An embodiment electronic device includes a first circuit including first and second transistors series-coupled between a node of application of a power supply voltage and a node of application of a reference voltage, the first and second transistors being coupled to each other by a first node, and a second circuit, configured to compare a first voltage on the first node with first and second voltage thresholds.

A clock detecting circuit is provided. The clock detecting circuit includes a first clock converting circuit, a second clock converting circuit and a frequency comparator. The first clock converting circuit converts an internal clock to a first clock. The second clock converting circuit converts an external clock to a second clock. The frequency comparator generates a first edge clock in response the first clock and generates a second edge clock in response the second clock. The frequency comparator generates a first sensing voltage in response to a plurality of positive pulses of the first edge clock and generate a second sensing voltage in response to a plurality of positive pulses of the second edge clock. The frequency comparator compares the first sensing voltage and the second sensing voltage to provide a frequency comparing result between the external clock and the internal clock.

Circuits for protecting devices, such as gallium nitride (GaN) devices, and operating methods thereof are described. The circuits monitor a magnitude of the current in a device and reduce the magnitude of the current and/or shut down the device responsive to the magnitude of the current exceeding a threshold. These circuits safeguard devices from damaging operating conditions to prolong the operating life of the protected devices.

An integrated circuit is built with enhancement mode Gallium Nitride (GaN) components. The integrated circuit comprises a comparator circuit which compares an input voltage with a reference voltage to provide a controllable constant current source, the comparator having a drive transistor having a positive threshold voltage, the drive transistor being switched on and off based on a comparison result of the comparator. The circuit may drive ring oscillators and may provide pulse width modulation with variable duty cycle at constant frequency.

A semiconductor apparatus includes a data input and output (input/output) circuit configured to operate by receiving a first voltage, a core circuit configured operate by receiving a second voltage, and a control circuit configured to output a power control signal for activating the data input/output circuit when the first voltage is higher than a first set voltage and the second voltage is higher a second set voltage.

A ternary content addressable memory is provided comprising; a memory device that includes a plurality of memory address locations; hash logic operative to determine a hash value, based upon a ternary key, wherein the determined hash value corresponds to a memory address location of the memory device; an encoder operable to convert the ternary key to a binary bit representation; wherein converting includes determining binary mapping bits based upon number and positions of ternary non-X (don't care) value bits of the ternary key; wherein converting further includes determining a different binary data bit to correspond to each different ternary non-X value bit of the ternary key; and memory controller logic to cause the memory device to store the binary bit representation at the memory address location that corresponds to the determined hash value.

A avalanche diode arrangement comprises an avalanche diode (11) that is coupled to a first voltage terminal (14) and to a first node (15), a latch comparator (12) with a first input (16) coupled to the first node (15), a second input (17) for receiving a reference voltage (VREF) and an enable input (21) for receiving a comparator enable signal (CLK), and a quenching circuit (13) coupled to the first node (15).

A comparator configured to calibrate an offset according to a control signal, including an input circuit configured to receive a first input signal and a second input signal, and to generate a first internal signal corresponding to the first input signal and a second internal signal corresponding to the second input signal; a differential amplification circuit configured to consume a supply current flowing from a positive voltage node having a positive supply voltage to a negative voltage node having a negative supply voltage, and to generate an output signal by amplifying a difference between the first internal signal and the second internal signal; and a current valve configured to adjust at least a portion of the supply current based on the control signal.

A low power comparator circuit is provided. The circuit includes a comparator core including a first stage. The first stage has an output configured to provide a digital value. A capacitor includes a first terminal coupled at an input of the first stage and a second terminal selectively coupled to a first input and a second input of the comparator core. A voltage generator is coupled to the first stage. The voltage generator is configured and arranged to generate a first voltage based on a predetermined input current and to limit a maximum current of the first stage based on the predetermined input current.

A system and method for protecting against a voltage glitch are provided. Generally, the system includes a reset-detector coupled to a supply voltage (VCC) and to a power-on-reset (POR) block, and a glitch-detector coupled to VCC and the reset-detector. The reset-detector is operable to provide a signal to the POR block to generate a global-reset-signal when VCC decreases below a minimum and remains low for at least a first time. The glitch-detector is operable to provide a glitch-signal to the reset-detector to cause it to provide the signal to the POR block when VCC decreases below the minimum and remains low for at least a second time, where the second time is less than the first. The reset-detector can further include a retention-circuit operable to recall a glitch-signal was received and signal the POR block when VCC is restored. Other embodiments are also disclosed.