The MAX791 microprocessor (µP) supervisory circuit reduces the complexity and number of components needed to monitor power-supply and battery-control functions in µP systems. The 50µA supply current makes the MAX791 ideal for use in portable equipment, while the 6ns chip-enable propagation delay and 250mA output capability (25mA in battery-backup mode) make it suitable for larger, higher-performance equipment.The MAX791 comes in 16-pin DIP and narrow SO packages and provides the following functions:µP reset-RESET-bar output is asserted during power-up, power-down, and brownout conditions, and is guaranteed to be in the correct state for VCCdown to 1V, even with no battery in the circuit.Manual-reset input.A 1.25V threshold detector provides for power-fail warning and low-battery detection, or monitors a power supply other than +5V.Two-stage power-fail warning-a separate low-line comparator compares VCCto a threshold 150mV above the reset threshold.Backup-battery switchover for CMOS RAM, real-time clocks, µPs, or other low-power logic.Software monitoring of backup-battery voltage.A watchdog-fault output is asserted if the watchdog input has not been toggled within either a preset or an adjustable timeout period.Write protection of CMOS RAM or EEPROM.Pulsed watchdog output, to give advance warning of impending WDO-bar assertion caused by watchdog timeout.ApplicationsComputers: Desktop, Workstation, ServerControllersCritical µP MonitoringIntelligent InstrumentsPortable Battery-Powered Equipment