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US4583203A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Memory output circuit

Assignee: STC PLC
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Filing: 1983-12-08
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Granted: 1986-04-15
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Expires: 2003-12-08
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Abstract

Abstract An energy efficient output circuit for a static random access memory includes a pair of output transistors each driven by a bootstrapped driver stage. This requires less current than conventional amplifier chain.

Inventors

  • 👤 Trevor K. Monk

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-30 16:03
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03K; H03K19/00; H03K19/01; H03K19/017; H03K19/01707; H03K19/01714; G; G11; G11C; G11C7/00; G11C7/10; G11C7/1051; G11C7/1057; G11C7/106; H03K5/00; H03K5/01; H03K5/02; H03K5/023; G11C11/00; G11C11/21; G11C11/34; G11C11/40; G11C11/401; G11C11/4063; G11C11/407; G11C11/409; G11C11/4093; G11C11/41; G11C11/413; G11C11/417; G11C11/419

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim 113 words
In a semiconductor memory, an output circuit comprising: an output transistor series pair, each transistor of said pair being coupled to a respective bootstrapped driver circuit; driver means for driving said bootstrapped driver circuits with signals of a voltage level less than the operating voltage of the memory and corresponding to memory output data; and said driver means including a first preamplifier serving as a sense amplifier, a second preamplifier connected to the output of said first preamplifier and provided with positive capacitive feedback, and a logic level converter having an output pair of source follower transistors provided with cross-coupled load transistors, the sources of the load transistors being connected to circuit ground.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 113 words
In a semiconductor memory, an output circuit comprising: an output transistor series pair, each transistor of said pair being coupled to a respective bootstrapped driver circuit; driver means for driving said bootstrapped driver circuits with signals of a voltage level less than the operating voltage of the memory and corresponding to memory output data; and said driver means including a first preamplifier serving as a sense amplifier, a second preamplifier connected to the output of said first preamplifier and provided with positive capacitive feedback, and a logic level converter having an output pair of source follower transistors provided with cross-coupled load transistors, the sources of the load transistors being connected to circuit ground.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 23 words
A circuit in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of said load transistors comprises a plurality of parallel-connected transistors having different threshold voltages.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 22 words
A circuit in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first preamplifier, said second preamplifier and said logic level converter comprise balanced stages.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 119 words
In a semiconductor memory, an output circuit fabricated by an NMOS process and comprising: an output transistor series pair, each transistor of said pair being coupled to a respective bootstrapped driver circuit; driver means for driving said bootstrapped drive circuits with signals of a voltage level less than the operating voltage of the memory and corresponding to memory output data; and said driver means including a first preamplifier serving as a sense amplifier, a second preamplifier connected to the output of said first preamplifier and provided with positive capacitive feedback, and a logic level connecter having an output pair of source follow transistors provided with cross-coupled load transistors, the sources of the load transistors being connected to circuit ground.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 119 words
In a semiconductor memory, an output circuit fabricated by an NMOS process and comprising: an output transistor series pair, each transistor of said pair being coupled to a respective bootstrapped driver circuit; driver means for driving said bootstrapped drive circuits with signals of a voltage level less than the operating voltage of the memory and corresponding to memory output data; and said driver means including a first preamplifier serving as a sense amplifier, a second preamplifier connected to the output of said first preamplifier and provided with positive capacitive feedback, and a logic level connecter having an output pair of source follow transistors provided with cross-coupled load transistors, the sources of the load transistors being connected to circuit ground.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

GB1520078A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1989-04-14 1989-10-14 1990-04-15 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1993-04-14 1993-10-14 1994-04-15 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1997-04-14 1997-10-14 1998-04-15 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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