Abstract: An AND gate includes first and second opposite-type field effect transistors, each including first and second conduction path terminals and a control electrode. The gate's output terminal is connected, in common, to the second conduction path terminals of the transistors. A first logic input is connected to the first conduction path terminal of the first transistor and a second logic input is connected in common to the control electrode of the first transistor and to the first conduction path terminal of the second transistor. A third logic input is applied to the control electrode of the second transistor. In a standby state prior to the application of logic signals all three logic inputs are in the same state. This assures no conduction of logic signals, while conditioning the gate for rapid selection when logic signals are applied. Subsequently, logic signals are applied to the inputs with the third input being the complement level of the logic signal on the first input.

Abstract: CMOS ECL drive circuit for providing regulated ECL logic levels. A CMOS logic circuit is connected by parallel N channel and P channel devices to serially connected N and P channel devices. The serially connected N and P channel devices are connected across a CMOS power supply with gate connections connected to the logic circuit. The parallel devices provide a regulating feedback current to one of the serially connected P channel and N channel devices during each of first and second ECL logic states. The feedback current effectively controls the bias on the gate connections of the serially connected P and N channel devices. The voltage at the junction of the serially connected P and N channel devices is regulated by each of the parallel connected devices.

Abstract: A semiconductor random access memory chip wherein the cycle time is less than the access time for any combination of read or write sequence. The semiconductor random access memory chip is partitioned into relatively small sub-arrays with local decoding and precharging. The memory chip operates in a pipelined manner with more than one access propagating through the chip at any given time and wherein the cycle time is limited by sub-array cycles wherein the cycle time is less than the access time for a memory chip having cycle times greater than access times for accesses through the same sub-array. The memory chip also incorporates dynamic storage techniques for achieving very fast access and precharge times.

Abstract: A transposable memory architecture for providing equally fast access to stored data in two or more dimensions. This architecture is provided by orthogonal wiring of access devices, word lines and bit lines with independent random accessing capability for data in each direction. The transposable memory architecture (TMA) cell directly inplements the TMA architecture using only one access device per dimension of access. This invention also describes multiple transposable memory architecture (MTMA) device for additional data path flexibility. The read and write operations described provide access and cycle times approximately equivalent to those for a convention one-dimension RAM.

Abstract: A high performance decoder/driver circuit for a semiconductor memory having A1 to AN (true) and A1 to AN (complement) address lines for receiving A1 to AN address bit signals thereon from internal address buffers. A .phi.PC line is included for receiving a .phi.PC precharge clock signal thereon and a .phi.R line is provided for receiving a .phi.R reset clock signal thereon. The decoder/driver circuit includes an OR decoder means having a plurality of transistor switching devices connected to A1 to AN-1 or A1 to AN-1 of the true and complement address lines for the AN to AN-1 address bits for producing a high or low level signal on an OR decoder output node depending on the address bits state.

Abstract: A circuit means for interfacing between small emitter-coupled-logic (ECL) circuit voltage levels and larger field effect transistor (FET) circuits voltage level. The circuit interface means includes a source-follower stage wherein a first transistor device is ratioed relative to a second transistor device, so that a high percentage of an input voltage level signal to the first transistor device appears at a node between the first and second transistor devices, having been level shifted downward by greater than or equal to an n-channel threshold voltage. The percentage is enhanced by applying the complement of the input voltage level signal to the gate of the second transistor device. A gain stage is connected to the source-follower stage and includes third and fourth transistor devices wherein gain is developed by applying the level shifted input signal to the source of the fourth transistor device and the complement of the input signal directly to the gate of the fourth transistor device.

Abstract: An interface circuit for use as a circuit interface between bipolar ECL logic circuits and field effect transistor circuits. The interface circuit includes an amplifier circuit having an enhancement level shifting and enhancement multiplier device wherein sensitivity to device threshold variations are essentially eliminated. The level shifting portion of the amplifier comprises a load device plus an enhancement type input field effect transistor having a common drain and gate and with its source connected to the incoming ECL level. In dual rail operation, the load device has its gate modulated by the complement of the incoming signal. The output of this stage is the ECL signal shifted upwards by slightly more than the enhancement threshold voltage, making it possible to drive the next multiplier stage without use of any depletion implant.

Abstract: A complementary input circuit with a nonlinear front end is used to transfer the state of an external input to the internal signal lines of an intetraged circuit chip such as a dynamic or static RAM. The combination of a nonlinear front end and a "partially" cross-coupled complementary latch provide good level detection.

Abstract: A decoder/driver circuit for a semiconductor momory having a A1 to AN (true) and A1 to AN (complement) address lines for receiving A1 to AN address bit signals thereon from internal address buffers. A .PHI.PC line is included for receiving a .PHI.PC precharge clock signal thereon and a .PHI.R line is provided for receiving a .PHI.R reset clock signal thereon. The decoder/driver circuit includes a NOR decoder means having a plurality of transistor switching devices connected to A1 to AN-1 or A1 to AN-1 of the true and complement address lines for the AN to AN-1 address bits for producing a high or low level signal on a decoder output node depending on the address bits state. The decoder/driver circuit further includes a selection means having a plurality of transistor devices connected to the output node of the decoder to produce a first selection signal when the decoder output node and the AN line is high and a second selection signal when the decoder output node and the AN line is high.

Abstract: A digital shifter/rotator for shifting an input word by an amount depending on a shift control word is described. The shifter/rotator comprises an array of FET pass transistors arranged in a sequential number of stages. The amount to be shifted in each stage is controlled by a corresponding shift control bit of the shift control word, whereby the output word of the rotator is the input word shifted by an amount equal to a sum of the number of shifts effected in each of the stages as determined by the shift control word. The rotator features selectable amount of shift in one machine cycle, high performance and reduced device count. Further improved performance is obtained by utilizing decoupling devices for isolating the input points of the stages, except when providing rotation, from the long rotation cross buses and its associated large parasitic capacitances.

Abstract: A heterojunction semiconductor is provided where the carrier transport dimension is governed by a layer thickness and where the characteristics of the materials self-limit process steps. A field effect transistor is provided wherein the work function is matched across regions to reduce limits on the channel dimension. A vertical transistor is provided wherein a vertical web is formed with precise thickness governed by electrolytic etching using photogenerated carrier current.

Abstract: An energy discriminator is provided wherein energy, entering through a receiving surface into a multilayer semiconductor monocrystalline body is converted into hole-electron pair carriers in different particular energy responsive layers and the electrons thereof are collected in potential wells that are asymmetric to electron flow associated with the particular layer.

Abstract: An FET high performance driver circuit which is especially effective in an environment wherein both large input and output capacitive loads are present is described. The driver features a push-pull output circuit, a clocked load, and a switched transfer depletion FET adapted to decouple the large input capacitive load from an internal node of the driver circuit. This switched decoupling allows an isolation of the large input capacitance from the internal node, whereby the internal node potential can be raised rapidly, and the bootstrapping effectiveness at the internal node can be enhanced so as to significantly increase the circuit operating speed in driving large output capacitive loads.

Abstract: A heterojunction semiconductor is provided where the carrier transport dimension is governed by a layer thickness and where the characteristics of the materials self-limit process steps. A field effect transistor is provided wherein the work function is matched across regions to reduce limits on the channel dimension. A vertical transistor is provided wherein a vertical web is formed with precise thickness governed by electrolytic etching using photogenerated carrier current.