Title:
CIRCUIT FOR AUTO-CLAMPING INPUT PINS TO A DEFINITE VOLTAGE DURING POWER-UP OR RESET
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO2005065137
Kind Code:
A3
Abstract:
An auto-grounding circuit responsive to a reset signal (PORL) discharges an input terminal (11) of an integrated circuit and its associated input line (13) to ground, using a pull-down transistor (17) coupled to the input line, with a gate of the pull-down transistor coupled to receive the reset signal. An exemplary circuit also includes a NAND gate (25) and a second pull-down transistor (27) to maintain an established voltage level of the input line after the reset signal is no longer asserted until the input terminal is driven by an applied input signal. The voltage maintaining circuitry is weaker than the main pull-down transistor to avoid interfering with normal operation of the input terminal.
Inventors:
NG PHILIP S (US)
TSAI JEFF MING-HUNG (US)
CHAN JOHNNY (US)
TSAI JEFF MING-HUNG (US)
CHAN JOHNNY (US)
Application Number:
PCT/US2004/041280
Publication Date:
February 09, 2006
Filing Date:
December 09, 2004
Export Citation:
Assignee:
ATMEL CORP (US)
International Classes:
H03K17/22; (IPC1-7): H03L7/00
Other References:
none
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