The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 01, 2008
Filed:
Nov. 21, 2005
Francois Laulanet, Neder-Over-Heembeek, BE;
Bernard Gentinne, Brussels, BE;
Francois Laulanet, Neder-Over-Heembeek, BE;
Bernard Gentinne, Brussels, BE;
AMI Semiconductor Belgium BVBA, Oudenaarde, BE;
Abstract
A comparator has first and second current paths, each passing from an input through a transistor, through a current source to ground, the second current path also having a reference voltage drop element coupled in series with the second input. The gates of the transistors are coupled to form a current mirror. The reference voltage drop element enables higher voltages to be input and compared to higher thresholds above an internal supply voltage level without the need for dividing resistors to reduce the input voltage. Avoiding such resistors means the power dissipation and the silicon area used can be kept lower. ESD vulnerability is reduced since the inputs are not coupled to gates of MOS transistors. Overvoltage protection across the source and gate of the second transistor can be added.