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Circuit for controlling a self-refresh period in a semiconductor memory device

Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
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Filing: 1994-07-14
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Granted: 1996-02-27
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Expires: 2014-07-14
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Abstract

Abstract A circuit which controls a self-refresh period of a semiconductor memory device includes a pulse generating circuit which outputs a periodic pulse train in response to an external control signal, a frequency-dividing circuit which outputs a plurality of pulse trains having different respective periods by frequency-dividing the pulse train, at least one temperature detector which detects an ambient temperature of the memory device and outputs a temperature detection signal when the ambient temperature exceeds a predetermined threshold level, at least one voltage detecting circuit which detects a power supply voltage applied to the memory device and outputs a voltage detection signal when the power supply voltage reaches a predetermined level, a combination pulse train generating circuit which outputs a plurality of combination pulse trains by variously combining the plurality of pulse trains output by the frequency-dividing circuit, and a pulse selecting circuit which outputs a self-refresh master clock by selecting one of the combination pulse trains in response to the voltage detection signal and the temperature detection signal.

Inventors

  • 👤 Gi-Won Cha

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-29 09:30
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11C; G11C11/00; G11C11/21; G11C11/34; G11C11/40; G11C11/401; G11C11/406; G11C11/40615; G11C11/40626

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim 149 words
A period control circuit for self-refresh operation in a semiconductor memory device comprising: pulse generating means for outputting a predetermined periodic pulse train in response to an external control signal; frequency-dividing means for outputting a plurality of pulse trains which have different periods from each other by frequency-dividing said pulse train output from said pulse generating means; at least one temperature detecting means for detecting an ambient temperature of said memory device and for outputting a temperature detection signal when said ambient temperature reaches a predetermined level; at least one voltage detecting means for detecting a power supply voltage applied to said memory device and for outputting a voltage detection signal when said power supply voltage reaches a predetermined level; and pulse selecting means for outputting a self-refresh master clock by selecting one of said pulse trains in response to said voltage detection signal and said temperature detection signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 149 words
A period control circuit for self-refresh operation in a semiconductor memory device comprising: pulse generating means for outputting a predetermined periodic pulse train in response to an external control signal; frequency-dividing means for outputting a plurality of pulse trains which have different periods from each other by frequency-dividing said pulse train output from said pulse generating means; at least one temperature detecting means for detecting an ambient temperature of said memory device and for outputting a temperature detection signal when said ambient temperature reaches a predetermined level; at least one voltage detecting means for detecting a power supply voltage applied to said memory device and for outputting a voltage detection signal when said power supply voltage reaches a predetermined level; and pulse selecting means for outputting a self-refresh master clock by selecting one of said pulse trains in response to said voltage detection signal and said temperature detection signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 173 words
A period control circuit for self-refresh operation in a semiconductor memory device comprising: pulse generating means for outputting a predetermined periodic pulse train in response to an external control signal; frequency-dividing means for outputting a plurality of pulse trains which have different periods from each other by frequency-dividing said pulse train output from said pulse generating means; at least one temperature detecting means for detecting an ambient temperature of said memory device and for outputting a temperature detection signal when said ambient temperature reaches a predetermined level; at least one voltage detecting means for detecting a power supply voltage applied to said memory device and for outputting a voltage detection signal when said power supply voltage reaches a predetermined level; combination pulse train generating means for outputting a plurality of combination pulse trains by combining said pulse trains output from said frequency-dividing means; and pulse selecting means for outputting a self-refresh master clock by selecting one of said combination pulse trains in response to said voltage detection signal and said temperature detection signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 173 words
A period control circuit for self-refresh operation in a semiconductor memory device comprising: pulse generating means for outputting a predetermined periodic pulse train in response to an external control signal; frequency-dividing means for outputting a plurality of pulse trains which have different periods from each other by frequency-dividing said pulse train output from said pulse generating means; at least one temperature detecting means for detecting an ambient temperature of said memory device and for outputting a temperature detection signal when said ambient temperature reaches a predetermined level; at least one voltage detecting means for detecting a power supply voltage applied to said memory device and for outputting a voltage detection signal when said power supply voltage reaches a predetermined level; combination pulse train generating means for outputting a plurality of combination pulse trains by combining said pulse trains output from said frequency-dividing means; and pulse selecting means for outputting a self-refresh master clock by selecting one of said combination pulse trains in response to said voltage detection signal and said temperature detection signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 147 words
A circuit for controlling a self-refresh period of a semiconductor memory device, comprising: a pulse generating circuit which outputs a periodic pulse train in response to an external control signal; a frequency-dividing circuit which outputs a plurality of pulse trains having different periods from each other by frequency-dividing said periodic pulse train output by said pulse generating circuit; a temperature detection circuit which detects an ambient temperature of said memory device and outputs a temperature detection signal when said ambient temperature reaches a predetermined temperature level; a voltage detection circuit which detects a power supply voltage applied to said memory device and outputs a voltage detection signal when said power supply voltage reaches a predetermined voltage level; and, a pulse selection circuit which outputs a self-refresh master clock by selecting one of said pulse trains in response to said temperature detection signal and said voltage detection signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 147 words
A circuit for controlling a self-refresh period of a semiconductor memory device, comprising: a pulse generating circuit which outputs a periodic pulse train in response to an external control signal; a frequency-dividing circuit which outputs a plurality of pulse trains having different periods from each other by frequency-dividing said periodic pulse train output by said pulse generating circuit; a temperature detection circuit which detects an ambient temperature of said memory device and outputs a temperature detection signal when said ambient temperature reaches a predetermined temperature level; a voltage detection circuit which detects a power supply voltage applied to said memory device and outputs a voltage detection signal when said power supply voltage reaches a predetermined voltage level; and, a pulse selection circuit which outputs a self-refresh master clock by selecting one of said pulse trains in response to said temperature detection signal and said voltage detection signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 172 words
A circuit for controlling a self-refresh period of a semiconductor memory device, comprising: a pulse generating circuit which outputs a periodic pulse train in response to an external control signal; a frequency-dividing circuit which outputs a plurality of pulse trains having different periods from each other by frequency-dividing said periodic pulse train output by said pulse generating circuit; a temperature detection circuit which detects an ambient temperature of said memory device and outputs a temperature detection signal when said ambient temperature reaches a predetermined temperature level; a voltage detection circuit which detects a power supply voltage applied to said memory device and outputs a voltage detection signal when said power supply voltage reaches a predetermined voltage level; a combination pulse train generating circuit which outputs a plurality of combination pulse trains by variously combining said pulse trains output by said frequency-dividing means; a pulse selection circuit which outputs a self-refresh master clock by selecting one of said combination pulse trains in response to said temperature detection signal and said voltage detection signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 172 words
A circuit for controlling a self-refresh period of a semiconductor memory device, comprising: a pulse generating circuit which outputs a periodic pulse train in response to an external control signal; a frequency-dividing circuit which outputs a plurality of pulse trains having different periods from each other by frequency-dividing said periodic pulse train output by said pulse generating circuit; a temperature detection circuit which detects an ambient temperature of said memory device and outputs a temperature detection signal when said ambient temperature reaches a predetermined temperature level; a voltage detection circuit which detects a power supply voltage applied to said memory device and outputs a voltage detection signal when said power supply voltage reaches a predetermined voltage level; a combination pulse train generating circuit which outputs a plurality of combination pulse trains by variously combining said pulse trains output by said frequency-dividing means; a pulse selection circuit which outputs a self-refresh master clock by selecting one of said combination pulse trains in response to said temperature detection signal and said voltage detection signal.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US5343430A Cited
US5365487A Cited
US5349562A Cited
US5337282A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1999-02-26 1999-08-28 2000-02-27 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2003-02-26 2003-08-28 2004-02-27 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2007-02-26 2007-08-28 2008-02-27 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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