Semiconductor static memory device with cell grounding means for reduced power consumption

Claim 1

A semiconductor memory device comprising: a two-dimensional memory cell array comprising a plurality of word lines and a plurality of memory cells arranged in rows and columns, each of said memory cells comprising: cross-coupled MOS transistor inverter means; access transistor means having gate terminals coupled to a corresponding one of said word lines; a first terminal for receiving a first potential; a ground terminal for receiving a second potential; and load means, said memory cells being grouped in columns to form a plurality of column blocks, said device further comprising: means for setting a potential of each said respective ground terminal of each memory cell to at least a potential of the corresponding word line reduced by a threshold voltage of said access transistor means when the corresponding block is not selected, said means for setting said potential including a plurality of switching means each provided for a row of said memory cells arranged in a corresponding column block, an output of each of said switching means being coupled to the memory cells in the respective row and column block and having its output enabled when one of said column blocks is activated within a particular row, said switching means each having a first input terminal connected to a respective one of said word lines and a second input terminal receiving a respective column block selection signal for setting a potential of the respective ground terminal at a ground voltage when both of said respective one of said word lines and said column block selection signal are in a high state, said means for setting a potential further comprising first means, disposed within each of said memory cells, said each of said memory cells storing information at a memory node as a first, high-state potential and a second, low-state potential, for setting said high-state potential to be higher than said first potential, said first means comprising a ring oscillator, a capacitor, a first transistor having a source connected through said capacitor to said ring oscillator, a drain connected to a voltage source, and a gate connected to said voltage source, and a second transistor having a source connected to said load means, a drain connected through said capacitor to said ring oscillator, and a gate connected to said drain of said second transistor.