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:
Aug. 12, 2014
Filed:
Jun. 29, 2011
Makeshwar Kothandaraman, Bangalore, IN;
Pankaj Kumar, Bangalore, IN;
Pramod Parameswaran, Bangalore, IN;
Makeshwar Kothandaraman, Bangalore, IN;
Pankaj Kumar, Bangalore, IN;
Pramod Parameswaran, Bangalore, IN;
LSI Corporation, San Jose, CA (US);
Abstract
A comparison circuit for detecting impedance mismatch between pull-up and pull-down devices in a circuit to be monitored includes a comparator operative to receive first and second signals and to generate, as an output, a third signal indicative of a difference between the first and second signals. A first signal generator is operative to generate the first signal indicative of a difference between reference pull-up and pull-down currents that is scaled by a prescribed amount. The reference pull-up current is indicative of a current flowing through at least one corresponding pull-up transistor device in the circuit to be monitored. The pull-down reference current is indicative of a current flowing through at least one corresponding pull-down transistor device in the circuit to be monitored. A second signal generator connected with the second input of the comparator is operative to generate the second signal as a reference voltage defining a prescribed impedance mismatch threshold associated with the circuit to be monitored.