IP Library Patent Application 12509038
Patent Application
App. No. 12/509,038

FREQUENCY DETECTION CIRCUIT

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
12/509,038
Abstract

In some preferred embodiments, a switched capacitor circuit configured to change its equivalent resistance depending on the frequency of an input clock signal and a resistor element are connected in series. A power source voltage is divided by the equivalent resistance of the switched capacitor circuit and the resistance of the resistor element, and the divided voltage is inputted to a Schmitt circuit. The Schmitt circuit outputs a high-level signal when the inputted divided voltage is higher than a threshold voltage and a low-level signal when the inputted divided voltage is lower than a threshold voltage. Thus, depending on the frequency of the input clock signal, a high-level signal or a low-level signal is outputted.

Claims (39)

1 . A frequency detection circuit, comprising:

a switched capacitor circuit having one end to which a power source voltage is applied, the switched capacitor circuit being configured to change its equivalent resistance depending on a frequency of an input clock signal;

a resistor element having one end to which the other end of the switched capacitor circuit is connected and the other end grounded; and

a divided voltage detection circuit configured to detect a divided voltage of the power source voltage divided by the switched capacitor circuit and the resistor element and output a high-level signal when the divided voltage is higher than a threshold voltage and a low-level signal when the divided voltage is lower than the threshold voltage.

2 . The frequency detection circuit as recited in claim 1 , wherein the divided voltage detection circuit is a Schmitt circuit.

3 . The frequency detection circuit as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a smoothing capacitor with one end connected to a connection point of the switched capacitor circuit and the resistor element and the other end grounded.

4 . The frequency detection circuit as recited in claim 2 , further comprising a smoothing capacitor with one end connected to a connection point of the switched capacitor circuit and the resistor element and the other end grounded.

5 . The frequency detection circuit as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a clock generator configured to input the input clock signal, create two kinds of control signals reverse in phase and having non-overlap durations from the input clock signal, and output the control signals to the switched capacitor circuit.

6 . The frequency detection circuit as recited in claim 2 , further comprising a clock generator configured to input the input clock signal, create two kinds of control signals reverse in phase and having non-overlap durations from the input clock signal, and output the control signals to the switched capacitor circuit.

7 . The frequency detection circuit as recited in claim 3 , further comprising a clock generator configured to input the input clock signal, create two kinds of control signals reverse in phase and having non-overlap durations from the input clock signal, and output the control signals to the switched capacitor circuit.

8 . The frequency detection circuit as recited in claim 4 , further comprising a clock generator configured to input the input clock signal, create two kinds of control signals reverse in phase and having non-overlap durations from the input clock signal, and output the control signals to the switched capacitor circuit.

9 . The frequency detection circuit as recited in claim 5 , wherein the switched capacitor circuit includes:

a first MOS transistor having a source terminal to which the power source voltage is applied and a gate terminal to which one of the two kinds of control signals is inputted;

a second MOS transistor having a source terminal to which a drain terminal of the first MOS transistor is connected and a gate terminal to which the other of the two kinds of control signals is inputted; and

a capacitor having one end to which a connection point of the drain terminal of the first MOS transistor and the source terminal of the second MOS transistor is connected and the other end grounded.

10 . The frequency detection circuit as recited in claim 6 , wherein the switched capacitor circuit includes:

a first MOS transistor having a source terminal to which the power source voltage is applied and a gate terminal to which one of the two kinds of control signals is inputted;

a second MOS transistor having a source terminal to which a drain terminal of the first MOS transistor is connected and a gate terminal to which the other of the two kinds of control signals is inputted; and

a capacitor having one end to which a connection point of the drain terminal of the first MOS transistor and the source terminal of the second MOS transistor is connected and the other end grounded.

11 . The frequency detection circuit as recited in claim 7 wherein the switched capacitor circuit includes:

a first MOS transistor having a source terminal to which the power source voltage is applied and a gate terminal to which one of the two kinds of control signals is inputted;

a second MOS transistor having a source terminal to which a drain terminal of the first MOS transistor is connected and a gate terminal to which the other of the two kinds of control signals is inputted; and

a capacitor having one end to which a connection point of the drain terminal of the first MOS transistor and the source terminal of the second MOS transistor is connected and the other end grounded.

12 . The frequency detection circuit as recited in claim 8 , wherein the switched capacitor circuit includes:

a first MOS transistor having a source terminal to which the power source voltage is applied and a gate terminal to which one of the two kinds of clock signals is inputted;

a second MOS transistor having a source terminal to which a drain terminal of the first MOS transistor is connected and a gate terminal to which the other of the two kinds of clock signals is inputted; and

a capacitor having one end to which a connection point of the drain terminal of the first MOS transistor and the source terminal of the second MOS transistor is connected and the other end grounded.

13 . A frequency detection circuit, comprising:

a switched capacitor circuit unit including a switched capacitor circuit, wherein the switched capacitor circuit is configured to change its equivalent resistance depending on a frequency of an input clock signal inputted to the switched capacitor circuit unit;

a resistor element connected between the switched capacitor circuit and a ground terminal so as to divide a reference voltage by the equivalent resistance of the switched capacitor circuit and a resistance of the resistor element;

a smoothing capacitor connected to the resistor element in parallel; and

a Schmitt circuit configured to input a divided voltage of the reference voltage divided by the equivalent resistance of the switched capacitor circuit and the resistance of the resistor element and output a high-level signal or a low-level signal depending on the inputted divided voltage, whereby the Schmitt circuit outputs the high-level signal when the frequency of the input clock signal is higher than a predetermined threshold frequency and outputs the low-level signal when the frequency of the input clock signal is lower than a predetermined threshold frequency.

14 . The frequency detection circuit as recited in claim 13 , wherein the switched capacitor circuit unit includes:

a clock generator configured to input the input clock signal and create two kinds of control signals reverse in phase; and

the switched capacitor circuit which is controlled so that the equivalent resistance changes depending on the frequency of the input clock signal.

15 . The frequency detection circuit as recited in claim 14 , wherein the switched capacitor circuit includes:

a first MOS transistor having a source terminal to which the reference voltage is applied and a gate terminal to which one of the two kinds of control signals is inputted;

a second MOS transistor having a source terminal to which a drain terminal of the first MOS transistor is connected and a gate terminal to which the other of the two kinds of control signals is inputted;

a capacitor having one end to which a connection point of the drain terminal of the first MOS transistor and the source terminal of the second MOS transistor is connected and the other end grounded.

Assignments (4)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INCORRECT #12/577882 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 026594 FRAME 0385. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded May 6, 2014
From: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD
To: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 032836/0342 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 6, 2013
From: SANYO SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
To: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 031729/0866 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 14, 2011
From: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
To: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 026594/0385 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 28, 2009
From: OKANO, IAKASHI
To: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.; SANYO SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 023296/0845 →