US3858060A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Integrated driver circuit
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1973-06-07
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Granted: 1974-12-31
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Expires: 1993-06-07
Abstract
Abstract A driver circuit having two devices, each capable of sustaining a given voltage, is arranged to produce at the output of the two devices a differential voltage swing equal to substantially the sum of the voltages on each device. This driver circuit is especially advantageous when used with a memory array comprising a plurality of variable threshold semiconductor storage devices. The driver circuit can be isolated and built into the same monolithic substrate of semiconductor material as is the array. This isolation of the driver circuit permits the potential applied to the drive circuit substrate to vary, while maintaining a fixed potential on the array substrate so that large control voltages can be applied to the devices of the array through the driver circuit without affecting the devices of the driver circuit even when the voltage applied to the array exceeds the breakdown voltage of the devices used in the driver circuit.
Inventors
- 👤 R Kenyon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 05:01
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11C; G11C16/00; G11C16/02; G11C16/06; G11C16/08; E; E05; E05D; E05D15/00; E05D15/06; E05D15/0621; E05D15/066; G11C16/04; G11C16/0466
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
A driver circuit comprising, a first device capable of sustaining a differential voltage of a first given value, means coupled to said first device for applying a first differential voltage of said first given value to said first device, a second device capable of sustaining a differential voltage of a second given value, means coupled to said second device for applying a second differential voltage of said second given value to said second device, said first and second devices each being coupled to a single output, means for selectively applying said first and second differential voltages to said first and second devices to produce at said output a differential voltage swing equal to the sum of the first and second voltages and additional means coupled to said second device for discharging said output.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
A driver circuit comprising, a first device capable of sustaining a differential voltage of a first given value, means coupled to said first device for applying a first differential voltage of said first given value to said first device, a second device capable of sustaining a differential voltage of a second given value, means coupled to said second device for applying a second differential voltage of said second given value to said second device, said first and second devices each being coupled to a single output, means for selectively applying said first and second differential voltages to said first and second devices to produce at said output a differential voltage swing equal to the sum of the first and second voltages and additional means coupled to said second device for discharging said output.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The drive circuit of claim 1 wherein said first and second devices are transistors formed in a semiconductor body.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The driver circuit of claim 2 wherein said additional means for discharging said output includes means coupling said means for applying a dIfferential voltage of said second given value to said semiconductor body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
95 words
The driver circuit of claim 1 wherein said first and second devices are field effect transistors having source and drain diffusions formed in a first portion of a semiconductor body, said means for applying a differential voltage of a second given value is coupled to said first portion of said body, said differential voltage of said first value being substantially equal in magnitude but opposite in polarity to said differential voltage of said second value and equal in magnitude to the breakdown voltage of said diffusions with respect to said first portion of said body.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
62 words
The driver circuit of claim 4 wherein said output comprises the gate electrode of a third field effect transistor having source and drain diffusions formed in a second portion of said body, said first portion of said body is electrically isolated from said second portion of said body, and said second portion of said body is maintained at a fixed reference potential.
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) | 1977-12-30 | 1978-07-01 | 1978-12-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-30 | 1982-07-01 | 1982-12-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-30 | 1986-07-01 | 1986-12-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |