Patents by Inventor Seiichi Yoneda

Seiichi Yoneda has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8704221
    Abstract: A semiconductor device with high productivity and high yield is provided. The semiconductor device includes a word line, a capacitor line, a first bit line, a second bit line, and a first transistor and a second transistor each of which includes a gate, a source, and a drain. The first transistor and the second transistor at least partly overlap with each other, and the gates of the first transistor and the second transistor are connected to the word line. A capacitor is formed between at least part of the capacitor line and each of the drains of the first transistor and the second transistor. The first bit line is connected to the source of the first transistor, and the second bit line is connected to the source of the second transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiichi Yoneda, Takuro Ohmaru
  • Patent number: 8664658
    Abstract: An n-channel transistor or a p-channel transistor provided with a second gate electrode for controlling a threshold voltage in addition to a normal gate electrode is used for a complementary logic circuit. In addition, an insulated gate field-effect transistor with an extremely low off-state current is used as a switching element to control the potential of the second gate electrode. A channel formation region of the transistor which functions as a switching element includes a semiconductor material whose band gap is wider than that of a silicon semiconductor and whose intrinsic carrier density is lower than that of silicon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seiichi Yoneda
  • Patent number: 8659015
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an antenna functioning as a coil, a capacitor electrically connected to the antenna in parallel, a passive element forming a resonance circuit with the antenna and the capacitor by being electrically connected to the antenna and the capacitor in parallel, a first field effect transistor controlling whether the passive element is electrically connected to the antenna and the capacitor in parallel or not, and a memory circuit. The memory circuit includes a second field effect transistor which includes an oxide semiconductor layer where a channel is formed and in which a data signal is input to one of a source and a drain. The gate voltage of the first field effect transistor is set depending on the voltage of the other of the source and the drain of the second field effect transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seiichi Yoneda
  • Publication number: 20140015566
    Abstract: An object is to provide a programmable logic device having logic blocks connected to each other by a programmable switch, where the programmable switch is characterized by an oxide semiconductor transistor incorporated therein. The extremely low off-state current of the oxide semiconductor transistor provides a function as a non-volatile memory due to its high ability to hold a potential of a gate electrode of a transistor which is connected to the oxide semiconductor transistor. The ability of the oxide semiconductor transistor to function as a non-volatile memory allows the configuration data for controlling the connection of the logic blocks to be maintained even in the absence of a power supply potential. Hence, the rewriting process of the configuration data at starting of the device can be omitted, which contributes to the reduction in power consumption of the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiichi YONEDA, Tatsuji NISHIJIMA
  • Publication number: 20140003146
    Abstract: A signal processing circuit that consumes less power by stop of supply of power for a short time. In a storage element, before supply of power is stopped, data in a first storage circuit is stored to a second storage circuit, and the data is read from the second storage circuit and a verification circuit can determine whether or not the data in the second storage circuit matches the data in the first storage circuit. After supply of power is restarted, the data in the second storage circuit is stored to the first storage circuit, and the verification circuit can determine whether or not the data in the second storage circuit matches the data in the first storage circuit. In such a manner, verification can be performed without requiring a time for verification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Inventors: Seiichi Yoneda, Atsuo Isobe, Yuji Iwaki, Koichiro Kamata, Yasuyuki Takahashi, Masumi Nomura
  • Publication number: 20130326309
    Abstract: A data saving period control circuit; a power gating control circuit; and a data processing circuit including a general-purpose register, an error correction code storage register, and an error correction code circuit are included. The general-purpose register and the error correction code storage register each include a volatile memory unit and a nonvolatile memory unit. The data saving period control circuit is a circuit for changing a length of a data saving period in which data output from the power gating control circuit is saved from the volatile memory unit to the nonvolatile memory unit included in the general-purpose register, depending on whether an error in an error correction code stored in the error correction code storage register is detected by the error correction code circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Seiichi YONEDA
  • Publication number: 20130315011
    Abstract: A semiconductor device in which a nonvolatile memory can normally operate and power saving can be performed with a P-state function, and a driving method of the semiconductor device are provided. The semiconductor device includes: a first circuit configured to control a state including a driving voltage and a clock frequency of a processor core; a first memory circuit and a second memory circuit which store state data; a second circuit generating a power supply voltage and a third circuit generating a clock which are electrically connected to the first circuit; and the processor core electrically connected to the second circuit and the third circuit through a switch. The processor cores includes: a volatile memory; and a nonvolatile memory transmitting and receiving data to/from the first memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Takahashi, Seiichi Yoneda
  • Patent number: 8581625
    Abstract: An object is to provide a programmable logic device having logic blocks connected to each other by a programmable switch, where the programmable switch is characterized by an oxide semiconductor transistor incorporated therein. The extremely low off-state current of the oxide semiconductor transistor provides a function as a non-volatile memory due to its high ability to hold a potential of a gate electrode of a transistor which is connected to the oxide semiconductor transistor. The ability of the oxide semiconductor transistor to function as a non-volatile memory allows the configuration data for controlling the connection of the logic blocks to be maintained even in the absence of a power supply potential. Hence, the rewriting process of the configuration data at starting of the device can be omitted, which contributes to the reduction in power consumption of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiichi Yoneda, Tatsuji Nishijima
  • Patent number: 8570065
    Abstract: A low-power programmable LSI that can perform dynamic configuration is provided. The programmable LSI includes a plurality of logic elements. The plurality of logic elements each include a configuration memory. Each of the plurality of logic elements performs different arithmetic processing and changes an electrical connection between the logic elements, in accordance with the configuration data stored in the configuration memory. The configuration memory includes a set of a volatile storage circuit and a nonvolatile storage circuit. The nonvolatile storage circuit includes a transistor whose channel is formed in an oxide semiconductor layer and a capacitor whose one of a pair of electrodes is electrically connected to a node that is set in a floating state when the transistor is turned off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidetomo Kobayashi, Masami Endo, Yutaka Shionoiri, Hiroki Dembo, Tatsuji Nishijima, Kazuaki Ohshima, Seiichi Yoneda, Jun Koyama
  • Patent number: 8564331
    Abstract: A semiconductor device in which an input terminal is electrically connected to a first terminal of a first transmission gate; a second terminal of the first transmission gate is electrically connected to a first terminal of a first inverter and a second terminal of a functional circuit; a second terminal of the first inverter and a first terminal of the functional circuit are electrically connected to a first terminal of a second transmission gate; a second terminal of the second transmission gate is electrically connected to a first terminal of a second inverter and a second terminal of a clocked inverter; a second terminal of the second inverter and a first terminal of the clocked inverter are electrically connected to an output terminal; and the functional circuit includes a data holding portion between a transistor with small off-state current and a capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seiichi Yoneda
  • Publication number: 20130270551
    Abstract: An isolator circuit capable of two-way electrical disconnection and a semiconductor device including the isolator circuit are provided. A data holding portion is provided in an isolator circuit without the need for additional provision of a data holding portion outside the isolator circuit, and data which is to be input to a logic circuit that is in an off state at this moment is stored in the data holding portion. The data holding portion may be formed using a transistor with small off-state current and a buffer. The buffer can include an inverter circuit and a clocked inverter circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seiichi Yoneda
  • Publication number: 20130262896
    Abstract: Power consumption is reduced. A processor includes an instruction register unit in which data of a plurality of instructions is fetched; an instruction decoder unit in which each of the plurality of instructions is translated; a logic unit including a functional circuit which is supplied with a clock signal and a power source voltage, supplied with a data signal including the translated data of the instructions, and operates in accordance with the supplied data of the instructions; a data analysis unit in which the translated data is analyzed so as to calculate a non-operating period of the functional circuit, and a control signal is generated; and a control unit which controls the supply of the clock signal or both the clock signal and the power source voltage to the functional circuit in accordance with the control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seiichi Yoneda
  • Publication number: 20130262828
    Abstract: A low-power processor that does not easily malfunction is provided. Alternatively, a low-power processor having high processing speed is provided. Alternatively, a method for driving the processor is provided. In power gating, the processor performs part of data backup in parallel with arithmetic processing and performs part of data recovery in parallel with arithmetic processing. Such a driving method prevents a sharp increase in power consumption in a data backup period and a data recovery period and generation of instantaneous voltage drops and inhibits increases of the data backup period and the data recovery period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Seiichi Yoneda
  • Publication number: 20130229205
    Abstract: A programmable logic device includes a plurality of arithmetic circuits; a configuration changing circuit for changing a logic state of each of the plurality of arithmetic circuits by rewriting configuration data; a power supply control circuit for switching between start and stop of supply of power supply voltage to the plurality of arithmetic circuits; a state memory circuit for storing data on configuration, data on a state of power supply voltage, data on use frequency, and data on last use of each of the plurality of arithmetic circuits; and an arithmetic state control circuit for controlling the configuration changing circuit and the power supply control circuit in accordance with the data stored in the state memory circuit. One of the plurality of arithmetic circuits includes a transistor comprising an oxide semiconductor film in a channel formation region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seiichi Yoneda
  • Publication number: 20120311365
    Abstract: An object is to provide a programmable logic device configured to keep a connection state of logic circuits even while power supply voltage is stopped. The programmable logic device includes arithmetic circuits each of whose logic state can be changed; a configuration changing circuit changing the logic states of the arithmetic circuits; a power supply control circuit controlling supply of power supply voltage to the arithmetic circuits; a state memory circuit storing data on the logic states and data on states of the power supply voltage of the arithmetic circuits; and an arithmetic state control circuit controlling the configuration changing circuit and the power supply control circuit in accordance with the data stored in the state memory circuit. A transistor in which a channel formation region is formed in an oxide semiconductor layer is provided between the configuration changing circuit and each of the arithmetic circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seiichi Yoneda, Jun Koyama, Yutaka Shionoiri, Masami Endo, Hiroki Dembo, Tatsuji Nishijima, Hidetomo Kobayashi, Kazuaki Ohshima
  • Publication number: 20120294066
    Abstract: A semiconductor storage device which stops and resumes the supply of power supply voltage without the necessity of saving and returning a data signal between a volatile storage device and a nonvolatile storage device is provided. In the semiconductor storage device, data is held in a data holding portion connected to a transistor including a semiconductor layer containing an oxide semiconductor and a capacitor. The potential of the data held in the data holding portion is controlled by a data potential holding circuit and a data potential control circuit. The data potential holding circuit can output data without leaking electric charge, and the data potential control circuit can control the potential of the data held in the data holding portion without leaking electric charge by capacitive coupling through the capacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Seiichi Yoneda
  • Publication number: 20120293202
    Abstract: An object is to provide a programmable logic device which can hold configuration data even when a power supply potential is not supplied, has short start-up time of a logic block after the power is supplied, and can operate with low power. A transistor in a memory portion of a programmable switch includes a material which allows a sufficient reduction in off-state current of the transistor, such as an oxide semiconductor material which is a wide bandgap semiconductor. When the semiconductor material which allows a sufficient reduction in off-state current of the transistor is used, configuration data can be held even when a power supply potential is not supplied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuji NISHIJIMA, Seiichi YONEDA
  • Publication number: 20120293206
    Abstract: An object is to provide a programmable logic device having logic blocks connected to each other by a programmable switch, where the programmable switch is characterized by an oxide semiconductor transistor incorporated therein. The extremely low off-state current of the oxide semiconductor transistor provides a function as a non-volatile memory due to its high ability to hold a potential of a gate electrode of a transistor which is connected to the oxide semiconductor transistor. The ability of the oxide semiconductor transistor to function as a non-volatile memory allows the configuration data for controlling the connection of the logic blocks to be maintained even in the absence of a power supply potential. Hence, the rewriting process of the configuration data at starting of the device can be omitted, which contributes to the reduction in power consumption of the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seiichi YONEDA, Tatsuji NISHIJIMA
  • Publication number: 20120286823
    Abstract: A semiconductor device in which an input terminal is electrically connected to a first terminal of a first transmission gate; a second terminal of the first transmission gate is electrically connected to a first terminal of a first inverter and a second terminal of a functional circuit; a second terminal of the first inverter and a first terminal of the functional circuit are electrically connected to a first terminal of a second transmission gate; a second terminal of the second transmission gate is electrically connected to a first terminal of a second inverter and a second terminal of a clocked inverter; a second terminal of the second inverter and a first terminal of the clocked inverter are electrically connected to an output terminal; and the functional circuit includes a data holding portion between a transistor with small off-state current and a capacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Seiichi YONEDA
  • Publication number: 20120286851
    Abstract: A register circuit is provided which can hold data even after being powered off and which does not require a save operation and a return operation. In a register circuit including a plurality of register component circuits, a first transistor with small off-state current, and a second transistor with small off-state current, a data holding portion is connected to one of a source and a drain of the first transistor and one of a source and a drain of the second transistor. Since the first transistor and the second transistor have a small off-state current, electric charge does not leak from the data holding portion, and data is held by the data holding portion even after the register circuit is powered off. Thus, a save operation and a return operation are not required.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Seiichi Yoneda