Cmos Patents (Class 326/121)
  • Patent number: 8653856
    Abstract: A buffer is provided. The buffer includes a first switch and a second switch coupled in series at a first output node, a third switch and a fourth switch coupled in series at a second output node, a first current source and a second current source. The first current source is coupled with one side to the first switch and the third switch and with another side to a first supply voltage, the second current source is coupled with one side to the second switch and the fourth switch and with a second side to a second supply voltage. The first current source is configured to adjust an output swing in a first operation mode and in a second operation. The second current source is configured to adjust a common mode voltage level of the output signal in the first operation mode and to provide maximum series resistance in the second operation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignees: Texas Instruments Incorporated, Texas Instruments Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Oliver Piepenstock, Andreas Bock, Bhavesh G. Bhakta
  • Patent number: 8653857
    Abstract: An exclusive-or circuit includes a pass gate controlled by a second input node. The pass gate is connected to pass through a version of a logic state present at a first input node to an output node when so controlled. A transmission gate is controlled by the first input node. The transmission gate is connected to pass through a version of the logic state present at the second input node to the output node when so controlled. Pullup logic is controlled by both the first and second input nodes. The pullup logic is connected to drive the output node low when both the first and second input nodes are high. An exclusive-nor circuit is defined similar to the exclusive-or circuit, except that the pullup logic is replaced by pulldown logic which is connected to drive the output node high when both the first and second input nodes are high.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Tela Innovations, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott T. Becker
  • Patent number: 8629693
    Abstract: Each of a plurality of inverters includes: a first transistor having one end connected to a first terminal; and a second transistor having one end connected to a second terminal and the other end connected to the other end of the first transistor. The first transistors included in the inverters located at either odd-number orders or even-number orders counted from an input terminal side of an inverter chain circuit become conductive when a pre-charge signal has a first state to pre-charge the other end of the first transistors, and become non-conductive when the pre-charge signal has a second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Takashi Inukai
  • Patent number: 8593179
    Abstract: An inverter of a delay circuit in a semiconductor integrated device that has a high resistance to an electrostatic discharge. The delay circuit includes at least one inverter. Each inverter has high and low potential parts. The low potential part includes a pair of FETs. A source terminal of one FET is connected to a drain terminal of the other FET at a first common node. The high potential part includes another pair of FETs, with a source terminal of one FET being connected to a drain terminal of the other FET at a second common node. A power supply potential is applied to the first common node when the inverter output becomes a high potential. A ground potential is applied to the second common node when the inverter output becomes a low potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Oki Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Tomita
  • Patent number: 8575963
    Abstract: A buffer system is provided that reduces threshold current using a current source to provide power to one or more stages of the buffer system. The buffer system may also include delay management techniques that balances all of, or part of, a delay that may be imparted to an input signal by the current source. In addition, hysteresis techniques may be used to provide enhanced noise management of the input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Tyler Daigle
  • Patent number: 8493774
    Abstract: A circuit structure is provided for performing a logic function within a memory. A plurality of read word line transistors are provided that receive a read word line signal and, upon receiving the read word line signal, the plurality of read word line transistors provide a path from a plurality of bit-line transistors associated with a plurality of physically adjacent memory cells to a read bit-line. In response to an associated memory cell within the memory storing a first value, each of the plurality of read bit-line transistors turns on and provides a path to ground thereby causing a first output value to be output on the read bit-line. In response to all of the plurality of memory cells storing a second value, the plurality of read bit-line transistors turn off thereby preventing a path to ground and a second output value is output on the read bit-line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jente B. Kuang, Rahul M. Rao
  • Patent number: 8487656
    Abstract: A dynamic logic circuit includes an N channel transistor stack between a dynamic node and a first power terminal for receiving a plurality of logic signals. A first clock transistor is coupled between a second power terminal and the dynamic node for receiving a clock signal. A second clock transistor is in series with the N channel stack, between the dynamic node and a second power terminal, and for receiving the clock signal. An inverter circuit has an input coupled to the dynamic node and an output. A keeper transistor has a control electrode coupled to the output of the inverter circuit, a first current electrode coupled to the dynamic node, and a second current electrode. A plurality of P channel transistors, which are coupled in parallel, are coupled between the keeper transistor and the second power terminal and are for receiving the plurality of logic signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Ravindraraj Ramaraju, George P. Hoekstra
  • Patent number: 8487657
    Abstract: A dynamic logic circuit includes an N channel transistor stack between a dynamic node and a first power supply terminal for receiving a plurality of logic signals. A P channel clock transistor is coupled between a second power supply terminal and the dynamic node is for receiving a clock signal. An N channel clock transistor is in series with the N channel stack and is between the dynamic node and the first power supply terminal is for receiving the clock signal. A keeper transistor has a first current electrode coupled to the dynamic node, a second current electrode coupled to a second power supply terminal, and a control electrode. A static logic circuit has an output for providing an output responsive to a state of the logic signals. The output is coupled to the control electrode of the keeper transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: George P. Hoekstra, Ravindraraj Ramaraju, Maciej Bajkowski
  • Patent number: 8482316
    Abstract: Circuits, methods, and systems are presented for managing current leakage in an electronic circuit. One circuit includes a keeper circuit, and a controller. The keeper circuit supplies current to a leaker circuit, which is experiencing current leakage, to compensate for the current leakage. Further, the controller provides to the keeper circuit a control signal that is based on the current leakage. The control signal has a cycle equal to the cycle of a clock signal, and the control signal is a pulse having a first value during a first period, and a second value during a second period of the pulse. The keeper circuit provides a current to the leaker circuit during the first period and the keeper circuit withholds the current to the leaker circuit during the second period, where the durations of the first period and the second period are based on the current leakage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Oracle International Corporation
    Inventors: Zhen Wu Liu, Shree Kant, Heechoul Park
  • Patent number: 8461877
    Abstract: A complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) circuit is described. The CMOS circuit includes a plurality of CMOS gates, a plurality of logic inputs and a logic output. Each CMOS gate is connected to a negative power supply terminal (Vss) and a positive power supply terminal (Vdd). The CMOS circuit further includes parasitic nets connected to the CMOS gates, and net pulldown circuits for eliminating a charge accumulation on the parasitic nets while avoiding potential short circuit conditions. The CMOS gates may be OR-AND-INVERT (OAI) gates or AND-OR-INVERT (AOI) gates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyle S. Viau, James Vinh
  • Patent number: 8421503
    Abstract: A latch circuit includes an input part receiving an external input signal; a plurality of CMOS inverter circuits divided into a first group that includes a first CMOS inverter circuit and a second CMOS inverter circuit outputting inverted data with respect to the input signal, and a second group that includes a third CMOS inverter circuit and a fourth CMOS inverter circuit outputting the same data as the input signal; and a feedback path through which the input signal is fed back to the input part via the plurality of CMOS inverter circuits, wherein a second-polarity drain belonging to one of the first CMOS inverter circuit and the second CMOS inverter circuit is arranged between a first-polarity drain belonging to the first CMOS inverter circuit and a first-polarity drain belonging to the second CMOS inverter circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited
    Inventors: Taiki Uemura, Yoshiharu Tosaka
  • Patent number: 8405421
    Abstract: A nonvolatile full adder circuit comprising a full adder electrical circuitry comprising three input terminals for receiving two input and carry-in signals, a sum output terminal, and an carry-out output terminal; first and second nonvolatile memory elements electrically coupled to the first and second output terminal, respectively at their first ends and to an intermediate voltage source at their second ends. The nonvolatile memory elements comprise two stable logic states. A logic state each of the of the nonvolatile memory elements is controlled by a bidirectional electrical current running between its first and second ends. The full adder circuitry is electrically coupled to a high voltage source at its first source terminal and to a low voltage source at its second source terminal, wherein an electrical potential of the intermediate voltage source is lower than that of the high voltage source but higher than that of the low voltage source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Inventors: Alexander Mikhailovich Shukh, Tom A. Agan
  • Patent number: 8384439
    Abstract: Provided are a semiconductor device and a method of fabricating the semiconductor device. The semiconductor device may be a complementary device including a p-type oxide TFT and an n-type oxide TFT. The semiconductor device may be a logic device such as an inverter, a NAND device, or a NOR device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-chul Park, I-hun Song, Young-soo Park, Kee-won Kwon, Chang-jung Kim, Kyoung-kook Kim, Sung-ho Park, Sung-hoon Lee, Sang-wook Kim, Sun-il Kim
  • Patent number: 8373443
    Abstract: An object is to apply a transistor using an oxide semiconductor to a logic circuit including an enhancement transistor. The logic circuit includes a depletion transistor 101 and an enhancement transistor 102. The transistors 101 and 102 each include a gate electrode, a gate insulating layer, a first oxide semiconductor layer, a second oxide semiconductor layer, a source electrode, and a drain electrode. The transistor 102 includes a reduction prevention layer provided over a region in the first oxide semiconductor layer between the source electrode and the drain electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Koyama, Kengo Akimoto, Masashi Tsubuku
  • Patent number: 8373438
    Abstract: Semiconductor industry seeks to replace traditional volatile logic and memory devices with the improved nonvolatile devices. The increased demand for a significantly advanced, efficient, and nonvolatile data retention technique has driven the development of magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs) employing a giant magneto-resistance (GMR). The present application relates to nonvolatile logic circuits with integrated MTJs and, in particular, concerns a nonvolatile spin dependent logic device that may be integrated with conventional semiconductor-based logic devices to construct the nonvolatile logic circuits performing NOT, NOR, NAND and other logic functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Inventor: Alexander Mikhailovich Shukh
  • Patent number: 8351028
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a measuring device for measuring a laser beam comprises a magnification lens system with a total of two lenses which are arranged in series in the beam path of the laser beam and whose foci are coinciding, as well as a camera which is arranged behind the two lenses in the focus of the last lens and includes an electronic image sensor which generates an electronic image of the magnified laser beam. The lenses together with the camera are adjustable along the beam path relative to a reference point of the measuring device, for the purpose of locating the beam waist of the laser beam and of determining a diameter profile of the laser beam. The measuring device further comprises an adapter enclosing the beam path for coupling the measuring device to a laser system which provides the laser beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Wavelight GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Zerl, Olaf Kittelmann
  • Publication number: 20130002303
    Abstract: A complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) circuit is described. The CMOS circuit includes a plurality of CMOS gates, a plurality of logic inputs and a logic output. Each CMOS gate is connected to a negative power supply terminal (Vss) and a positive power supply terminal (Vdd). The CMOS circuit further includes parasitic nets connected to the CMOS gates, and net pulldown circuits for eliminating a charge accumulation on the parasitic nets while avoiding potential short circuit conditions. The CMOS gates may be OR-AND-INVERT (OAI) gates or AND-OR-INVERT (AOI) gates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: ADVANCED MICRO DEVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Kyle S. Viau, James Vinh
  • Patent number: 8324940
    Abstract: An inverter device includes a first nanowire connected to a voltage source node and a ground node, a first p-type field effect transistor (pFET) device having a gate disposed on the first nanowire, and a first n-type field effect transistor (nFET) device having a gate disposed on the first nanowire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Sarunya Bangsaruntip, Guy Cohen, Amlan Majumdar, Jeffrey W. Sleight
  • Publication number: 20120287712
    Abstract: A semiconductor device including a logic circuit capable of decreasing a leakage current occurred during a standby state is provided. The semiconductor device includes a power supply portion for supplying a first operation voltage or a second operation voltage smaller than the first operation voltage; a P-type low-threshold transistor Tp for receiving the first or the second operation voltage from the power supply portion; and a N-type transistor Tn connected between the transistor Tp and a base potential. The transistors Tp, Tn construct a logic circuit. The power supply portion supplies the first operation voltage to the source of the transistor Tp in the enable state, and supplies the second operation voltage in a standby state. The second operation voltage is set so that voltage amplitude between gate and source of each transistor Tp, Tn is larger than the threshold value of the transistors Tp, Tn.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: WINBOND ELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventor: Hiroki Murakami
  • Patent number: 8294492
    Abstract: An ultra-low-power transconductance device is provided, (FIG. 1b, FIG. 1c), comprising a series connection of a transistor of a first channel type (A) and a transistor of a second channel type (B), the first channel type having a different polarity than the second channel type. The transistors each have a source, a drain and a gate. The source of the transistor of the first channel type (A) is coupled with the source of the transistor of the second channel type (B) and the drain of the transistor of the first channel type (A) is coupled with the gate of the transistor of the second channel type (B).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Universite Catholique de Louvain
    Inventors: David Bol, Denis Flandre, Jean-Didier Legat
  • Patent number: 8220947
    Abstract: A first current source supplies a tail current It to a plurality of differential pairs. A pre-driver outputs gate signals to the gates of transistors of the corresponding differential pair. A pre-driver is configured to switch the state between the enable state and the disable state. In the enable state, the pre-driver outputs the gate signals that correspond to the differential signals. In the disable state, the pre-driver outputs the gate signals having levels which instruct the transistors of the corresponding differential pair to switch off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Advantest Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Arai, Shoji Kojima
  • Patent number: 8217680
    Abstract: A method of operating inverter may include providing a load transistor and a driving transistor connected to the load transistor wherein at least one of the load transistor and the driving transistor has a double gate structure, and varying a threshold voltage of the at least one of the load transistor and the driving transistor having the double gate structure. A threshold voltage of the load transistor or the driving transistor may be adjusted by the double gate structure, and accordingly, the inverter may be an enhancement/depletion (E/D) mode inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sangwook Kim, Ihun Song, Changjung Kim, Jaechul Park, Sunil Kim
  • Patent number: 8207758
    Abstract: A Multi-Threshold CMOS NULL Convention Logic asynchronous circuit (MTNCL). The MTNCL circuit provides delay-insensitive logic operation with significant leakage power and active energy reduction. The MTNCL circuit is also capable of functioning properly under extreme supply voltage scaling down to the sub-threshold region for further power reduction. Four MTNCL architectures and four MTNCL threshold gate designs offer an asynchronous logic design methodology for glitch-free, ultra-low power, and faster circuits without area overhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas
    Inventors: Jia Di, Scott Christopher Smith
  • Patent number: 8188767
    Abstract: A complementary logic circuit contains a first logic input, a second logic input, a first dedicated logic terminal, a second dedicated logic terminal, a high-voltage terminal configured for connection to a high constant voltage a low-voltage terminal configured for connection to a low constant voltage, a p-type transistor, and an n-type transistor. The p-type transistor has an outer diffusion connection, a gate connection, an inner diffusion connection, and a bulk connection. The n-type transistor has an outer diffusion connection, a gate connection, an inner diffusion connection, and a bulk connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Technion Research & Development Foundation Ltd.
    Inventors: Alexander Fish, Arkadiy Morgenshtein
  • Publication number: 20120081151
    Abstract: An inverter of a delay circuit in a semiconductor integrated device that has a high resistance to an electrostatic discharge. The delay circuit includes at least one inverter. Each inverter has high and low potential parts. The low potential part includes a pair of FETs. A source terminal of one FET is connected to a drain terminal of the other FET at a first common node. The high potential part includes another pair of FETs, with a source terminal of one FET being connected to a drain terminal of the other FET at a second common node. A power supply potential is applied to the first common node when the inverter output becomes a high potential. A ground potential is applied to the second common node when the inverter output becomes a low potential.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: OKI SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takashi TOMITA
  • Patent number: 8120384
    Abstract: In a bridge adder circuit, a first and a second complementary pair of current mirrors is connected between the input terminals and a positive and a negative supply voltage bus, respectively, to control a first and a second push-pull output stage. The outputs of the push-pull output stages are connected to the respective inputs through first resistors and to a common output node through second resistors. As a result, a universal circuit element for a multivalued logic element, such as ternary logic or 5-valued logic is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Fuzzy Chip Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: Viktor Viktorovich Olexenko
  • Patent number: 8111089
    Abstract: A logical building block and method of using the building block to design a logic cell library for CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Silicon) ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuits) is disclosed. Different logic gates, built with the same building block as described in this invention, will have the same schematics of transistor connection and also the same physical layout so that they appear to be physically identical under optical or electron microscopy. An ASIC designed from a library of such logic cells is strongly resistant to a reverse engineering attempt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignees: Syphermedia International, Inc., Promtek Programmable Memory Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald P. Cocchi, James P. Baukus, Bryan J. Wang, Lap Wai Chow, Paul Ouyang
  • Patent number: 8059452
    Abstract: An integrated circuit and methods for laying out the integrated circuit are provided. The integrated circuit includes a first and a second transistor. The first transistor includes a first active region comprising a first source and a first drain; and a first gate electrode over the first active region. The second transistor includes a second active region comprising a second source and a second drain; and a second gate electrode over the second active region and connected to the first gate electrode, wherein the first source and the second source are electrically connected, and the first drain and the second drain are electrically connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Jhon-Jhy Liaw
  • Publication number: 20110267099
    Abstract: To include a first inverter that receives an input signal to output an inverted signal, a second inverter that receives the inverted signal to output a first internal signal, and a third inverter that receives the input signal and outputs a second internal signal by using the inverted signal as a power supply. According to the present invention, because a signal on one signal path is used as a power supply of an inverter included in the other signal path, phases of a pair of output signals based on the input signal can be exactly matched without adding a capacitor or a resistor for adjustment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: ELPIDA MEMORY, INC.
    Inventors: Takenori Sato, Hideaki Kato
  • Publication number: 20110267107
    Abstract: A circuit includes an operational PMOS transistor of a logic gate driver. A control circuit is configured to turn off the operational PMOS transistor during a standby mode. The circuit also includes a sacrificial PMOS transistor coupled to an output node. The operational PMOS transistor is coupled to the output node. The sacrificial PMOS transistor is configured to keep the output node at a logical 1 during the standby mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Chan-Hong CHERN, Fu-Lung HSUEH, Ming-Chieh HUANG, Bryan SHEFFIELD, Chih-Chang LIN
  • Publication number: 20110249489
    Abstract: An inverter device includes a first nanowire connected to a voltage source node and a ground node, a first p-type field effect transistor (pFET) device having a gate disposed on the first nanowire, and a first n-type field effect transistor (nFET) device having a gate disposed on the first nanowire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sarunya Bangsaruntip, Guy Cohen, Amlan Majumdar, Jeffrey W. Sleight
  • Patent number: 8036846
    Abstract: A variable impedance sense (VIS) circuit (400) can detect a drift in the impedance of variable impedance circuits due to changes in operating conditions. Adjustments to binary impedance setting codes are made in response to a detected drift only when such changes do not increase a worst case variation from a target impedance. Adjustments can also be made in response to a detected input offset polarity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Kalyana C. Vullaganti
  • Publication number: 20110241731
    Abstract: Electrostatic discharge clamp devices are described. In one embodiment, the semiconductor device includes a first transistor, the first transistor including a first source/drain and a second source/drain, the first source/drain coupled to a first potential node, the second source/drain coupled to a second potential node. The device further includes a OR logic block, a first input of the OR logic block coupled to the first potential node through a capacitor, the first input of the OR logic block being coupled to the second potential node through a resistor, and a second input of the OR logic block coupled to a substrate pickup node of the first transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Inventor: Cornelius Christian Russ
  • Patent number: 8030971
    Abstract: Techniques for employing multi-gate field effect transistors (FETS) in logic circuits formed from logic gates are provided. Double-gate transistors that conduct only when both transistor gates are active can be used to reduce the number of devices hitherto required in series or “stacked” portions of logic gates. Circuit area can be reduced and performance can be enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Meng-Hsueh Chiang, Ching-Te Kent Chuang, Keunwoo Kim
  • Publication number: 20110215832
    Abstract: A novel implementation of a majority gate and a 2-1 MUX by using both gates of FinFET transistors as inputs is presented. A general methodology of using both gates of FinFET as inputs to implement any digital logic circuit is also presented. Circuits implemented using this methodology have significant advantages over CMOS logic counterpart and pass transistor logic counterpart in terms of power consumption and cell area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Inventor: Michael C. Wang
  • Patent number: 8004316
    Abstract: A complementary logic circuit contains a first logic input, a second logic input, a first dedicated logic terminal, a second dedicated logic terminal, a high-voltage terminal configured for connection to a high constant voltage a low-voltage terminal configured for connection to a low constant voltage, a p-type transistor, and an n-type transistor. The p-type transistor has an outer diffusion connection, a gate connection, an inner diffusion connection, and a bulk connection. The n-type transistor has an outer diffusion connection, a gate connection, an inner diffusion connection, and a bulk connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Technion Research & Development Foundation Ltd.
    Inventors: Alexander Fish, Arkadiy Morgenshtein
  • Patent number: 7994824
    Abstract: Logic Gate (100), particularly for integrated circuits including a Boolean network (105) having at least an input (106) and having at least an output node (107) and at least a terminal (108) connected to a first node at fixed potential (109) corresponding to a first logical level of the gate. The gate is characterized by the fact that the output node (107) is connected to a first pair of switches including a first switch (101) and a second switch (102), which are activated alternately, and are connected respectively, by a respective terminal, to the first node (109) at fixed potential and to the output node (107). Between the two switches there is a second pair of switches (103, 104) connected to a second node at fixed potential (110) corresponding to a second logical level of the gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Fabio Alessio Narino
    Inventors: Fabio Alessio Marino, Alessandro Paccagnella
  • Patent number: 7986167
    Abstract: Circuits using four terminal transistors are disclosed. Such circuits can include various static and dynamic logic circuits, flip-flops, multiplexer, tri-state driver, phase detector, logic having variable speeds of operation, and/or analog circuit with such four terminal transistors operating in a linear or nonlinear mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: SuVolta, Inc.
    Inventor: Ashok Kumar Kapoor
  • Patent number: 7952392
    Abstract: An object is to apply a transistor using an oxide semiconductor to a logic circuit including an enhancement transistor. The logic circuit includes a depletion transistor 101 and an enhancement transistor 102. The transistors 101 and 102 each include a gate electrode, a gate insulating layer, a first oxide semiconductor layer, a second oxide semiconductor layer, a source electrode, and a drain electrode. The transistor 102 includes a reduction prevention layer provided over a region in the first oxide semiconductor layer between the source electrode and the drain electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Koyama, Kengo Akimoto, Masashi Tsubuku
  • Publication number: 20110121861
    Abstract: In a bridge adder circuit, a first and a second complementary pair of current mirrors is connected between the input terminals and a positive and a negative supply voltage bus, respectively, to control a first and a second push-pull output stage. The outputs of the push-pull output stages are connected to the respective inputs through first resistors and to a common output node through second resistors. As a result, a universal circuit element for a multivalued logic element, such as ternary logic or 5-valued logic is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Inventor: Viktor Viktorovich OLEXENKO
  • Patent number: 7948263
    Abstract: A power gating circuit includes a logic circuit, a switching element and a retention flip-flop. The logic circuit is coupled between a first power rail and a virtual power rail. The switching element selectively couples the virtual power rail to a second power rail in response to a mode control signal indicating an active mode or a standby mode. The retention flip-flop selectively performs a flip-flop operation or a data retention operation in response to a voltage of the virtual power rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Hyung-Ock Kim, Jung-Yun Choi, Bong-Hyun Lee, Mun-Jun Seo, Youngsoo Shin
  • Patent number: 7919990
    Abstract: A semiconductor device of the present invention comprises an SGT based, at least two-stage CMOS inverter cascade circuit configured to allow a pMOS SGT to have a gate width two times greater than that of an nMOS SGT. A first CMOS inverter includes two pMOS SGT arranged at respective ones of an intersection of the 1st row and the 1st column and an intersection of the 2nd row and the 1st column, and an nMOS SGT arranged at an intersection of the 1st row and the 2nd column. A second CMOS inverter includes two pMOS SGT arranged at respective ones of an intersection of the 1st row and the 3rd column and an intersection of the 2nd row and the 3rd column, and an nMOS SGT arranged at an intersection of the 2nd row and the 2nd column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Unisantis Electronics (Japan) Ltd.
    Inventors: Fujio Masuoka, Hiroki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7893719
    Abstract: A digital data transmitting device is disclosed having differential signaling circuitry, a current source controller and a pair of transistor-implemented current sources is disclosed. The current source controller generates a current source control signal based on a detected mode of operation of the differential signaling circuitry. The pair of transistor-implemented current sources selectively generate source currents to adjust the output voltage levels as the differential output terminals in response to the current source control signal. The digital data transmitting device may also include a current bulk biasing circuit that generates a current source bulk biasing signal such that when the differential signaling circuitry is in one mode of operation, the current source bulk biasing signal retards currents leakage across the pair of transistor-implemented current sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: ATI Technologies, ULC
    Inventors: Chihou Lee, Junho Cho
  • Patent number: 7876131
    Abstract: A dynamic logic gate has a device for charging a dynamic node during a pre-charge phase of a clock. A logic tree evaluates the dynamic node with a device during an evaluate phase of the clock. The dynamic node has a keeper circuit comprising an inverter with its input coupled to the dynamic node and its output coupled to the back gate of a dual gate PFET device. The source of the dual gate PFET is coupled to the power supply and its drain is coupled to the dynamic node forming a half latch. The front gate of the dual gate PFET is coupled to a logic circuit with a mode input and a logic input coupled back to a node sensing the state of the dynamic node. The mode input may be a slow mode to preserve dynamic node state or the clock delayed that turns ON the strong keeper after evaluation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ching-Te Chuang, Keunwoo Kim, Jente Benedict Kuang, Kevin John Nowka
  • Patent number: 7872503
    Abstract: It is disclosed a combinatorial logic circuit comprising a first logic block (B1) coupled to a supply terminal (VDD) via a first resistor means (RI) and via a second resistor means (R2) for receiving respective first and second supply currents (111, 112). The circuit further comprises a second logic block (B2) coupled to the supply terminal (VDD) via the first resistor means (R1) and via the second resistor means (R2) for receiving respective third and fourth supply currents (122, 121). A first output terminal (Q?) coupled to the first block (B1) and to the first resistor means (R1). A second output terminal (Q+) coupled to the second logic block (B2) and to the second resistor means (R2). A first current source (I0) coupled to at least one of the first output terminal (Q?) and/or second output terminal (Q+) for providing a first supply current (I1) through the first resistor means (R1), which is substantially equal to a second supply current (I2) through the second resistor means (R2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: ST-Ericsson SA
    Inventors: Mihai Adrian Tiberiu Sanduleanu, Eduard Stikvoort
  • Patent number: 7867858
    Abstract: A method includes forming a first transistor having a first gate dielectric thickness and a first source/drain extension depth, a second transistor having a second gate dielectric thickness and the first source/drain extension depth, and a third transistor having the second gate dielectric thickness and a second source/drain extension depth. The second source/drain extension depth is greater than the first source/drain extension depth. The second gate dielectric thickness is greater than the first gate dielectric thickness. The first transistor is used in a logic circuit. The third transistor is used in an I/O circuit. The second transistor is made without extra processing steps and is better than either the first or third transistor for coupling a power supply terminal to the logic circuit in a power-up mode and decoupling the power supply terminal from the logic circuit in a power-down mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Giri Nallapati, Sushama Davar, Robert E. Booth, Michael P. Woo, Mahbub M. Rashed
  • Patent number: 7859312
    Abstract: In a bridge adder circuit, a first and a second complementary pair of current mirrors is connected between the input terminals and a positive and a negative supply voltage bus, respectively, to control a first and a second push-pull output stage. The outputs of the push-pull output stages are connected to the respective inputs through first resistors and to a common output node through second resistors. As a result, a universal circuit element for a multivalued logic element, such as ternary logic or 5-valued logic is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Virtual Pro Inc.
    Inventor: Viktor Viktorovich Olexenko
  • Patent number: 7859308
    Abstract: Reconfigurable logic cells based on dual gate MOSFET transistors (DG MOSFETs) including n inputs (A,B), n being greater than or equal to 2 and capable of performing at least four logic functions with which logical signals provided on the n inputs (A,B) may be processed. The cell contains, between the ground and the output (F) of the cell, at least one first branch including n dual gate N-type MOSFET transistors (M1,M2) in series and n?1 branches in parallel with the first branch, each provided with a dual gate N-type MOSFET transistor (M3), each of the logic functions corresponding to a given configuration of the cell. A specific set of control signals (C1,C2) is applied on the rear gates of at least one portion of the transistors (M2,M3), each control signal (C1,C2) being capable of setting the transistor (M2,M3) to a particular operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignees: Ecole Centrale de Lyon, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
    Inventors: Ian D. O'Connor, Ilham Hassoune
  • Patent number: 7830179
    Abstract: Provided is a logic gate device capable of performing multiple logic operations by using a single logic gate circuit. The multi-functional logic gate device includes a pull-up switching unit having input switches of a first group being respectively connected to multiple input terminals and selection switches of the first group connected to either a selection terminal or a logically inverted selection terminal, the pull-up switching unit electrically connecting the input switches of the first group in series or in parallel between a power source and an output terminal according to logic levels of the selection terminal and the inverted selection terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-soon Lim, Chan-kyung Kim
  • Patent number: 7804331
    Abstract: A semiconductor device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an output stage circuit including a first conductive type first transistor and a second conductive type second transistor, the first conductive type first transistor being connected between a first power supply terminal and an output terminal, the second conductive type second transistor being connected between a second power supply terminal and the output terminal and having a leak current larger than that of the first transistor, and an input stage circuit outputting a logic value setting the first transistor to a non-conductive state and setting the second transistor to a conductive state in accordance with a logic circuit disable signal input when the output stage circuit is in a disable state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: NEC Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Hideki Sugimoto