Patent US3604952A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3604952A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Tri-level voltage generator circuit
Assignee: Honeywell Inc
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Filing: 1970-02-12
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Granted: 1971-09-14
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Expires: 1990-02-12
Abstract
Abstract Herein is revealed an adaptive tri-level voltage generator circuit which may be used with a random access memory cell and which circuit employs transistors preferably of the silicon gate or MOS (metal oxide semiconductor) field effect type. The illustrated embodiment employs a feedback subcircuit arrangement wherein a feedback controllable voltage is established in the feedback loop. Timing signals are received in a fixed relationship so that initially a first voltage level is established on the circuit''s output line. An intermediate voltage level is established on the output line upon receipt of a first timing signal activating the feedback subcircuit to lower the feedback voltage. Such intermediate voltage is determined by the voltage drops in a feedback subcircuit. By means of a control subcircuit, receipt of a second timing signal causes the output to settle at a third level approaching the level of the first timing signal which is still present. Removal of the first timing signal causes the output to return to its initial level. The intermediate voltage adapts to changes in the threshold voltage of transistors included in the feedback subcircuit.
Inventors
- 👤 William M Regitz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 09:11
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11C; G11C5/00; G11C5/14; G11C11/00; G11C11/21; G11C11/34; G11C11/40; G11C11/401; G11C11/4063; G11C11/407; G11C11/408; G11C11/4085; H; H03; H03K; H03K3/00; H03K3/02; H03K3/353
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
A tri-level voltage generator circuit comprising: A. first circuit means having an output line, B. second circuit means, wherein said first and second circuit means include elements having substantially equivalent characteristics, C. said output line being connected to an input of said second circuit means as a reference thereto, D. voltage-changing means in said first circuit means for generating first, intermediate and third voltage levels on said output line in response to timing signals applied to other inputs of said first circuit means, E. first control means in said first circuit means for responding to changes in characteristics of elements in said first circuit means, and F. second control means responsive to said first control means for controlling the level of the intermediate voltage in response to a change in characteristics of elements in said second circuit means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
138 words
A tri-level voltage generator circuit comprising: A. first circuit means having an output line, B. second circuit means, wherein said first and second circuit means include elements having substantially equivalent characteristics, C. said output line being connected to an input of said second circuit means as a reference thereto, D. voltage-changing means in said first circuit means for generating first, intermediate and third voltage levels on said output line in response to timing signals applied to other inputs of said first circuit means, E. first control means in said first circuit means for responding to changes in characteristics of elements in said first circuit means, and F. second control means responsive to said first control means for controlling the level of the intermediate voltage in response to a change in characteristics of elements in said second circuit means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A circuit as defined in Claim 1 wherein said elements include transistors and wherein said characteristics include the threshold voltage of said transistors.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
said tri-level output voltage approaches a second voltage level by means of said first control subcircuit when said feedback voltage is in said second state and said first reference signal is in said second state,
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
said tri-level output voltage approaches a second voltage level by means of said first control subcircuit when said feedback voltage is in said second state and said first reference signal is in said second state,
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
60 words
said second level is generated by means of said feedback circuit which responds to the change from said first voltage level toward said second voltage level causing said feedback voltage to change to said first state thereby causing said first control subcircuit to settle thereby causing said first control subcircuit to settle said tri-level output at said second voltage level,
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
said second level is generated by means of said feedback circuit which responds to the change from said first voltage level toward said second voltage level causing said feedback voltage to change to said first state thereby causing said first control subcircuit to settle thereby causing said first control subcircuit to settle said tri-level output at said second voltage level,
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
A circuit as defined in claim 2 wherein said second circuit means is a transistor memory circuit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
a third voltage level is generated by means of said second control subcircuit when said first reference signal is in said second state and said second reference signal is in said second state, and
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
a third voltage level is generated by means of said second control subcircuit when said first reference signal is in said second state and said second reference signal is in said second state, and
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
A circuit as defined in claim 3 wherein said first circuit means and said memory circuit are combined on a single integrated circuit chip.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
said first voltage level is regenerated by means of said second control subcircuit when said second reference signal is in said second state and when said first reference signal changes back to said firsT state.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
said first voltage level is regenerated by means of said second control subcircuit when said second reference signal is in said second state and when said first reference signal changes back to said firsT state.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
91 words
A circuit as defined in claim 2 wherein said means for generating comprises: A. feedback means having an input an output, said input connected to said output line; B. first control means having an output coupled to said output line and having an input adapted to respond to both the output of said feedback means and a reference signal; and wherein C. said intermediate level signal is generated when said reference signal is received and when said output of said feedback means changes from a first state to a second state.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
55 words
A circuit as defined in claim 5 wherein said first circuit means and said second circuit means are combined on a single integrated circuit chip, whereby changes of threshold voltage of said transistors in said second circuit means are substantially the same as changes in threshold voltage of said transistors in said first circuit means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
A circuit as defined in claim 6 wherein said feedback means includes a first transistor and wherein said intermediate voltage changes as the threshold characteristics of said first transistor changes.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
A circuit as defined in claim 7 wherein said transistors in said first circuit means and said second circuit means are of the field Effect type.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
157 words
A tri-level voltage generator circuit having an output line, said circuit comprising: A. means for providing a first reference signal having first and second states; B. means for providing a feedback controllable voltage; C. feedback means having an input and an output, said input coupled to said output line and said output coupled to said feedback controllable voltage; D. first control means coupled to said output line and responsive to both said feedback controllable voltage and said first state of said first reference signal, for generating a first level voltage on said output line; and wherein E. a change of said first reference signal to said second state causes said first control means to change said first voltage level on said output line toward said second level thereby causing said feedback means to substantially change said feedback controllable voltage causing said first control means to complete said change of output line voltage at said second voltage level.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
157 words
A tri-level voltage generator circuit having an output line, said circuit comprising: A. means for providing a first reference signal having first and second states; B. means for providing a feedback controllable voltage; C. feedback means having an input and an output, said input coupled to said output line and said output coupled to said feedback controllable voltage; D. first control means coupled to said output line and responsive to both said feedback controllable voltage and said first state of said first reference signal, for generating a first level voltage on said output line; and wherein E. a change of said first reference signal to said second state causes said first control means to change said first voltage level on said output line toward said second level thereby causing said feedback means to substantially change said feedback controllable voltage causing said first control means to complete said change of output line voltage at said second voltage level.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
63 words
A circuit as defined in claim 9 further including: A. means for providing a second reference signal having first and second states; and B. second control means coupled to said output line and responsive to both said second state of said first reference signal and said second state of said second reference signal for generating a third voltage level on said output line.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
163 words
A circuit as defined in claim 10 wherein said second control means regenerates said first voltage level when said second reference signal is in said second state and said first reference signal changes to said first state. 12 A circuit as defined in claim 11 wherein: A. said feedback means includes a first transistor having first, second and third electrodes, said first electrode thereof connected to said feedback controllable voltage, said second electrode thereof connected to said output line and said third electrode thereof coupled to a first potential; B. said first control means includes a second transistor having first, second and third electrodes, said first electrode thereof connected to receive said first reference signal, said second electrode thereof connected to said feedback controllable voltage and said third electrode thereof connected to said output line; and wherein c. a change in the threshold voltage between said second and third electrodes of said first transistor changes the voltage level of said second voltage level.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
138 words
A circuit as defined in claim 12 wherein A. said first voltage level is generated on said output line when said second transistor is nonconductive, said first transistor is conductive and said first reference signal is in said first state; and B. said second voltage level is generated on said output line when in sequence said first reference signal changes to said second state, causing said second transistor to become temporarily conductive, causing said generator circuit output voltage to approach said second voltage level, causing said first transistor to become conductive, and causing said feedback controllable voltage to change in magnitude to stop conduction of said second transistor thereby stopping said generator circuit output voltage at said second voltage level, the polarity of said second voltage level being that of said second state of said first reference signal.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
194 words
A circuit as defined claim 13 wherein: A. said second control means includes a third transistor having first, second, and third electrodes, said first electrode thereof connected to receive said first reference signal, said second electrode thereof connected to receive said second reference signal and said third electrode thereof connected to said output line; and wherein B. said third voltage level is generated when said first reference signal is in said second state and when said second reference signal changes to said second state thereby causing said third transistor to conduct and changing said second voltage level to said third voltage level, the polarity of said third voltage level being that of said second state of said first reference signal; and wherein said first voltage level is regenerated when said second reference signal is in said second state and when said first reference signal changes to said first state causing said third transistor to conduct in a reverse direction so that said generator circuit output voltage changes from said third voltage level to said first voltage level, the polarity of said first voltage being that of said first state of said first reference signal.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
92 words
A circuit as defined in claim 14 wherein said means for providing a feedback controllable voltage includes: A. a second potential; B a plurality of series connected transistors connected at one end to said second potential; and C. a pair of series connected transistors connected at one and to said second potential, connected at the other end to said first potential, and connected for response to the other end of said plurality of series connected transistors, the junction of said pair of series connected transistors coupled to provide said feedback controllable voltage.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
32 words
A circuit as defined in claim 14 further including means for disabling said means for providing a feedback controllable voltage when a tri-level voltage is not being generated at said output line.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
48 words
A circuit as defined in claim 14 further including means for changing the output voltage of said generator circuit from said third level to said first level when said second reference signal is in said first state and when said first reference signal changes to said first state.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
30 words
A circuit as defined in claim 14 further including means for establishing initial conditions in said feedback means when a tri-level voltage is not being generated at said output line.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
141 words
A tri-level voltage generator circuit having an output line, said circuit comprising: A. means for providing a feedback controllable voltage, said voltage having a first and second state; B. means for providing first and second reference signals, said signals having a first and second state; C. a feedback subcircuit having an input and an output, said input coupled to said output line and said output coupled to control said feedback voltage; D a first control subcircuit responsive to said feedback voltage and responsive to said first reference signal and having an output coupled to said output line; E. a second control subcircuit responsive to said first reference signal and responsive to said second reference signal and having an output coupled to said output line; and wherein F. A tri-level output voltage is generated on said output line in the sequence wherein
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
141 words
A tri-level voltage generator circuit having an output line, said circuit comprising: A. means for providing a feedback controllable voltage, said voltage having a first and second state; B. means for providing first and second reference signals, said signals having a first and second state; C. a feedback subcircuit having an input and an output, said input coupled to said output line and said output coupled to control said feedback voltage; D a first control subcircuit responsive to said feedback voltage and responsive to said first reference signal and having an output coupled to said output line; E. a second control subcircuit responsive to said first reference signal and responsive to said second reference signal and having an output coupled to said output line; and wherein F. A tri-level output voltage is generated on said output line in the sequence wherein
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-09-13 | 1975-03-15 | 1975-09-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-09-13 | 1979-03-15 | 1979-09-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-09-13 | 1983-03-15 | 1983-09-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |