Patent ID: 7714622

Claim:
A device comprising: a comparator having an input branch that receives an input signal and a reference branch that receives a reference voltage, the comparator configured to compare a voltage of the input signal received at the input branch of the comparator with the reference voltage received at the reference branch of the comparator, and further configured to supply a binary output signal the value of which depends on a result of a comparison of the input signal with the reference voltage; and a feedback circuit measuring a current passing through the reference branch of the comparator, and raising the reference voltage while the measured current reveals a faulty operation of the comparator, wherein the feedback circuit is connected to a first node in the reference branch of the differential amplifier via a first connection and connected to a second node in the reference branch of the differential amplifier via a second connection, the feedback circuit receiving input of the measured current in the reference branch via the first connection and providing the reference potential, via the second connection, to the reference branch.