A power-on reset circuit with reduced detection time. One example power-on reset circuit generally includes a voltage sensing circuit having an input coupled to a first power supply rail; a variable resistance component having a control input coupled to an output of the voltage sensing circuit and having a first terminal coupled to the first power supply rail; and an amplitude detection circuit having a first input coupled to the first power supply rail and having a second input coupled to a second terminal of the variable resistance component, the amplitude detection circuit being configured to generate a power-on reset signal at an output of the amplitude detection circuit based on a difference between a first voltage of the first power supply rail and a second voltage at the second terminal of the variable resistance component.

A method can include, in response to a power supply voltage transition, setting a temperature window to a first temperature range by operation of a temperature circuit formed on a semiconductor device. In response to a temperature of the semiconductor device being determined to be outside of the first temperature range, changing the temperature range of the temperature window until the temperature of the semiconductor device is determined to be within the temperature window.

A power management circuit includes both a power on reset (POR) circuit and a voltage monitoring circuit. Explicit testing of these circuits is accomplished by controlling voltages applied to the circuits and monitoring an output signal responsive to a logical combination of outputs from the POR circuit and voltage monitoring circuit. The applied voltages are controlled with respect to timing of application, fixing of voltages and varying of voltages in a manner where a certain one of the circuits for explicit test is isolated with change in logic state of the output signal being indicative of operation of that isolated circuit.

There has been a problem in semiconductor apparatuses of related art in which a circuit operation cannot be returned after a reverse current occurred. In one embodiment, a semiconductor apparatus includes a timer block configured to count up a count value to a predetermined value in response to a control signal being enabled, the control signal instructing a power MOS transistor to be turned on, and a protection transistor including a drain connected to a gate of the power MOS transistor, a source and a back gate connected to a source of the power MOS transistor, and an epitaxial layer in which the power MOS transistor is formed, the epitaxial layer being supplied with a power supply voltage. The protection transistor short-circuits the source and gate of the power MOS transistor in response to an output voltage of the power MOS transistor meeting a predetermined condition and the count value reaching the predetermined value. The timer block resets the count value when the output voltage of the power MOS transistor no longer meets the predetermined condition.

A semiconductor device includes a hysteresis block configured to generate an output voltage at corresponding disabling enabling voltage levels and a core-voltage-gated (CVG) device configured to receive a core voltage, an input terminal of the hysteresis block is coupled to a control node. The CVG device is configured to alter a control voltage at the control node so as to cause the output voltage of the hysteresis block to be generated at the disabling voltage level in response to the core voltage being at or below a first trigger level. Additionally, the CVG device is configured to alter the control voltage at the control node so as to cause the output voltage of the hysteresis block to be generated at the enabling voltage level in response to the core voltage being at or above a second trigger level, the second trigger level being above the first trigger level.

A power management circuit includes an inverter circuit and a latch circuit. The inverter circuit is configured to receive a first control signal from an inverter input terminal and generate a second control signal at an inverter output terminal. The first control signal carries power status information of a first supply voltage. The latch circuit has a latch supply terminal, a first latch input terminal and a second latch input terminal. The latch supply terminal is coupled to a second supply voltage becoming ready before the first supply voltage. The first latch input terminal and the second latch input terminal are coupled to the inverter output terminal and the inverter input terminal respectively. The latch circuit is configured to generate a third control signal according to respective signal levels of the first control signal and the second control signal, and accordingly perform power control of an integrated circuit.

Embodiments of the present invention disclose a battery switch on circuit and a lithium battery. The circuit includes a communication control module, a relay, a communication control circuit, a switch, and a communication connection terminal. A communication signal terminal of the communication control module is connected to a first contact of the relay, a common contact of the relay is connected to the communication connection terminal. A coil of the relay is powered on to control the common contact and the first contact to be gated and is powered down to control the common contact and a second contact of the relay to be gated. The communication connection terminal is configured to connect to an upper computer. The switch includes a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. A signal from the control terminal of the switch is capable of controlling conduction or disconnection between the first terminal and the second terminal. The first terminal of the switch is connected to a power supply, the second terminal of the switch is connected to a power input terminal, and after the power input terminal is powered on, the coil of the relay is powered on. A signal input terminal is connected to the second contact of the relay, and a control signal output terminal is connected to the control terminal of the switch. Whereby, an effect of normal power-on and communication after the entire circuit is powered off is realized.

A supply voltage detecting circuit has a voltage detection circuit and a current clamping circuit. The voltage detection circuit receives and detects a supply voltage and is used to detect to generate a low-voltage detection signal. When the supply voltage is lower than a set level, the low voltage detection signal output by the voltage detection circuit turns off the current clamping circuit, and a transistor current flowing through the voltage detection circuit is proportional to the supply voltage; and when the supply voltage is higher than or equal to the set level, the low voltage detection signal output by the voltage detection circuit turns on the current clamping circuit, and the current clamping circuit provides a constant current to maintain the operation of the voltage detection circuit, wherein the transistor current flowing through the voltage detection circuit is proportional to the constant current.

An integrated circuit (IC) includes: an input terminal; an output terminal; a first reference voltage terminal and a second reference voltage terminal; a high-side power switch coupled between the first reference voltage terminal and the output terminal; a low-side power switch coupled between the output terminal and the second reference voltage terminal; a first combinational logic and a second combination logic that are coupled to the input terminal; a first driver coupled between the first combinational logic and the high-side power switch; a second driver coupled between the second combinational logic and the low-side power switch; and first comparators coupled to the second combinational logic, where the first comparators are configured to compare a voltage difference between load path terminals of the high-side power switch with a first threshold and a second threshold.

A method of generating multiple gating signals for a multi-gated input/output (I/O) system. The system includes an output level shifter and an output driver which are coupled in series between an output node of a core circuit and an external terminal of a corresponding system. The method includes: generating first and second gating signals having corresponding first and second waveforms, the first waveform transitioning from a non-enabling state to an enabling state before the second waveform transitions from the non-enabling state to the enabling state; receiving the first gating signal at the output level shifter; and receiving the second gating signal at the output driver.