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US5376837A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Semiconductor integrated circuit device having built-in voltage drop circuit

Assignee: Fujitsu Semiconductor Ltd
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Filing: 1992-11-10
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Granted: 1994-12-27
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Expires: 2012-11-10
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Abstract

Abstract A semiconductor integrated circuit device includes a voltage drop circuit for generating a dropped voltage from a power supply voltage externally supplied to a power supply line, and a plurality of circuits respectively connected to the voltage drop circuit and driven by the dropped voltage. A switching unit, which is connected to at least one of the circuits, connects the power supply line to the above one of the circuits in synchronism with operation of the above one of the circuits. The above one of the circuits is driven by currents from both the voltage drop unit and the power supply line in synchronism with the operation thereof.

Inventors

  • 👤 Masao Nakano

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-29 10:22
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11C; G11C5/00; G11C5/14; G11C5/147; H; H03; H03K; H03K19/00; H03K19/0008; H03K19/0013

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim 109 words
A semiconductor integrated circuit device comprising: voltage drop means for generating a dropped voltage from a power supply voltage externally supplied to a power supply line; a plurality of circuits respectively connected to the voltage drop means and driven by the dropped voltage; and switching means, connected to at least one of the circuits, for connecting the power supply line to said at least one of the circuits in synchronism with operation of said at least one of the circuits, such that currents are simultaneously supplied to the circuits from the voltage drop means and the power supply line, in order to prevent a reduction in the dropped voltage.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 109 words
A semiconductor integrated circuit device comprising: voltage drop means for generating a dropped voltage from a power supply voltage externally supplied to a power supply line; a plurality of circuits respectively connected to the voltage drop means and driven by the dropped voltage; and switching means, connected to at least one of the circuits, for connecting the power supply line to said at least one of the circuits in synchronism with operation of said at least one of the circuits, such that currents are simultaneously supplied to the circuits from the voltage drop means and the power supply line, in order to prevent a reduction in the dropped voltage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 83 words
The semiconductor integrated circuit device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said switching means comprises: a switch provided between the power supply line and said at least one of the circuits; and switch control means, connected to said at least one of the circuits, for receiving a driving signal for driving said at least one of the circuits and for controlling the switch to connect the power supply line and said at least one of the circuits when the driving signal is received.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 35 words
The semiconductor integrated circuit device as claimed in claim 2, wherein a current passing through the switch has a magnitude equal to that of a current passing through said at least one of the circuits.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 67 words
The semiconductor integrated circuit device as claimed in claim 2, wherein: the switch comprises an n-channel MOS transistor connected between the power supply line and said at least one of the circuits; and said switch control means comprises a one-shot pulse generator for generating a one-shot pulse in response to the driving signal and for applying the one-shot pulse to a gate of the n-channel MOS transistor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 40 words
The semiconductor integrated circuit device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said one-shot pulse generator comprises delay means for delaying the driving signal by a predetermined delay time so that the one-shot pulse is generated after the predetermined delay time.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 67 words
The semiconductor integrated circuit device as claimed in claim 2, wherein: the switch comprises a p-channel MOS transistor connected between the power supply line and said at least one of the circuits; and said switch control means comprises a one-shot pulse generator for generating a one-shot pulse in response to the driving signal and for applying the one-shot pulse to a gate of the p-channel MOS transistor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 40 words
The semiconductor integrated circuit device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said one-shot pulse generator comprises delay means for delaying the driving signal by a predetermined delay time so that the one-shot pulse is generated after the predetermined delay time.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 33 words
The semiconductor integrated circuit device as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the circuits respectively comprise memory cells and sense amplifiers; and the semiconductor integrated circuit device is a dynamic random access memory device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 31 words
The semiconductor integrated circuit device as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the circuits respectively comprise memory cells and sense amplifiers; and the semiconductor integrated circuit device is a flash memory device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 133 words
A semiconductor integrated circuit device comprising: voltage drop means for generating a dropped voltage from a power supply voltage externally supplied to a power supply line; a plurality of circuits respectively connected to the voltage drop means and driven by the dropped voltage; and switching means, connected to at least one of the circuits, for connecting the power supply line to said at least one of the circuits in synchronism with operation of said at least one of the circuits so that a first current from the power supply line increases as a second current passing through said at least one of the circuits increases, said at least one of the circuits being driven by currents from both the voltage drop means and the power supply line in synchronism with the operation thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 133 words
A semiconductor integrated circuit device comprising: voltage drop means for generating a dropped voltage from a power supply voltage externally supplied to a power supply line; a plurality of circuits respectively connected to the voltage drop means and driven by the dropped voltage; and switching means, connected to at least one of the circuits, for connecting the power supply line to said at least one of the circuits in synchronism with operation of said at least one of the circuits so that a first current from the power supply line increases as a second current passing through said at least one of the circuits increases, said at least one of the circuits being driven by currents from both the voltage drop means and the power supply line in synchronism with the operation thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 107 words
The semiconductor integrated circuit device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said switching means comprises: a switch connected between the power supply line and said at least one of the circuits; and switch control means, connected to said at least one of the circuits, for receiving a driving signal for driving said at least one of the circuits and for controlling the switch to connect the power supply line and at least one of the circuits in response to the driving signal so that the first current from the power supply line increases as the second current passing through said at least one of the circuits increases.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 71 words
The semiconductor integrated circuit device as claimed in claim 11, wherein: said switch comprises current magnitude control means for controlling the magnitude of the first current in accordance with a control signal; and said switching control means comprises current detection means for detecting the magnitude of the second current passing through at least one of the circuits and for generating the control signal dependent on the magnitude of the second current.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 60 words
The semiconductor integrated circuit device as claimed in claim 11, wherein: said switch comprises a transistor connected between the power supply line and said at least one of the circuits; and said control signal is applied to a gate of the transistor so that the degree of ON state of the transistor is controlled in accordance with the control signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 40 words
The semiconductor integrated circuit device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said switch control means comprises means for increasing the first current passing through the switch as the second current passing through said at least one of the circuits increases.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 18 words
The semiconductor integrated circuit device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said transistor is a p-channel MOS transistor.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 33 words
The semiconductor integrated circuit device as claimed in claim 10, wherein: the circuits respectively comprise memory cells and sense amplifiers; and the semiconductor integrated circuit device is a dynamic random access memory device.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 31 words
The semiconductor integrated circuit device as claimed in claim 10, wherein: the circuits respectively comprise memory cells and sense amplifiers; and the semiconductor integrated circuit device is a flash memory device.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US5023476A Cited
US5223751A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1997-12-26 1998-06-27 1998-12-27 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2001-12-26 2002-06-27 2002-12-27 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2005-12-26 2006-06-27 2006-12-27 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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