Abstract: An integrated circuit is provided comprising a latch circuit including, a first inverter including a first high threshold voltage PMOS transistor and a first high threshold voltage NMOS transistor with a first data node comprising interconnected source/drains (S/D) of the first PMOS and NMOS transistors; a second inverter including a second high threshold voltage PMOS transistor and a second high threshold voltage NMOS transistor with a second data node comprising interconnected source/drains (S/D) of the second PMOS and NMOS transistors; wherein the gates of the first PMOS and first NMOS transistors are coupled to the second data node; wherein the gates of the second PMOS and second NMOS transistors are coupled to the first data node; a first low threshold voltage access transistor including a first S/D coupled to the first data node and to the gate of the second PMOS transistor and to the gate of the second NMOS transistor and including a second S/D coupled to a first data access node and including a gate c

Abstract: Circuits and methods for suppressing integrated circuit leakage currents are described. Many of these circuits and methods are particularly well-suited for use in dynamic memory circuits. Examples describe the use of power, ground, or both and power and ground source transistors used for generating virtual voltages. An aspect of the invention describes lowering refresh current. An aspect describes reducing the standby current. An aspect of the invention describes lowering leakage resulting from duplicated circuits, such as row decoders and word line drivers. An aspect describes methods of performing early wake-up of source transistors. A number of source transistor control mechanisms are taught. Circuit layouts methods are taught for optimizing integrated circuit layouts using the source transistors.

Abstract: Source transistor configurations are described for reducing leakage and delay within integrated circuits. Virtual power and ground nodes are supported with the use of stacked transistor configurations, such as a two transistor stack between a first virtual supply connection and VSS, and a second virtual supply connection and VDD. Gate drives of these stacked transistors are modulated with different voltage levels in response to the operating power mode of the circuit, for example active mode, active-standby mode, and deep power-down mode. Means for driving these source stacks are described. In one embodiment separate virtual nodes are adapted for different types of circuits, such as buffers, row address strobe, and column address strobe. Other techniques, such as directional placement of the transistors is also described.

Abstract: An integrated circuit is provided which includes a multi-state circuit with a first PMOS transistor and a first NMOS transistor. In an active mode, the multi-state circuit is operable to switch between a first state in which the first PMOS transistor is turned on and the first NMOS transistor is turned off and a second state in which the first PMOS transistor is turned off and the first NMOS transistor is turned on. A power source NMOS transistor has a drain connected to a supply voltage terminal and has a source connected to a source of the first PMOS transistor. A power source PMOS transistor has a drain connected to a an effective ground terminal and has a source connected to a source of the first NMOS transistor.

Abstract: A digital transmission circuit and method providing selectable power consumption via multiple weighted driver slices improves the flexibility of an interface while reducing transmitter power consumption, area and complexity when possible. A cascaded series of driver stages is provided by a set of parallel slices and a control logic that activates one or more of the slices, which combine to produce a cascaded active driver circuit. The power consumption/drive level selectability of the slice combination provides a driver that can be fine-tuned to particular applications to provide the required performance at a minimum power consumption level.

Abstract: A digital transmission circuit and method providing selectable power consumption via single-ended or differential operation improves the flexibility of an interface while reducing power consumption when possible. A differential path is provided through the transmitter output driver stages and portions are selectively disabled when the transmission circuit is in a lower-power operating mode. A single-ended to differential converter circuit can be used to construct a differential signal for output to the final driver stage. The selection of power mode can be made via feedback from a channel quality measurement unit or may be hardwired or selected under programmatic control. The longer delay or skew of the lower-power single-ended mode is compensated for by the relaxed requirements of the channel when conditions permit the use of the lower-power single-ended mode.

Abstract: A phase detector employs a modified logic gate in conjunction with a set/reset latch to make a phase detector that generates control outputs for use in increasing and decreasing the delay in a delay circuit in the path of a feedback clock generated by delaying a reference clock. The delay circuit provides a controllable delay from less than to greater than one clock cycle of the reference clock. The phase detector generates an up control (UP) signal for increasing delay when the feedback clock leads the reference clock and a down control (DN) signal for decreasing delay when the feedback clock lags the reference clock. The UP signal and DN signal are updated each clock cycle when the leading clock edge makes a transition.

Abstract: An integrated circuit is provided comprising a first NMOS transistor; a first PMOS transistor; a second NMOS transistor; a second PMOS transistor; a first bias voltage node coupled to a first source/drain of the first NMOS transistor; a second bias voltage node coupled to a first source/drain of the second PMOS; a third bias voltage node coupled to a gate of the first PMOS transistor; a fourth bias voltage node coupled to a gate of the second NMOS transistor; a pull-up node coupling a second source/drain of the first NMOS transistor to a first source/drain of the first PMOS transistor; a pull-down node coupling a second source/drain of the second PMOS transistor to a first source/drain of the second NMOS transistor; an input node; a storage node coupling a second source/drain of the first PMOS transistor to a second source/drain of the second NMOS transistor; an output node; an input switch coupled to controllably communicate an input data value from the input node to a gate of the first NMOS transistor and t

Abstract: A phase detector employs a modified logic gate in conjunction with a set/reset latch to make a phase detector that generates control outputs for use in increasing and decreasing the delay in a delay circuit in the path of a feedback clock generated by delaying a reference clock. The delay circuit provides a controllable delay from less than to greater than one clock cycle of the reference clock. The phase detector generates an up control (UP) signal for increasing delay when the feedback clock leads the reference clock and a down control (DN) signal for decreasing delay when the feedback clock lags the reference clock. The UP signal and DN signal are updated each clock cycle when the leading clock edge makes a transition.

Abstract: An integrated circuit is provided comprising a first NMOS transistor; a first PMOS transistor; a second NMOS transistor; a second PMOS transistor; a first bias voltage node coupled to a first source/drain of the first NMOS transistor; a second bias voltage node coupled to a first source/drain of the second PMOS; a third bias voltage node coupled to a gate of the first PMOS transistor; a fourth bias voltage node coupled to a gate of the second NMOS transistor; a pull-up node coupling a second source/drain of the first NMOS transistor to a first source/drain of the first PMOS transistor; a pull-down node coupling a second source/drain of the second PMOS transistor to a first source/drain of the second NMOS transistor; an input node; a storage node coupling a second source/drain of the first PMOS transistor to a second source/drain of the second NMOS transistor; an output node; an input switch coupled to controllably communicate an input data value from the input node to a gate of the first NMOS transistor and t

Abstract: Methods and circuits are described for reducing power consumption within digital logic circuits by blocking the passage of clock signal transitions to the logic circuits when the clock signal would not produce a desired change of state within the logic circuit, such as at inputs, intermediary nodes, outputs, or combinations. By way of example, the incoming clock is blocked if a given set of logic inputs will not result in an output change of state if a clock signal transition were to be received. By way of further example, the incoming clock is blocked in a data flip-flop if the input signal matches the output signal, such that receipt of a clock transition would not produce a desired change of state in the latched output. The invention may be utilized for creating lower power combinatorial and/or sequential logic circuit stages subject to less unproductive charging and discharging of gate capacitances.

Abstract: Methods, and arrangements to enhance speed and reduce power consumption in a scanable latch circuit are disclosed. Embodiments include a wired-or circuit to facilitate independent paths for scan data and normal input data through the scanable latch circuit. In particular, to reduce delays related to gates between the input pin for the system clock and a normal input gate, dual, substantially independent paths are implemented: a scan path and a normal input path. Embodiments coordinate transmission of data from a normal input gate and a scan input gate to an output latch, a scan out pin, and/or combinational logic by incorporating buffers that isolate a wired-or node from either the scan input gate, the normal input gate, or both with a high impedance.

Abstract: An integrated circuit is provided which includes a multi-state circuit with a first PMOS transistor and a first NMOS transistor. In an active mode, the multi-state circuit is operable to switch between a first state in which the first PMOS transistor is turned on and the first NMOS transistor is turned off and a second state in which the first PMOS transistor is turned off and the first NMOS transistor is turned on. A power source NMOS transistor has a drain connected to a supply voltage terminal and has a source connected to a source of the first PMOS transistor. A power source PMOS transistor has a drain connected to a an effective ground terminal and has a source connected to a source of the first NMOS transistor.

Abstract: An integrated circuit is provided comprising a latch circuit including, a first inverter including a first high threshold voltage PMOS transistor and a first high threshold voltage NMOS transistor with a first data node comprising interconnected source/drains (S/D) of the first PMOS and NMOS transistors; a second inverter including a second high threshold voltage PMOS transistor and a second high threshold voltage NMOS transistor with a second data node comprising interconnected source/drains (S/D) of the second PMOS and NMOS transistors; wherein the gates of the first PMOS and first NMOS transistors are coupled to the second data node; wherein the gates of the second PMOS and second NMOS transistors are coupled to the first data node; a first low threshold voltage access transistor including a first S/D coupled to the first data node and to the gate of the second PMOS transistor and to the gate of the second NMOS transistor and including a second S/D coupled to a first data access node and including a gate c

Abstract: An integrated circuit is provided which includes a multi-state circuit with a first PMOS transistor and a first NMOS transistor. In an active mode, the multi-state circuit is operable to switch between a first state in which the first PMOS transistor is turned on and the first NMOS transistor is turned off and a second state in which the first PMOS transistor is turned off and the first NMOS transistor is turned on. A power source NMOS transistor has a drain connected to a supply voltage terminal and has a source connected to a source of the first PMOS transistor. A power source PMOS transistor has a drain connected to a an effective ground terminal and has a source connected to a source of the first NMOS transistor.

Abstract: Methods, and arrangements to enhance speed and reduce power consumption in a scanable latch circuit are disclosed. Embodiments include a wired-or circuit to facilitate independent paths for scan data and normal input data through the scanable latch circuit. In particular, to reduce delays related to gates between the input pin for the system clock and a normal input gate, dual, substantially independent paths are implemented: a scan path and a normal input path. Embodiments coordinate transmission of data from a normal input gate and a scan input gate to an output latch, a scan out pin, and/or combinational logic by incorporating buffers that isolate a wired-or node from either the scan input gate, the normal input gate, or both with a high impedance.

Abstract: An integrated circuit is provided which includes a multi-state circuit with a first PMOS transistor and a first NMOS transistor. In an active mode, the multi-state circuit is operable to switch between a first state in which the first PMOS transistor is turned on and the first NMOS transistor is turned off and a second state in which the first PMOS transistor is turned off and the first NMOS transistor is turned on. A power source NMOS transistor has a drain connected to a supply voltage terminal and has a source connected to a source of the first PMOS transistor. A power source PMOS transistor has a drain connected to a an effective ground terminal and has a source connected to a source of the first NMOS transistor.

Abstract: An integrated circuit is provided comprising a latch circuit including, a first inverter including a first high threshold voltage PMOS transistor and a first high threshold voltage NMOS transistor with a first data node comprising interconnected source/drains (S/D) of the first PMOS and NMOS transistors; a second inverter including a second high threshold voltage PMOS transistor and a second high threshold voltage NMOS transistor with a second data node comprising interconnected source/drains (S/D) of the second PMOS and NMOS transistors; wherein the gates of the first PMOS and first NMOS transistors are coupled to the second data node; wherein the gates of the second PMOS and second NMOS transistors are coupled to the first data node; a first low threshold voltage access transistor including a first S/D coupled to the first data node and to the gate of the second PMOS transistor and to the gate of the second NMOS transistor and including a second S/D coupled to a first data access node and including a gate c

Abstract: Methods and arrangements for enhancing domino logic are disclosed. Embodiments include a keeper circuit to pull up a domino node in response an output of an output circuit when the domino node is at a high voltage and to stop pulling up the domino node before the output changes to a first logical output. Further embodiments include an accelerator circuit to pull down the domino node when the keeper circuit stops pulling up the domino node. The domino node may couple with a pre-charge circuit and be pre-charged to a high voltage during a first portion of a clock cycle. The domino node may also couple with a logic input circuit to pull down the domino node during a second portion of the clock cycle, causing the output circuit to change the output from low to high in response to logic signals.

Abstract: Methods and arrangements for enhancing domino logic are disclosed. Embodiments include a keeper circuit to pull up a domino node in response an output of an output circuit when the domino node is at a high voltage and to stop pulling up the domino node before the output changes to a first logical output. Further embodiments include an accelerator circuit to pull down the domino node when the keeper circuit stops pulling up the domino node. The domino node may couple with a pre-charge circuit and be pre-charged to a high voltage during a first portion of a clock cycle. The domino node may also couple with a logic input circuit to pull down the domino node during a second portion of the clock cycle, causing the output circuit to change the output from low to high in response to logic signals.