Patents Assigned to Ramax, Inc.
  • Patent number: 5596545
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device with internal self-refreshing is provided. The invented memory device has a programmable internal oscillator for controlling a self-refreshing time period. The internal oscillator obviates the need for an external signal for refreshing data stored in the device's memory cells. The pin-out configuration of the device is analogous to the pin-out configuration of an SRAM device, so that the invented device can replace an SRAM device on a circuit board. The self-refreshing time period is programmable to different time periods depending upon the intended use of the device for minimizing power consumption by the device. The oscillator provides an output pulse for incrementing an address counter which generates internal refreshing addresses and also activates a memory word line for memory cell refreshing. A comparator compares an external address and the internal refreshing address generated by the counter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1997
    Assignee: Ramax, Inc.
    Inventor: Ya-Chi Lin