The present disclosure is applicable to electronic fields, and provides a voltage comparator. The voltage comparator includes a first branch, a second branch and a third branch. The first branch and the second branch both have self-biasing capabilities, and require no dedicated bias circuit. Under the same power voltage, the static power consumption of the voltage comparator is relatively low; fewer the power consuming branches exist in the circuit, and the reliability is high under low power consumption.

The present disclosure is applicable to electronic fields, and provides a voltage comparator. The voltage comparator includes a first branch, a second branch and a third branch. The first branch and the second branch both have self-biasing capabilities, and require no dedicated bias circuit. Under the same power voltage, the static power consumption of the voltage comparator is relatively low; fewer the power consuming branches exist in the circuit, and the reliability is high under low power consumption.

A primary circuit outputs, in response to an input signal, a first signal with a first reference potential. A level shift main circuit converts the reference potential of the first signal received from the primary circuit to a second reference potential to output a second signal with the second reference potential. A secondary circuit generates an output signal with the second reference potential using the second signal. At least one rectifying element circuit is provided between the primary circuit and the secondary circuit. At least one of the primary circuit and the secondary circuit includes at least one detection circuit detecting a change in a current flowing through the rectifying element circuit to determine whether a potential corresponding to the second reference potential is lower than or equal to a potential corresponding to the first reference potential.

A primary circuit outputs, in response to an input signal, a first signal with a first reference potential. A level shift main circuit converts the reference potential of the first signal received from the primary circuit to a second reference potential to output a second signal with the second reference potential. A secondary circuit generates an output signal with the second reference potential using the second signal. At least one rectifying element circuit is provided between the primary circuit and the secondary circuit. At least one of the primary circuit and the secondary circuit includes at least one detection circuit detecting a change in a current flowing through the rectifying element circuit to determine whether a potential corresponding to the second reference potential is lower than or equal to a potential corresponding to the first reference potential.

A circuit including an amplitude detector. The amplitude detector includes an input to receive a signal having an amplitude voltage and a first pair of transistors configured in parallel. The input is coupled to the control terminal of at least one transistor of the first pair. The amplitude detector includes a first node providing a voltage indicative of the amplitude voltage. The first node is in series with each of the first pair of transistors. The circuit includes a compensation circuit. The compensation circuit includes a second pair of transistors configured in parallel and a second node. The second node is coupled in series with each transistor of the second pair. The circuit includes an amplifier including a first amplifier input coupled to the first node and a second amplifier input coupled to the second node.

An object of the present technology is to provide an image sensor and a photodetector that are capable of reducing power consumption of an AD conversion unit. The image sensor includes a comparator, in which the comparator includes a differential input unit that includes a first input unit connected to a first capacitance unit and a second input unit connected to a second capacitance unit, a current mirror unit that includes a first resistance element connected to the differential input unit and an NMOS transistor diode-connected via the first resistance element, a second resistance element connected to the differential input unit, and a switch unit provided between the first input unit and a junction between the first resistance element and the NMOS transistor, and between the second input unit and a junction between the second resistance element and the current mirror unit.

An object of the present technology is to provide an image sensor and a photodetector that are capable of reducing power consumption of an AD conversion unit. The image sensor includes a comparator, in which the comparator includes a differential input unit that includes a first input unit connected to a first capacitance unit and a second input unit connected to a second capacitance unit, a current mirror unit that includes a first resistance element connected to the differential input unit and an NMOS transistor diode-connected via the first resistance element, a second resistance element connected to the differential input unit, and a switch unit provided between the first input unit and a junction between the first resistance element and the NMOS transistor, and between the second input unit and a junction between the second resistance element and the current mirror unit.

Disclosed herein is a voltage comparator including a first capacitor, a first inverter and a first switch connected in series and provided between both ends of the first capacitor, a second inverter connected in parallel with the first inverter, a second switch provided between an input and an output of the first inverter, a third switch provided between an input and an output of the second inverter, a second capacitor provided between the output of the first inverter and the input of the second inverter, a third capacitor provided between the output of the second inverter and the input of the first inverter, and a fourth switch provided in one of a position between an upper electrode of the first capacitor and a power supply line and a position between a lower electrode of the first capacitor and a ground line.

Disclosed herein is a voltage comparator including a first capacitor, a first inverter and a first switch connected in series and provided between both ends of the first capacitor, a second inverter connected in parallel with the first inverter, a second switch provided between an input and an output of the first inverter, a third switch provided between an input and an output of the second inverter, a second capacitor provided between the output of the first inverter and the input of the second inverter, a third capacitor provided between the output of the second inverter and the input of the first inverter, and a fourth switch provided in one of a position between an upper electrode of the first capacitor and a power supply line and a position between a lower electrode of the first capacitor and a ground line.

An undervoltage detection circuit includes a voltage divider, a voltage-to-current (V-to-I) converter and a current comparator. The voltage divider divides a supply voltage to generate a divided voltage. The V-to-I converter converts the divided voltage into a first current based on a first V-to-I transfer function, and converts the divided voltage into a second current based on a second V-to-I transfer function different from the first V-to-I transfer function. The current comparator compares the first and second currents to generate a comparison signal that indicates whether the supply voltage is sufficiently large.