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US6049245A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Power reduction circuit

Assignee: MagnaChip Semiconductor Ltd
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Filing: 1998-09-16
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Granted: 2000-04-11
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Expires: 2018-09-16
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Abstract

Abstract A power reduction circuit is provided that includes a first switching device between a first operating voltage terminal and a second operating voltage terminal being controlled by a first active signal. A second switching device is between a third operating voltage terminal and a fourth operating voltage terminal is controlled by the inverse active signal. A signal transfer gate logic coupled between the second and the fourth operating voltage terminals to selectively output one of the second and the fourth operating voltages. A first voltage drop device is between the first and the second operating voltage terminals and is selectively activated by a first control device according to one of a first and a second operating modes. A second voltage drop device is between the third and the fourth operating voltage terminals and is selectively activated by a second control device according to one of the first and the second operating modes. The first and second voltage drop devices have predetermined turn-on resistances. The power reduction circuit provides for each mode and a high-speed operation for switching from the standby mode to the active mode.

Inventors

  • 👤 Joo-Hiuk Son
  • 👤 Hae-Young Rah

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 18:24
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11C; G11C5/00; G11C5/14; G11C5/147

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim 177 words
A power reduction circuit, comprising: a first switching device that couples a first operating voltage terminal and a second operating voltage terminal, wherein the first switching device is controlled by a first signal; a second switching device that couples a third operating voltage terminal and a fourth operating voltage terminal, wherein the second switching device is controlled by a second signal; a signal transfer gate logic that couples the second and the fourth operating voltage terminals to selectively output one of second and fourth operating voltages; a first voltage drop device that couples the first and the second operating voltage terminals, wherein the first voltage drop device is selectively activated based on first and second operating modes, and wherein the first voltage drop device has a first prescribed turn-on resistance; and a second voltage drop device that couples the third and the fourth operating voltage terminals, wherein the second voltage drop device is selectively activated based on the first and the second operating modes, and wherein the second voltage drop device has a second prescribed turn-on resistance.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 177 words
A power reduction circuit, comprising: a first switching device that couples a first operating voltage terminal and a second operating voltage terminal, wherein the first switching device is controlled by a first signal; a second switching device that couples a third operating voltage terminal and a fourth operating voltage terminal, wherein the second switching device is controlled by a second signal; a signal transfer gate logic that couples the second and the fourth operating voltage terminals to selectively output one of second and fourth operating voltages; a first voltage drop device that couples the first and the second operating voltage terminals, wherein the first voltage drop device is selectively activated based on first and second operating modes, and wherein the first voltage drop device has a first prescribed turn-on resistance; and a second voltage drop device that couples the third and the fourth operating voltage terminals, wherein the second voltage drop device is selectively activated based on the first and the second operating modes, and wherein the second voltage drop device has a second prescribed turn-on resistance.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 74 words
The power reduction circuit of claim 1, wherein the first switching device and the first voltage drop device form first and second current paths between the first and second operating voltage terminals, wherein the second switching device and the second voltage drop device form first and second current paths between the third and fourth operating voltage terminals, wherein the first signal is an active signal and the second signal is the inverse active signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 49 words
The power reduction circuit of claim 1, further comprising a first control device that activates the first voltage drop device by supplying the first operating voltage in the first operating mode and deactivates the first voltage drop device by supplying the third operating voltage in the second operating mode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 49 words
The power reduction circuit of claim 1, further comprising a second control device that activates the second voltage drop device by applying the third operating voltage in the first operating mode and deactivates the second voltage drop device by applying the first operating voltage in the second operating mode.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 213 words
A power reduction circuit, comprising: a first switching device that forms a first current path between a first operating voltage terminal and a second operating voltage terminal, wherein the first switching device is controlled by an active signal; a second switching device that forms a first current path between a third operating voltage terminal and a fourth operating voltage terminal, wherein the second switching device is controlled by an inverse active signal; a signal transfer gate logic that couples the second and the fourth operating voltage terminals to selectively output one of second and fourth operating voltages; first and second control devices; a first voltage drop device that forms a second current path between the first and the second operating voltage terminals, wherein the first voltage drop device is selectively activated by the first control device based on first and second operating modes, and wherein the first voltage drop device has a first prescribed turn-on resistance; and a second voltage drop device that forms a second current path between the third and the fourth operating voltage terminals, wherein the second voltage drop device is selectively activated by the second control device based on the first and the second operating modes, and wherein the second voltage drop device has a second prescribed turn-on resistance.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 213 words
A power reduction circuit, comprising: a first switching device that forms a first current path between a first operating voltage terminal and a second operating voltage terminal, wherein the first switching device is controlled by an active signal; a second switching device that forms a first current path between a third operating voltage terminal and a fourth operating voltage terminal, wherein the second switching device is controlled by an inverse active signal; a signal transfer gate logic that couples the second and the fourth operating voltage terminals to selectively output one of second and fourth operating voltages; first and second control devices; a first voltage drop device that forms a second current path between the first and the second operating voltage terminals, wherein the first voltage drop device is selectively activated by the first control device based on first and second operating modes, and wherein the first voltage drop device has a first prescribed turn-on resistance; and a second voltage drop device that forms a second current path between the third and the fourth operating voltage terminals, wherein the second voltage drop device is selectively activated by the second control device based on the first and the second operating modes, and wherein the second voltage drop device has a second prescribed turn-on resistance.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 47 words
The power reduction circuit of claim 5, wherein the first control device activates the first voltage drop device by supplying the first operating voltage in the first operating mode and deactivates the first voltage drop device by supplying the third operating voltage in the second operating mode.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 39 words
The power reduction circuit of claim 6, wherein the first voltage drop device is a first NMOS transistor, the first NMOS transistor having a drain and a source respectively coupled to the first and the second operating voltage terminals.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 68 words
The power reduction circuit of claim 6, wherein the first voltage drop device comprises a plurality of NMOS transistors coupled between the first and the second operating voltages, wherein one of the plurality of NMOS transistors receives an output signal of the first control device through its control electrode and each remaining one of the plurality of NMOS transistors has its control electrode coupled to its first electrode.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 103 words
The power reduction circuit of claim 6, wherein the first control device comprises: a first transistor that receives the first operating voltage at a first electrode and has a second electrode coupled to the first voltage drop device; and a second transistor having a first electrode coupled to the second operating voltage terminal, a second electrode coupled to the first voltage drop device and a control electrode coupled to a control electrode of the first transistor, and wherein a control signal of one of the first and second operating modes is applied to the control electrodes of the first and the second transistors.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 38 words
The power reduction circuit of claim 6, wherein the second operating voltage is equal to the first operating voltage reduced by a threshold voltage of the first voltage drop device, when the first voltage drop device is activated.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 76 words
The power reduction circuit of claim 5, wherein the first control device comprises: a PMOS transistor that outputs the first operating voltage to activate the first voltage drop device when enabled, wherein the PMOS transistor is enabled by a first operating mode control signal; and an NMOS transistor that outputs the third operating voltage to deactivate the first voltage drop device when enabled, wherein the NMOS transistor is enabled by the first operating mode control signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 47 words
The power reduction circuit of claim 5, wherein the second control device activates the second voltage drop device by applying the third operating voltage in the first operating mode and deactivates the second voltage drop device by applying the first operating voltage in the second operating mode.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 38 words
The power reduction circuit of claim 12, wherein the second voltage drop device is a first transistor, wherein first and second electrodes of the first transistor are respectively coupled to the third and the fourth operating voltage terminals.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 96 words
The power reduction circuit of claim 13, wherein the second control device comprises: a second transistor that receives the first operating voltage through a first electrode and has a second electrode coupled to the control electrode of the first transistor; and a third transistor that receives the third operating voltage through a first electrode and has a second electrode coupled to the control electrode of the first transistor, and wherein a control signal of one of the first and the second operating modes is applied to the control electrodes of the second and the third transistors.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 75 words
The power reduction circuit of claim 12, wherein the second voltage drop means comprises a plurality of PMOS transistors coupled in serial between the third and the fourth operating voltages, wherein one of the plurality of PMOS transistors receives an output signal of the second control device through its control electrode and each remaining one of the plurality of PMOS transistors operating as an active load with its control electrode coupled to its first electrode.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 38 words
The power reduction circuit of claim 12, wherein the fourth operating voltage is equal to the third operating voltage reduced by a threshold voltage of the second voltage drop device when the second voltage drop device is activated.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 93 words
The power reduction circuit of claim 5, wherein the second control device comprises: an NMOS transistor that outputs the fourth operating voltage to activate the second voltage drop device when enabled, wherein the NMOS transistor is enabled by the first operating mode control signal; and a PMOS transistor that outputs the third operating voltage to deactivate the second voltage drop device when enabled, wherein the PMOS transistor is enabled by the second operating mode control signal, wherein the second operating mode control signal is an inverse of the first operating mode control signal.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US5274601A Cited
US5583457A Cited
US5614847A Cited
US5828235A Cited
US5821769A Cited
US5781062A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2003-04-11 2003-10-11 2004-04-11 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2007-04-11 2007-10-11 2008-04-11 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2011-04-11 2011-10-11 2012-04-11 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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