Abstract: A display apparatus includes a display panel which displays an image, a backlight unit which provides light to the display panel, a heat sink plate adjacent to the backlight unit, the heat sink plate including a catch portion on one side surface thereof, and a mold frame between the display panel and the backlight unit, the mold frame including a first hook which is coupled with the catch portion.

Abstract: Disclosed is a backlight unit and a display device using the same, which includes a first reflector, a second reflector 300 and at least one light source module 100 disposed between the first and second reflectors, wherein a back surface of the first reflector comprises an inclined plane 201 and a flat surface 202, with facing the second reflector, and the inclined plane is adjacent to the light source and the flat surface is extended from an end of the inclined plane, with the inclined plane and the flat surface being collinear.

Abstract: In a light guide plate used in a lighting device, light-emitting elements are arranged at first intervals. However, the light emitting elements are partly arranged at second interval which is larger than the first intervals. Therefore, a rectangular shaped second diffusing areas formed by grooves are provided in an outer edge area arranged between a first diffusing area having a plurality of grooves (diffusing pattern) formed thereon and an end portion of the light guide plate so as to have a width smaller than the second intervals so as to face areas in which the light emitting elements are arranged at the second intervals.

Abstract: An illumination apparatus includes: a light guiding plate; a plurality of light-emitting elements disposed along a side-end surface of the light guiding plate that serves as a light-entry portion, each of the plurality of light-emitting elements having a light-emitting surface facing toward the side-end surface; a light source substrate that extends along the light-entry portion and has the plurality of light-emitting elements disposed thereon on one surface side that faces the light-entry portion; and a connector member, held on another surface side of the light source substrate that opposes the one surface side, for supplying power to the plurality of light-emitting elements.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a shell, a circuit board, a light source mounted on the circuit board, a light guiding member defining a first pattern, a transparent light adjusting member defining a second pattern, a driving member, a sliding member slidably received in the shell, an optical sensor and a processor. The light adjusting member is revolvably mounted to the shell. The sliding member is mechanically coupled to the light adjusting member. The driving member is configured to drive the sliding member to move linearly so as to enable the sliding member to drive the light adjusting member to revolve, thereby rotation of the second pattern relative to the first pattern causing variation of light intensity passing through the light adjusting member. The optical sensor detects the ambient brightness. The process controls the driving member based on the ambient brightness.

Abstract: An illumination device that can enhance the efficiency of utilization of light is provided. This illumination device includes LEDs (15) that are arranged opposite the light entrance surface (12c) of a light guide plate (12) and an optical path (LP) partitioned by an optically reflective surface (5a) and an optically reflective surface (6a). In at least an optical path region (A) on the side of the light entrance surface (12c) of the entire region of the optical path (LP), the optically reflective surface (5a) and the optically reflective surface (6a) are arranged parallel to each other, and a distance between the optically reflective surface (5a) and the optically reflective surface (6a) in an LED arrangement region (LA) is made greater than a distance between the optically reflective surface (5a) and the optically reflective surface (6a) in the optical path region (A).

Abstract: A dazzle prevention lighting fixture includes a holder frame, two light sources bilaterally mounted in the holder frame, and a light guide, which includes a diffuser prism sheet set between the light sources and adapted for diffusing emitted light rays from the light sources into a uniform light source and a back reflection sheet covered on the back side of the diffuser prism sheet and adapted for reflecting the diffused light rays from the diffuser prism sheet toward a predetermined target unit.

Abstract: A spread illuminating apparatus includes a point light source; a light guiding plate having a light incident face on which the point light source is mounted, and a light output face. The light incident face has light incident prisms diffusing light emitted from the point light source into a planar space substantially parallel with the light output face. The light incident prisms include: a first prism portion including a plurality of first prisms convex relative to the light incident face; and a second prism portion including a second prism convex relative to the light incident face, the second prism portion being placed next to the first prism portion in a longitudinal direction of the light incident face. The first prism partially overlaps another first prism adjacent thereto, and the vertex of each first prism is set higher than the vertex of the second prism relative to the light incident face.

Abstract: An electronic device includes an enclosure and a light-guide structure. The enclosure includes a bottom plate and a top plate. A circuit board is attached to the bottom plate. The light-guide structure includes a light source, an indicator-lamp head, and a light-guide post located between the light source and the indicator-lamp head. The light source is electronically connected to the circuit board to emit a plurality of light beams substantially perpendicular to the circuit board. The indicator-lamp head is attached to the top plate. The light-guide post includes at least one reflecting surface. The indicator-lamp head and the light source are arranged at a line that is not perpendicular to a plane of the circuit board, and the plurality of light beams are reflected by the at least one reflecting surface, and transmits to the indicator-lamp head.

Abstract: An electronic device includes an enclosure and a light-guide structure. The enclosure includes a bottom plate and a side plate. A circuit board is attached to the bottom plate. The light-guide structure includes a light source, an indicator-lamp head, and a light-guide post located between the light source and the indicator-lamp head. The light source is electronically connected to the circuit board to emit a plurality of parallel lights substantially perpendicular to the circuit board. The indicator-lamp head is attached to the side plate. The light-guide post includes a curve surface adjacent to the indicator-lamp head. The curve surface includes an arcuate convex surface towards the indicator-lamp head, and the arcuate convex surface is adapted to reflect the plurality of parallel lights and transmits the plurality of parallel lights into a plurality of emanative lights towards the indicator-lamp head.

Abstract: A light guide plate with an adjustable illumination angle and an illumination device using the same are provided. The light guide plate has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The second surface further has a plurality of deformable microstructures thereon. The deformable microstructures will be deformed when an external force is applied to the deformable microstructures. The illumination device has a light source and a light guide plate that is disposed next to the light source. A light beam emitted from the light source enters into the light guide plate and leaves the light guide plate via reflecting or refracting by the deformable microstructures. By applying a different external force to the light guide plate, the deformation of the deformable microstructures will be varied. Therefore, the illumination angle of the light beam could be changed according to the deformation of the deformable microstructures.

Abstract: An edge lighting device, and a method of providing edge lighting, including providing a lighting device with at least one light emitting diode (LED) chip embedded therein, wherein the LED chip(s) generates light photons. A path of the light photons within the lighting device that are emitted by the LED chip(s) from a top surface of the LED chip(s), are redirected from a first edge of the lighting device back through the lighting device to a second edge of the lighting device opposite to the first edge. The first edge and the second edge of the lighting device are perpendicular to the top surface of the LED chip(s). The photons which were redirected from the first edge of the lighting device then follow a path through the second edge of the device and are then output from the edge lighting device at the second edge of the device.

Abstract: In an illumination apparatus, a plurality of light-emitting elements are mounted to one surface (a first surface) of a light source substrate. The light source substrate is anchored to a substrate support portion using a screw that is tightened down into the substrate support portion from the opposite side as the light source substrate. Meanwhile, the light source substrate includes a metallic plate that configures another surface (a second surface) and a flexible wiring board that is affixed to the metallic plate on the side of the one surface (the first surface), and a through-hole that passes through the metallic plate is formed, as the hole for tightening down the screw, in the location of the light source substrate in which the screw is tightened.

Abstract: An apparatus that controls a DC-DC converter including a switching element of which duty ratio is controlled by the apparatus to regulate the output voltage includes: acquiring device for acquiring the input voltage; converting device for converting the input voltage to a modulated signal representing the input voltage; first limiting section for limiting the duty ratio of the switching element in response to the input voltage represented by the modulated signal; first determining section for determining whether or not the modulated signal is in abnormal condition; and enabling section for enabling the DC-DC converter to continue to convert the input voltage to the output voltage when the determining section determines the abnormal condition. The enabling section includes second limiting section for limiting the duty ratio of the switching element, the second limiting section limits the duty ratio of the switching element when the determining section determines the abnormal condition.

Abstract: A power system includes a plurality of DC/DC converters and a DC/AC inverter. The plurality of DC/DC converters having outputs electrically connected in parallel for supplying a DC voltage bus to an input of the DC/AC inverter. The plurality of DC/DC converters each include a maximum power point tracker (MPPT). Various DC/DC converters and DC/AC inverters suitable for use in this system and others are also disclosed.

Abstract: A freewheeling MOSFET is connected in parallel with the inductor in a switched DC/DC converter. When the freewheeling MOSFET is turned on during the switching operation of the converter, while the low-side and energy transfer MOSFETs are turned off, the inductor current circulates or “freewheels” through the freewheeling MOSFET. The frequency of the converter is thereby made independent of the lengths of the magnetizing and energy transfer stages, allowing far greater flexibility in operating and converter and overcoming numerous problems associated with conventional DC/DC converters. In one embodiment the freewheeling MOSFET is an N-channel MOSFET with its body connected to circuit ground and not shorted to either its source or its drain.

Abstract: A power system has a power converter adapted for converting a first input voltage at an input thereof to a first output voltage at an output thereof, and a hold-up time extension circuit comprising a step-up stage and a step-down stage coupled to each other via a first energy-storage capacitor, where an input of the step-up stage is coupled to the input of the power converter, an output of the step-up stage is coupled to an input of the step-down stage, and an output of the step-down stage is coupled to the input of the power converter. The step-up stage is adapted for converting the first input voltage of the power converter to a second output voltage, and the step-down stage is adapted for converting the second output voltage of the step-up stage to the input voltage of the power converter.

Abstract: An inverter for converting an input direct current (DC) waveform from a DC source to an output alternating current (AC) waveform for delivery to an AC grid includes an input converter, an output converter, and an active filter, each of which is electrically coupled to a bus. The bus may be a DC bus or an AC bus. The input converter is configured to convert the input DC waveform to a DC or AC bus waveform. The output converter is configured to convert the bus waveform to the output AC waveform at a grid frequency. The active filter is configured to reduce a double-frequency ripple power of the bus waveform by supplying power to and absorbing power from the power bus.

Abstract: The present invention provides an Alternating Current/Direct Current (AC/DC) converter employing measures not only against residual voltage but also to reduce power consumption. The AC/DC converter receives an Alternating Current (AC) voltage through a concentric plug and converts the AC voltage into a Direct Current (DC) voltage. A discharge path is disposed on a path from a discharge terminal to a ground terminal. A detection circuit compares a wave detection voltage with a predetermined threshold voltage, and enables the discharge path to be turned on when the wave detection voltage is continuously lower than the threshold voltage for a predetermined detection time.

Abstract: A current-fed isolation converter includes a coil that is connected to a primary side of a transformer, a power source that supplies electric power to the primary side of the transformer, a switching element that controls a first electric current flowing in the coil, a snubber circuit that includes a rectifying element and a capacitive element that is charged by a second electric current flowing in the rectifying element, and a step-down power supply circuit that regenerates electric charge of the capacitive element to the power source. The snubber circuit controls an excess voltage that is generated when the switching element is turned off. The power supply circuit maintains a charging voltage of the capacitive element at a predetermined voltage value.

Abstract: A control integrated circuit for controlling a switch power supply, including: a voltage collecting module, configured to collect a feedback voltage based on an output voltage of the switch power supply; an error amplifying module, configured to compare the feedback voltage with a reference voltage and generate an error voltage; a time collecting module, configured to obtain a degaussing time signal based on the feedback voltage; and a constant voltage and current module, configured to collect a peak current feedback signal of a switch transistor, generate a control signal based on the error voltage, the degaussing time signal and the peak current feedback signal, wherein the control signal is for controlling an operating frequency and a duty ratio of the switch transistor, and control the switch transistor according to the control signal.

Abstract: An AC to DC converter system is disclosed in which a conversion circuit for converting an AC input signal to a DC output signal is operably coupled with a communication circuit designed for sensing output indicative of the presence or absence of a load at the DC output. The system is designed so that the conversion circuit operates in an inactive standby state when there is no load, and in an active state for supplying DC power when a load is present. The system is configured to operate using ultra-low power.

Abstract: A regulation circuit of a power converter for cable compensation according to the present invention comprises a signal generator generating a compensation signal in accordance with a synchronous rectifying signal. An error amplifier has a reference signal for generating a feedback signal in accordance with an output voltage of the power converter. The compensation signal is coupled to program the reference signal. The feedback signal is coupled to generate a switching signal for regulating an output of the power converter. The regulation circuit of the present invention compensates the output voltage without a shunt resistor to sense the output current of the power converter for reducing power loss.

Abstract: The present invention proposes a switching controller of a flyback power converter. The switching controller includes a switching circuit, a sample-and-hold circuit, a voltage detection circuit, an oscillation circuit, and a comparator. The voltage detection circuit generates a holding signal when a level of an input voltage of the flyback power converter is lower than a low-threshold. The oscillation circuit limits the maximum frequency of switching signal. The maximum frequency is increased in response to a decrement of a modulation signal. The modulation signal correlated with a level of the input voltage is used to generate a control signal when the level of the input voltage is lower than an ultra-low-threshold. The control signal is enabled to operate the flyback power converter in continuous current mode operation. Therefore, an input capacitor can be eliminated and manufacturing cost is saved.

Abstract: Switching-mode power conversion system and method thereof. The system includes a primary winding configured to receive an input voltage, and a secondary winding coupled to the primary winding and configured to, with one or more first components, generate, at an output terminal, an output voltage and an output current. Additionally, the system includes an auxiliary winding coupled to the secondary winding and configured to, with one or more second components, generate, at a first terminal, a detected voltage. Moreover, the system includes an error amplifier configured to receive the detected voltage and a first reference voltage and generate an amplified voltage based on at least information associated with a difference between the detected voltage and the first reference voltage. Also, the system includes a compensation component configured to receive the amplified voltage and generate a second reference voltage based on at least information associated with the amplified voltage.

Abstract: An example integrated circuit controller for use in a switching power supply includes a pulse width modulation (PWM) circuit and a timing circuit. The PWM circuit controls a switch to regulate an output of the power supply in response to a switch current flowing through the switch and in response to a clock signal having a switching period. The timing circuit provides the clock signal and increases the switching period in response to an on time of the switch exceeding a threshold time.

Abstract: An example controller includes a comparator coupled to receive a feedback signal representative of an output of the power converter. A counter is coupled to receive an output of the comparator and a feedback sampling signal. The counter is coupled to sample the output of the comparator in response to the feedback sampling signal. A state machine is coupled to receive a feedback time period signal. The state machine is coupled to control switching of the power converter according to one of a plurality of operating conditions in response to the counter and the feedback time period signal. A period of the feedback time period signal is substantially greater than a period of the feedback sampling signal. The state machine is coupled to be updated in response to the feedback time period signal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for inputting power into a multiphase alternating current grid by means of a transformer which is electrically interconnected between the alternating current grid and a number of input phases corresponding to the number of grid phases of the grid, wherein at least one voltage characteristic of one of the grid phases is determined, and an input of reactive currents occurs as a function of a previously determined deviation of the voltage characteristic of the at least one grid phase relative to a corresponding target voltage characteristic. It is provided that the deviation of each one of the voltage characteristics is determined, and the input of the reactive currents in case of deviations that are asymmetrical with respect to the symmetry of the target voltage characteristics is an asymmetrical input of the reactive current with respect to the respective input at the input phases.

Abstract: An exemplary power conversion system is disclosed including a DC bus for receiving DC power; a line side converter electrically coupled to the DC bus for converting the DC power to AC power; and a voltage source controller to provide control signals to enable the line side converter to regulate the AC power. The voltage source controller comprises a signal generator to generate the control signals based at least in part on a power command signal and a power feedback signal. The voltage source controller further comprises a current limiter to, during a transient event, limit the control signals based at least in part on an electrical current threshold. The voltage source controller further comprises a voltage limiter to, during the transient event, limit the control signals based at least in part on a DC bus voltage feedback signal and a DC boundary voltage threshold.

Abstract: A wind turbine controlled to damp subsynchronous resonance oscillations on a grid is provided. The wind turbine includes rotor blades for turning by the wind, an electric generator rotatably coupled to the rotor blades, a power converter responsive to electricity generated by the electric generator, the power converter for converting the generated electricity to a frequency and voltage suitable for supply to the power grid, and the power converter for regulating voltage on the grid for damping the subsynchronous oscillations. Additionally, in one embodiment voltage regulation is supplemented by modulating real power to damp the subsynchronous oscillations.

Abstract: A device for converting a DC voltage into an AC voltage includes a passive electronic filter having a first and second energy storage element, a third energy storage element placed between the first and second energy storage elements, a fourth energy storage element connected between a junction of the first energy storage element and the third energy storage element and an AC terminal and a fifth energy storage element connected between a junction of the second energy storage element and the third energy storage element and the AC terminal. The energy storage elements are of two different types, capacitive and inductive, with values selected to provide reduction of frequency components at two times the fundamental frequency of the AC voltage and at three times the fundamental frequency of the AC voltage.

Abstract: An example integrated circuit controller includes a pulse width modulation (PWM) circuit and a timing circuit. The PWM circuit controls a switch to regulate an output of a power supply in response to a switch current flowing through the switch and in response to a clock signal having a switching period. The timing circuit provides the clock signal and includes a timing capacitor where the switching period of the clock signal is equal to a charging time that the timing capacitor charges to an upper reference voltage plus a discharging time that the timing capacitor discharges to a lower reference voltage. The timing circuit increases the charging time of the timing capacitor by decreasing a rate at which the timing capacitor is charged to increase the switching period of the clock signal if an on time of the switch is greater than or equal to a threshold time.

Abstract: An exemplary power conversion system comprises an MPPT unit, a DC bus, a power converter, and a converter controller. The MPPT unit receives a feedback current signal and a feedback voltage signal from a power source and generates an MPPT reference signal based at least in part on the feedback current and voltage signals. The DC bus receives DC power from the power source. The power converter converts the DC power on the DC bus to AC power. The converter controller receives the MPPT reference signal from the MPPT unit and an output power feedback signal measured at an output of the power converter; generates control signals for AC power regulation and maximum power extraction based at least in part on the MPPT reference signal and the output power feedback signal; and sends the control signals to the power converter.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling a DC-to-AC inverter is disclosed. The DC-to-AC inverter may be configured to convert DC power received from an alternative energy source to AC power for supplying an AC grid or load. The inverter may determine whether the power presently supplied by the alternative energy source is less than a predetermined amount of power and, if so, disable an output converter of the inverter. Additionally, the inverter may predict the voltage of a DC bus of the inverter at a future point in time and, if the predicted DC bus voltage is greater than a predetermined maximum DC bus voltage, enable the output converter to transfer energy from the DC bus to the AC grid to reduce the DC bus voltage.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a power supply may include a filter stage coupled to an input terminal of a discharge circuit and a supply capacitor coupled to an output terminal of the discharge circuit. In accordance with another embodiment, a method for discharging at least one capacitor includes discharging the at least one capacitor in response to a signal at the input terminal of the discharge circuit being different from a reference signal.

Abstract: A device for converting direct voltage from an electrochemical store or a fuel cell to alternating voltage, includes a two-stage design having a single DC/DC converter stage for generating an intermediate circuit voltage from the output voltage of the electrochemical store or the fuel cell, which converter stage converts, in particular raises, the direct voltage in a wide input voltage range directly to an intermediate circuit voltage with which a DC/AC converter stage can be operated to generate the alternating voltage. The single DC/AC converter stage generates the alternating voltage from the intermediate circuit voltage. The invention further relates to a method for actuating a device for converting direct voltage from a store or energy generator into alternating voltage for feeding into a supply network.

Abstract: The power converter includes a power conversion section which configures a circuit for power conversion, a power bus bar extending from the power conversion section, a terminal block, and a current sensor measuring current flowing in the power bus bar. The terminal block includes a mounting surface to which a terminal portion of the power bus bar is mounted. The mounting surface faces a direction substantially perpendicular to an arrangement direction in which the power conversion section and the terminal block are arranged. The current sensor is located at a side of a bottom surface on the opposite side of the mounting surface in the terminal block. The power bus bar includes: a sensor-surrounded portion surrounded by the current sensor; and an outer surface faced portion located between the sensor-surrounded portion and the terminal portion along an outer surface on the opposite side of the power conversion section.

Abstract: A differential read only memory array includes a differential sense amplifier coupled to first and second bit lines. A first bit cell is coupled to a first word line and to the first and second bit lines. The at least one bit cell includes a first transistor having a gate coupled to the first word line, a drain coupled to the first bit line, and a source coupled to a first power supply line. A second transistor has a gate coupled to the first word line. A source and a drain of the second transistor are either both connected to the second bit line or both unconnected to the second bit line.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally include a method of forming a nonvolatile memory device that contains a resistive switching memory element that has an improved device switching performance and lifetime, due to the addition of a current limiting component disposed therein. In one embodiment, the current limiting component comprises at least one layer of resistive material that is configured to improve the switching performance and lifetime of the formed resistive switching memory element. The electrical properties of the formed current limiting layer, or resistive layer, are configured to lower the current flow through the variable resistance layer during the logic state programming steps (i.e., “set” and “reset” steps) by adding a fixed series resistance in the formed resistive switching memory element found in the nonvolatile memory device.

Abstract: A method for operating a circuit (100) containing memristive devices (130) senses respective states of a plurality of memristive devices (130) and refreshes the respective states of the memristive devices (130) according to the states sensed. A memristive device (100) including an array of memristive devices (130) between crossing lines (110 and 120) includes logic that senses respective states of memristive devices (130) and refreshes the respective states of the memristive devices (130) according to the states sensed.

Abstract: A resistive memory and a method for controlling operations of the resistive memory are provided. The resistive memory has a first memory layer, a second memory layer and a medium layer. Each of the first memory layer and the second memory layer is used to store data. The medium layer is formed between the first memory layer and the second memory layer. The method comprises at least a step of measuring a resistance between the first memory layer and the second memory layer, and determining which one of a first state, a second state and a third state is a state of the resistive memory according to the measured resistance. A resistive memory array including an array of the above resistive memory units, word lines and bit lines is also described, wherein the word (bit) lines are coupled to the first (second) memory layers.

Abstract: A static random access memory (SRAM) is provided. The SRAM structure includes an SRAM array, a word line decoder, and a reference bit line device. The SRAM array comprises at least one SRAM bit cell made up of six transistors. The word line decoder is used for decoding a word line of the SRAM bit cell array such that the word line is activated at a starting time and is deactivated at a ending time. The reference bit line device is connected between the SRAM array and the word line decoder and is used for pre-deactivating the word line at a predetermined time before the ending time such that a voltage difference between a bit line and a bit line bar of the SRAM bit cell is equal to a predetermined voltage.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a sense amplifier, a SRAM chip comprising the sense amplifier and a method for conducting read operation on a SRAM cell. The sense amplifier according to an embodiment of the invention comprises a cross coupling circuit, a tail current transistor and an output stage, wherein source of the tail current transistor is connected to a negative level. With the scheme according to embodiments of the invention, speed of the sense amplifier can be enhanced, thereby increasing read speed of the SRAM chip.

Abstract: A memory array including at least one cross-latched pair of transistors for storing data. The memory array further includes a first power line for supplying a first reference voltage and a second power line for supplying a second reference voltage. The memory array further includes a first switch having a first output coupled with the at least one cross-latched pair of transistors for selectively connecting the at least one cross-latched pair of transistors to the first power line. The memory array further includes a second switch having a second output coupled with the at least one cross-latched pair of transistors for selectively connecting the at least one cross-latched pair of transistors to the second power line. The first output is coupled to the second output.

Abstract: Systems and methods for saving repair cell address information in a non-volatile magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM) having an array of MRAM cells are disclosed. A memory access circuit is coupled to the MRAM, and is configured to store failed cell address information in the MRAM.

Abstract: A transmission gate is arranged between a current source and a resistive memory element, a PMOS gate of the transmission gate has no source loading effect and a write current passes from the current source, and in a first direction through the resistive memory element, setting the resistive memory element to a magnetization state. An NMOS gate of the of the transmission gate has no source loading effect and another write current, passes through the resistive memory element, in a second direction opposite the first direction, and through the transmission gate, setting the resistive memory element to an opposite magnetization state.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive device of an embodiment includes: first and second devices each including, a first magnetic layer having a changeable magnetization perpendicular to a film plane, a second magnetic layer having a fixed and perpendicular magnetization, and a nonmagnetic layer interposed between the first and second magnetic layers, the first and second devices being disposed in parallel on a first face of an interconnect layer; and a TMR device including a third magnetic layer having perpendicular magnetic anisotropy and having a changeable magnetization, a fourth magnetic layer having a fixed magnetization parallel to a film plane, and a tunnel barrier layer interposed between the third and fourth magnetic layers, the TMR device being disposed on a second face of the interconnect layer, and the third magnetic layer being magnetostatically coupled to the first magnetic layers of the first and second devices.

Abstract: In one embodiment, there is provided a semiconductor integrated circuit that includes: a first inverter; a second inverter; a first transistor, wherein one end of the first transistor is connected to a first bit line and the other end of the first transistor is connected to a first input terminal of the first inverter; a first element group including second transistors, wherein one end of the first element group is connected to a first output terminal of the first inverter and the other end of the first element group is connected to a second bit line; and a second element group including third transistors and a magnetoresistive element whose magnetic resistance is varied. The second element group is disposed between the second output terminal of the second inverter and a first terminal or disposed between the first transistor and the first terminal.

Abstract: Provided is a magnetoresistive effect element which uses a perpendicularly magnetized material and has a high TMR ratio. Intermediate layers 31, 32 composed of an element metal having a melting point of 1600° C. or an alloy containing the metal on an outside of a structure consisting of a CoFeB layer 41, an MgO barrier layer 10, and a CoFeB layer 42. By inserting the intermediate layers 31, 32, crystallization of the CoFeB layer during annealing is advanced from an MgO (001) crystal side, so that the CoFeB layer has a crystalline orientation in bcc (001).

Abstract: Described examples include sensing circuits and reference voltage generators for providing a reference voltage to a sensing circuit. The sensing circuits may sense a state of a memory cell, which may be a PCM memory cell. The sensing circuits may include a cascode transistor. Examples of reference voltage generators may include a global reference voltage generator coupled to multiple bank reference voltage generators which may reduce an output resistance of the voltage generator routing.