is not provided for driving said output node toward the first output state, and where said first and second output states are separated from one another by a meta state, wherein the crossing of said meta state urges the output node of the output buffer to continue towards that state of the first and second output states which is on the post-crossing side of the meta state; and (d) in response to said crossing of the meta-state by the output node of the output buffer, discontinuing said boost effect so as to thereby reduce power draw by the output buffer.