US5331219A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Semiconductor integrated circuit with selective interfacing on different interface levels
Assignee: NEC Corp
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Filing: 1992-10-22
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Granted: 1994-07-19
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Expires: 2012-10-22
Abstract
Abstract A semiconductor integrated circuit such as an LSI circuit for use as a semiconductor static memory is fabricated on one chip and can handle signals on different interface levels. The semiconductor integrated circuit has ECL and CMOS input buffers which can be selected or simultaneously connected by a selector switch and ECL and CMOS output buffers which can be selected or simultaneously connected by a selector switch. The semiconductor integrated circuit with the selectively usable input and output buffers serves as either one of integrated circuits of different interface types. When the ECL input buffer and the CMOS output buffer are selected, an ECL-to-CMOS level converter and a sense amplifier may be implemented by one circuit block.
Inventors
- 👤 Kazuyuki Nakamura
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 10:19
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03K; H03K19/00; H03K19/0175; H03K19/017581
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
A semiconductor integrated circuit comprising: plurality of input buffer means for inputting signals on a plurality of different input interface levels, respectively; plurality of output buffer means for outputting signals on a plurality of different output interface levels, respectively; selector means for selectively connecting the input buffer means and the output buffer means, whereby the semiconductor integrated circuit can operate on the different input and output interface levels; a semiconductor memory; first amplifying means for amplifying an input signal supplied from the input buffer means selectively connected by the selector means and applying the amplified signal to the semiconductor memory, the signal having a logic amplitude corresponding to a lower one of the different input interface levels; second amplifying means for amplifying a readout signal supplied from the semiconductor memory to a logic amplitude corresponding to a higher one of the different output interface levels and applying the amplified readout signal to the output buffer means selectively connected by the selector means, wherein the first and second amplifying means are implemented by a single circuit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
175 words
A semiconductor integrated circuit comprising: plurality of input buffer means for inputting signals on a plurality of different input interface levels, respectively; plurality of output buffer means for outputting signals on a plurality of different output interface levels, respectively; selector means for selectively connecting the input buffer means and the output buffer means, whereby the semiconductor integrated circuit can operate on the different input and output interface levels; a semiconductor memory; first amplifying means for amplifying an input signal supplied from the input buffer means selectively connected by the selector means and applying the amplified signal to the semiconductor memory, the signal having a logic amplitude corresponding to a lower one of the different input interface levels; second amplifying means for amplifying a readout signal supplied from the semiconductor memory to a logic amplitude corresponding to a higher one of the different output interface levels and applying the amplified readout signal to the output buffer means selectively connected by the selector means, wherein the first and second amplifying means are implemented by a single circuit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
144 words
A semiconductor integrated circuit comprising: a first amplifier receiving address signals having first logic voltage levels and level converting the address signals to second logic voltage levels, different from the first logic voltage levels; a decoder coupled to the first amplifier receiving the address signals having second logic voltage levels and outputting a select signal; a memory cell coupled to the decoder and selected by the select signal, the memory cell outputting a data output signal; a second amplifier coupled to the memory cell amplifying the data output signal and converting the data output signal to first logic voltage levels; means for coupling the data output signal having the first logic voltage levels to the first amplifier for enabling the first amplifier to level convert the data output signal having first logic voltage levels to a data output signal having second logic voltage levels.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
144 words
A semiconductor integrated circuit comprising: a first amplifier receiving address signals having first logic voltage levels and level converting the address signals to second logic voltage levels, different from the first logic voltage levels; a decoder coupled to the first amplifier receiving the address signals having second logic voltage levels and outputting a select signal; a memory cell coupled to the decoder and selected by the select signal, the memory cell outputting a data output signal; a second amplifier coupled to the memory cell amplifying the data output signal and converting the data output signal to first logic voltage levels; means for coupling the data output signal having the first logic voltage levels to the first amplifier for enabling the first amplifier to level convert the data output signal having first logic voltage levels to a data output signal having second logic voltage levels.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The semiconductor integrated circuit of claim 2 wherein the first logic voltage levels are ECL logic voltage levels and the second logic voltage levels are CMOS logic voltage levels.
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) | 1997-07-18 | 1998-01-17 | 1998-07-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-07-18 | 2002-01-17 | 2002-07-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-07-18 | 2006-01-17 | 2006-07-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |