US5317212A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dynamic control of configurable logic
Assignee: Xylon LLC
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Filing: 1993-03-19
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Granted: 1994-05-31
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Expires: 2013-03-19
Abstract
Abstract A method and device for performing logic functions. A logic array (1) is controlled by a plurality of DRAM cells (101). The DRAM cells are, in preferred embodiments, loaded in a serial fashion with a shift register (1205). Refresh according to one aspect of the invention utilizes a shift register (1201) with a circulating "0." A charge pump circuit, voltage boost circuit, and a variety of memory cell/logic array configurations are also disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Sven E. Wahlstrom
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 08:26
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03K; H03K19/00; H03K19/02; H03K19/173; H03K19/177; H03K19/17748; H03K19/1776; G; G11; G11C; G11C11/00; G11C11/21; G11C11/34; G11C11/40; G11C11/401; G11C11/403; G11C11/405; G11C11/406; G11C11/4063; G11C11/407; G11C11/409; G11C11/4094; G11C11/4099; H03K19/17704; H03K19/1778
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
Programmable logic in an integrated circuit comprising: logic means for outputting signals representative of logical functions of inputs to said integrated circuit; means for inputting data to an array of capacitance means for storage of selected voltage levels thereon, said data representative of a desired logic function; means for refreshing selected voltages in said array of capacitance means, each of said capacitance means comprising a control voltage node coupled to said logic means; and means for reading out data from said control node while refreshing said selected voltages in said array of capacitance means, whereby logic functions may be performed with said logic means when said capacitance means are being refreshed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
111 words
Programmable logic in an integrated circuit comprising: logic means for outputting signals representative of logical functions of inputs to said integrated circuit; means for inputting data to an array of capacitance means for storage of selected voltage levels thereon, said data representative of a desired logic function; means for refreshing selected voltages in said array of capacitance means, each of said capacitance means comprising a control voltage node coupled to said logic means; and means for reading out data from said control node while refreshing said selected voltages in said array of capacitance means, whereby logic functions may be performed with said logic means when said capacitance means are being refreshed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
83 words
Programmable logic as recited in claim 1 wherein said capacitance means comprises: a first capacitor connected between a grounding node and said control node; a strobe transistor connected between said control node and a storage node, a gate of said strobe transistor controlled by a strobe signal; a storage capacitor connected between said storage node and a grounding node; and an access transistor connected between said storage node and a bit line, a gate of said access transistor controlled by a word line.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
Programmable logic as recited in claim 1 wherein said capacitance means comprises: a storage capacitor connected between a grounding node and said control node; and an access transistor connected between said control node and a bit line, a gate of said access transistor controlled by a word line.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
Programmable logic as recited in claim 1 wherein said capacitance means comprises at least one access transistor connected to couple a stored charge to a bit line and further comprising means for precharging said bitline to a preselected value.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
Programmable logic as recited in claim 4 wherein said capacitance means is sufficiently large that when said access transistor is activated, a voltage on said control node does not go above a threshold value of controlled transistor in said programmable logic device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
Programmable logic as recited in claim 2 wherein said storage capacitor si larger than said first capacitor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
Programmable logic as recited in claim 1 further comprising means for programming said capacitance means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
Programmable logic as recited in claim 7 wherein said programming means further comprises: a shift register, said shift register having data nodes; and means for selectively coupling said control nodes to said data nodes, whereby logic data may be stored on said control nodes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
79 words
Programmable logic as recited in claim 1 wherein said means for refreshing comprises: a shift register, selected nodes of said shift register selectively coupled to said control nodes; means for circulating a single selected voltage level in said shift register; and means, responsive to said single selected voltage level, for coupling control nodes along a word line associated with a node of said shift register at which said single selected voltage level is located to a refreshing sense amplifier.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
Programmable logic as recited in claim 1 wherein said capacitance means further control an output circuit of said programmable logic.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
Programmable logic as recited in claim 10 wherein said capacitance means selects between registered and combinatorial output.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
94 words
Programmable logic as recited in claim 1 wherein said capacitance means comprises: a p-channel depletion mode transistor; a first capacitance coupled to a rain of said p-channel transistor, said capacitance defining said control node; an n-channel enhancement mode transistor in series with said p-channel transistor; a second capacitance coupled to a source of said n-channel transistor, wherein sources of said n and p channel transistors are coupled together; a word line connected to gates of said n and p channel transistors; and a bit line coupled to a drain of said n channel transistor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
Programmable logic as recited in claim 1 wherein said refresh means comprises a cross-coupled CMOS sense amplifier.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
77 words
Programmable logic as recited in claim 1 further comprising: bitlines selectively coupled to said capacitance means; a sense amplifier coupled to said bit lines, said sense amplifier coupled to a high and low voltage sources; means for precharging said bitlines to a selected value; and means for decoupling said bitlines from said means for precharging, whereby said bitlines are permitted to float during a selected time of operation while said bitlines are connected to said capacitance means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
Programmable logic as recited in claim 1 further comprising means for reading stored data from said capacitance means whereby data stored in said capacitance means may be verified.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
Programmable logic as recited in claim 1 further comprising at least one dummy memory cell, and wherein said refresh means compares a charge stored on said dummy memory cell to a charge stored on said capacitance means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
114 words
Programmable logic as recited in claim 1 wherein said capacitance means comprises first and second MOS transistors coupled in series, a gate of said first MOS transistor coupled to a first terminal of a storage capacitor, a source or drain of said first MOS transistor coupled to a second terminal of said storage capacitor; a first word line coupled to a gate of said second MOS transistor; a second word line coupled to a gate of a third MOS transistor, a source or drain of said MOS transistor coupled to said first terminal of said storage capacitor; and a bit line coupled to a drain or source of said second and third MOS transistors.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-05-30 | 1997-11-29 | 1998-05-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-05-30 | 2001-11-29 | 2002-05-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-05-30 | 2005-11-29 | 2006-05-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |