Patents Represented by Law Firm Blakely, Sokoloff, Taylor, Taylor & Zafman LLP
  • Patent number: 6043684
    Abstract: The integrated circuit includes an input path circuit with an address path having an input buffer for providing address signals to a register. A separate clock path having an input buffer provides a clock signal for clocking the register. The input buffers of both the address path and the clock path include input buffer cells configured to reduce timing delay differences caused by process variations while minimizing current leakage. An exemplary input buffer cell described herein includes a first inverter stage with a pair of NMOS devices connected in series with a PMOS device and a second inverter stage having an additional PMOS device connected along a feedback path around an inverter. The PMOS device along the feedback path operates to assist the pair of NMOS devices to pull a voltage input to the inverter to a high logic state, when an input to the cell is held low, to prevent leakage current through the inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventor: Greg J. Landry