Complementary Fets Patents (Class 326/122)
  • Patent number: 11804491
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to devices with staggered body contacts and methods of manufacture. The device includes: a gate structure on a semiconductor substrate material, the gate structure comprising a gate body with a width and a length; a plurality of body contacts electrically contacting a channel region under the gate body on at least one side of the gate body along its width; and isolation structures isolating the plurality of body contacts from a source region and a drain region associated with the gate structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES U.S. INC.
    Inventor: Anupam Dutta
  • Patent number: 11754614
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of analyzing a semiconductor device. The method includes providing a first transistor, a second transistor disposed adjacent to the first transistor, and a gate electrode common to the first transistor and the second transistor; connecting a power-supply voltage (Vdd) to the gate electrode to turn on the first transistor, determining a first threshold voltage (Vth) based on the power-supply voltage; switching the power-supply voltage to a ground voltage (Vss); connecting the ground voltage to the gate electrode to turn on the second transistor; and determining a second threshold voltage based on the ground voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Wei-Jhih Wang, Chia Wei Huang, Chia-Chia Kan, Yuan-Yao Chang
  • Patent number: 11652481
    Abstract: One example of the present disclosure is an integrated circuit (IC). The IC includes an inverter with an input and an output, a clock transmission gate coupled to the output of the inverter; and a plurality of storage cells. The clock transmission gate is coupled to each of the plurality of storage cells, wherein each of the plurality of storage cells comprises a plurality of nodes arranged based on a minimum spacing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: XILINX, INC.
    Inventors: Pierre Maillard, Betty Lau, Yanran Chen, Jun Liu, Martin L. Voogel
  • Patent number: 9859704
    Abstract: An embodiment includes a tie-off circuit includes multiple field effect transistors (FETs), and a node isolation circuit that is connected to a first output node and a second output node of the tie-off circuit. The node isolation circuit consists of a first FET with a third output node and a second FET with a fourth output node. The second output node includes a logical LO node and is coupled to a gate of the first FET and generates a TIE HI output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Chen Guo, Yutaka Nakamura, Jun Sawada
  • Patent number: 9679972
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure can include a substrate and a substrate layer. The substrate can be formed of silicon and the substrate layer can be formed of silicon germanium. Above the substrate and under the substrate layer there can be provided a multilayer substructure. The multilayer substructure can include a first layer and a second layer. The first layer can be formed of a first material and the second layer can be formed of second material. A method can include forming a multilayer substructure on a substrate, annealing the multilayer substructure, and forming a substrate layer on the multilayer substructure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignees: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc., International Business Machines Corporation, STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Jody Fronheiser, Murat Kerem Akarvardar, Stephen Bedell, Joel Kanyandekwe
  • Publication number: 20140225647
    Abstract: A standard cell used for the logic synthesis and the routing of layout is configured by a logic circuit on an output side and a logic circuit on an input side, and a driving capacity of the logic circuit on the output side is made large while gate input capacitance of the logic circuit on the input side is made small.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Kurokawa
  • Publication number: 20140225648
    Abstract: The invention relates to a a circuit including a transistor of a first type of channel in series with a transistor of a second type of channel between first and second terminals for applying a power supply potential, each of the transistors being a multiple gate transistor having at least a first (G1P, G1N) and a second (G2P, G2N) independent control gates, characterized in that at least one of the transistors is configured for operating in a depletion mode under the action of a second gate signal applied to its second control gate (G2p, G2N).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: SOITEC
    Inventors: Carlos Mazure, Richard Ferrant, Bich-Yen Nguyen
  • Patent number: 8773165
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a logic circuit that includes a transistor T1 coupled between VPERI and a node n1, a transistor T2 coupled between VPERI and a node n2, a transistor T3 coupled between VSS and a node n3, a transistor T4 coupled between VSS and a node n4, transistors T5 and T7 coupled in series between the nodes n1 and n3, transistors T9 and T11 coupled in series between the nodes n1 and n3, transistors T6 and T8 coupled in series between the nodes n2 and n4, and transistors T10 and T12 coupled in series between the nodes n2 and n4. An output signal Y is output from a connection point of the transistors T5 and T7 and a connection point of the transistors T6 and T8.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Inventors: Yuki Nakamura, Chiaki Dono, Ronny Schneider
  • Publication number: 20140118077
    Abstract: An inverter cell for a ring oscillator. The inverter cell includes a first transistor, a second transistor, a first resistor, a second resistor, and a capacitor. A voltage input terminal is connected to gates of the first transistor and the second transistor. A voltage output terminal is connected drains of the first transistor and the second transistor. The first resistor is connected to the source of the first transistor and a first voltage potential. The second resistor is connected to the source of the second transistor and a second voltage potential. The capacitor has a first end directly connected to the source of the first transistor and the first end of the first resistor and a second end directly connected to the source of the second transistor and the first end of the second resistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2014
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: Marvell World Trade LTD.
    Inventors: Zhendong Guo, Jun Ming
  • Patent number: 8710866
    Abstract: Disclosed are an inverter, a NAND gate, and a NOR gate. The inverter includes: a pull-up unit constituted by a second thin film transistor outputting a first power voltage to an output terminal according to a voltage applied to a gate; a pull-down unit constituted by a fifth thin film transistor outputting a ground voltage to the output terminal according to an input signal applied to a gate; and a pull-up driver applying a second power voltage or the ground voltage to the gate of the second thin film transistor according to the input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignees: Electronics and Telecomunications Research Institute, Konkuk University Industrial Cooperation Corp.
    Inventors: Sang Hee Park, Chi Sun Hwang, Sung Min Yoon, Him Chan Oh, Kee Chan Park, Tao Ren, Hong Kyun Leem, Min Woo Oh, Ji Sun Kim, Jae Eun Pi, Byeong Hoon Kim, Byoung Gon Yu
  • Patent number: 8604825
    Abstract: This invention relates to Multiple Interlocked Cells (MICE) design as a hardening technique for CMOS logic gates consisting of two or more redundant nodes with node isolation components. This technique is used to modify existing standard CMOS logic gates or create new complex logic gates using common mask layers existing at ultra-deep sub-micron CMOS foundries. For single node upset immunity in logic or register, a primary cell and a redundant cell are used. For multi-node immunity, the primary cell is combined with two or more redundant nodes are used with physical layout spacing techniques which will insure that a single particle track cannot upset all three nodes simultaneously, and logic circuits built using this technique are immune to upsets in any environment. Circuits built using the MICE technique are also immune to single event transients without requiring the large time delays used in other hardening techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Micro RDC
    Inventor: Paul Eaton
  • 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: 8330494
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first transistor included in a latch circuit, a second transistor that is included in the latch circuit and is formed in a well in which the first transistor is formed, the second transistor having a conduction type identical to that of the first transistor, and a well contact that is provided between the first transistor and the second transistor and connects a power supply to the well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited
    Inventor: Taiki Uemura
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20120229167
    Abstract: A field-effect transistor is provided and includes source, gate and drain regions, where the gate region controls charge carrier location in the transport channel, the transport channel includes a asymmetric coupled quantum well layer, the asymmetric quantum well layer includes at least two quantum wells separated by a barrier layer having a greater energy gap than the wells, the transport channel is connected to the source region at one end, and the drain regions at the other, the drain regions include at least two contacts electrically isolated from each other, the contacts are connected to at least one quantum well. The drain may include two regions that are configured to form the asymmetric coupled well transport channel. In an embodiment, two sources and two drains are also envisioned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Inventors: Faquir Chand Jain, Evan Heller
  • Publication number: 20120229166
    Abstract: A standard cell used for the logic synthesis and the routing of layout is configured by a logic circuit on an output side and a logic circuit on an input side, and a driving capacity of the logic circuit on the output side is made large while gate input capacitance of the logic circuit on the input side is made small.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Kurokawa
  • Publication number: 20120182048
    Abstract: This invention relates to Multiple Interlocked Cells (MICE) design as a hardening technique for CMOS logic gates consisting of two or more redundant nodes with node isolation components. This technique is used to modify existing standard CMOS logic gates or create new complex logic gates using common mask layers existing at ultra-deep sub-micron CMOS foundries. For single node upset immunity in logic or register, a primary cell and a redundant cell are used. For multi-node immunity, the primary cell is combined with two or more redundant nodes are used with physical layout spacing techniques which will insure that a single particle track cannot upset all three nodes simultaneously, and logic circuits built using this technique are immune to upsets in any environment. Circuits built using the MICE technique are also immune to single event transients without requiring the large time delays used in other hardening techniques.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Inventor: Paul Eaton
  • Publication number: 20110309861
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first transistor included in a latch circuit, a second transistor that is included in the latch circuit and is formed in a well in which the first transistor is formed, the second transistor having a conduction type identical to that of the first transistor, and a well contact that is provided between the first transistor and the second transistor and connects a power supply to the well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: FUJITSU SEMICONDUCTOR LIMITED
    Inventor: Taiki Uemura
  • Publication number: 20110133781
    Abstract: A quadrature output high-frequency RF divide-by-two circuit includes a pair of differential complementary logic latches. The latches are interconnected to form a toggle flip-flop. Each latch includes a tracking cell and a locking cell. In a first embodiment, the locking cell includes two complementary logic inverters and two transmission gates. When the locking cell is locked, the two gates are enabled such that the locked (i.e., latched) signal passes through both transmission gates and both inverters. In one advantageous aspect, the tracking cell only involves two transmission gates. Due to the circuit topology, the first embodiment is operable from a low supply voltage at a high operating frequency while consuming a low amount of supply current. In a second and third embodiment, the tracking cell involves a pair of inverters. The sources of the transistors of the inverters are, however, coupled together thereby resulting in performance advantages over conventional circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Babak Soltanian, Jafar Savoj
  • Patent number: 7949988
    Abstract: A layout circuit is provided, comprising standard cells, a spare cell, combined tie cells and normal filler cells. The standard cells are disposed and routed on a layout area. The spare cell is added on the layout area and provided for replacing one of the standard cells while adding or changing functions later. The combined tie cells are added on the layout area. The normal filler cells are added on the rest of the layout area. The combined tie cell comprises a tie-high circuit, a tie-low circuit and a capacitance circuit. Some standard cells are disposed near at least one combined tie cell for avoiding routing congestion between the combined tie cells and the replaced standard cell. A circuit layout method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Mediatek Inc.
    Inventors: Tung-Kai Tsai, Chih-Ching Lin
  • Patent number: 7893723
    Abstract: Devices and methods are disclosed for logic gate devices to provide reduced leakage while improving performance. The device is configured for low leakage logic application where high threshold voltage devices are used to reduce leakage at the expense of reduced logic speed. Better performance is achieved than a high threshold voltage stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Andrew Marshall
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20100301903
    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: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicants: 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: 7816947
    Abstract: A method and apparatus of providing a programmable system using non-volatile programmable transistors are disclosed. A programmable logic circuit, in one embodiment, includes a first programmable transistor and a second programmable transistor. The first programmable transistor includes a first gate terminal, a first source terminal, a first drain terminal, and a first programming terminal. The second programmable transistor includes a second gate terminal, a second source terminal, and a second drain terminal, and a second programmable terminal. The first and second programmable transistors include non-volatile memory elements. The first and the second gate terminals are coupled to an input terminal, and the first drain terminal and the second source terminal are coupled to an output terminal to perform a logic function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Inventor: Man Wang
  • Patent number: 7768315
    Abstract: A circuit for a multiplexer includes a pair of NAND gates with outputs coupled to an OAI gate constructed from a complementary circuit formed from solid state devices. A current flow controller formed from solid state devices is coupled to one of the NAND gates. When activated the controller inhibits the flow of current through the NAND gate and a portion of the OAI gate to which the controller is connected. As a consequence, leakage power is not consumed within the multiplexer. Several of the applications in which the circuit is used are also demonstrated in the specification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Zhibin Cheng, Robert G. Gerowitz, Claudia M. Tartevet
  • Patent number: 7750682
    Abstract: A novel methodology for the construction and operation of logical circuits and gates that make use of and contact to a fourth terminal (substrates/bodies) of MOSFET devices is described in detail. The novel construction and operation provides for maintaining such body-contacted MOSFET devices at a lower threshold voltage (VTh) when actively on (to increase overdrive and performance), and at a higher relative threshold voltage when off (to reduce leakage power). Because the threshold potential of a gate moves inversely to its body potential, it follows then that in general, the body of a given device must be tied to the inverse of the device's drain voltage to achieve such a desirable threshold potential modulation effect for improved device, circuit, gate and logical family operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kerry Bernstein, Andres Bryant, Wilfried Haensch
  • Patent number: 7750677
    Abstract: A novel methodology for the construction and operation of logical circuits and gates that make use of and contact to a fourth terminal (substrates/bodies) of MOSFET devices is described in detail. The novel construction and operation provides for maintaining such body-contacted MOSFET devices at a lower threshold voltage (VTh) when actively on (to increase overdrive and performance), and at a higher relative threshold voltage when off (to reduce leakage power). Because the threshold potential of a gate moves inversely to its body potential, it follows then that in general, the body of a given device must be tied to the inverse of the device's drain voltage to achieve such a desirable threshold potential modulation effect for improved device, circuit, gate and logical family operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kerry Bernstein, Andres Bryant, Wilfried Haensch
  • Publication number: 20100164549
    Abstract: A logic gate comprises a first switch, a second switch, a data network and a keeping circuitry. The first switch is adapted to connect a logic node to a first potential responsive to a transition of an enabling signal. The second switch is adapted to connect the logic node to a second potential via an electrical path responsive to a transition of the enabling signal. The data network is serially connected within the electrical path. The keeping circuitry comprises third and fourth switches serially connected between the logic node and the first potential and being controllable separately from each other, the third switch being adapted to be closed in case a potential on the logic node assumes the first potential and to be opened in case the potential on the logic node assumes the second potential.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventors: THOMAS KUENEMUND, ARTUR WROBLEWSKI
  • Publication number: 20100026346
    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: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Meng-Hsueh Chiang, Ching-Te Kent Chuang, Keunwoo Kim
  • Publication number: 20100007382
    Abstract: A balanced input inverter circuit includes a first P-type MOS transistor including a gate terminal connected to an input, a source terminal connected to a first power source potential, and a drain terminal connected to an output, a first N-type MOS transistor including a gate terminal connected to the input, a drain terminal connected to the output, and a source terminal connected to a second power source potential, a first inverter circuit including an input terminal connected to an inverted input, and an output terminal connected to a back gate terminal of the first N-type MOS transistor, a first diode connected between the first power source potential and a first power source terminal of the first inverter circuit, a second inverter circuit including an input terminal connected to the inverted input, and an output terminal connected to a back gate terminal of the first P-type MOS transistor, and a second diode connected between the second power source potential and a second power source terminal of the sec
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 7633315
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a technique of reducing the leakage current of a drive circuit for driving a circuit that must retain a potential (or information) when in its standby state. A semiconductor integrated circuit device of the present invention includes a drive circuit for driving a circuit block. This drive circuit is made up of a double gate transistor with gates having different gate oxide film thicknesses. When the circuit block is in its standby state, the gate of the double gate transistor having a thinner gate oxide film is turned off and that having a thicker gate oxide film is turned on. This arrangement allows a reduction in the leakage currents of both the circuit block and the drive circuit while allowing the drive circuit to deliver or cut off power to the circuit block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Masanao Yamaoka, Takayuki Kawahara
  • Patent number: 7602219
    Abstract: An inverting cell including a first inverter having first and second inputs; a second inverter having first and second inputs, wherein the second input of the second inverter is connected to the first input of the first inverter and the output of the first and second inverters is connected to the second input of the first inverter; and a third inverter connected between the output of the first and second inverters and the first input of the second inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Raimondo Luzzi, Marco Bucci
  • Patent number: 7598802
    Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit apparatus and an electronic apparatus having a power control function configured from power control MOS transistors such that leakage current and on-resistance at the time of cut-off is sufficiently small in actual use. The semiconductor integrated circuit apparatus includes a CMOS logic circuit, a first pseudo power supply line connected to a high potential side power supply terminal of the CMOS logic circuit, a second pseudo power supply line connected to a low potential side power supply terminal of the CMOS logic circuit, and a power control NchMOS transistor connected across the second pseudo power supply line and a low potential side power supply line, with the substrate and gate of the power control NchMOS transistor being electrically connected. The gate and the substrate may also be connected via a current limiter utilizing a source follower of a depletion type NchMOS transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Minoru Ito
  • Patent number: 7592842
    Abstract: A stacked inverter delay chain. The stacked inverter delay chain includes a plurality of stacked inverter delay elements. A switch circuit is included and is coupled to the stacked inverter delay elements and configured to select at least one of the plurality of stacked inverter delay elements to create a delay signal path. The delay signal path has an amount of delay in accordance with a number of stacked inverter delay elements comprising the delay signal path. An input is coupled to a first stacked inverter delay element of the delay signal path to receive an input signal and an output is coupled to the switch circuit and is coupled to the delay signal path to receive a delayed version of the input signal after propagating through the delay signal path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Inventor: Robert Paul Masleid
  • Publication number: 20090184734
    Abstract: A method for using an inverter with a pair of complementary junction field effect transistors (CJFET) with a small linewidth is provided. The method includes having an input capacitance for said CJFET inverter to be less than the corresponding input capacitance of a CMOS inverter of similar linewidth. The CJFET operates at a power supply with a lesser value than the voltage drop across a forward-biased diode having a reduced switching power as compared to said CMOS inverter and having a propagation delay for said CJFET inverter that is at least comparable to the corresponding delay of said CMOS inverter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2009
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Applicant: DSM Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Ashok Kumar Kapoor
  • Publication number: 20090167359
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to a current mode logic circuit, which may include a first NMOS transistor whose drain may be coupled to a first load and whose gate may be coupled to an input terminal through which data may be inputted, a second NMOS transistor whose drain may be coupled to a second load and gate may be coupled to an input terminal through which a negative reference voltage may be applied, and a third NMOS transistor whose drain may be coupled to a source of each of the first and the second NMOS transistors and whose gate may be coupled to an input terminal through which a reference voltage may be applied. Bulk biases of the first, second, and third NMOS transistors may be independently adjusted to control at least one of a leakage current and an operation speed of the NMOS transistors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2008
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventor: Min-Hwahn Kim
  • Publication number: 20090115458
    Abstract: A complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) comparator circuit includes a plurality of p-type metal-oxide-semiconductor (PMOS) transistors receiving an input voltage signal, a plurality of n-type metal-oxide-semiconductor (NMOS) transistors operatively connected to the PMOS transistors and adapted to receive the input voltage signal, and an inverter adapted to invert the input voltage signal into an output voltage signal. An effective aspect ratio of the PMOS and NMOS transistors may be dependent on the level of the output voltage signal from the inverter. When a digital output of the inverter is “1”, the effective aspect ratio of the NMOS transistor is increased by turning on a second NMOS transistor, and a threshold voltage of the inverter is decreased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2007
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Inventors: Frank Carr, Ahmed A. Emira
  • Publication number: 20090085609
    Abstract: A circuit for a multiplexer includes a pair of NAND gates with outputs coupled to an OAI gate constructed from a complementary circuit formed from solid state devices. A current flow controller formed from solid state devices is coupled to one of the NAND gates. When activated the controller inhibits the flow of current through the NAND gate and a portion of the OAI gate to which the controller is connected. As a consequence, leakage power is not consumed within the multiplexer. Several of the applications in which the circuit is used are also demonstrated in the specification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zhibin Cheng, Robert G. Gerowitz, Claudia M. Tartevet
  • Patent number: 7417468
    Abstract: A dynamic and differential CMOS logic style is disclosed in which a gate uses a fixed amount of energy per evaluation event. The gate switches its output at every event and loads a constant capacitance. The logic style is a Dynamic and Differential Logic (DDL) style. The DDL style logic typically has one charging event per clock cycle and the charging event does not depend on the input signals. The differential feature masks the in-put value because a precharged output nodes is discharged during the evaluation phase. The dynamic feature breaks the input sequence: the discharged node is charged during the subsequent precharge phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Ingrid M. Verbauwhede, Kris J. V. Tiri
  • Patent number: 7345511
    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 first logic block, and a second logic block. The first logic block consists of a network of p-type transistors for implementing a predetermined logic function. The p-type transistor network has an outer diffusion connection, a first network gate connection, and an inner diffusion connection. The outer diffusion connection of the p-type transistor network is connected to the first dedicated logic terminal, and the first network gate connection of the p-type transistor network is connected to the first logic input. The second logic block consists of a network of n-type transistors which implements a logic function complementary to the logic function implemented by the first logic block. The n-type transistor network has an outer diffusion connection, a first network gate connection, and an inner diffusion connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Technion Research & Development Foundation Ltd.
    Inventors: Arkadiy Morgenshtein, Alexander Fish, Israel A. Wagner
  • Patent number: 7310008
    Abstract: A stacked inverter delay chain. The stacked inverter delay chain includes a plurality of stacked inverter delay elements. A switch circuit is included and is coupled to the stacked inverter delay elements and configured to select at least one of the plurality of stacked inverter delay elements to create a delay signal path. The delay signal path has an amount of delay in accordance with a number of stacked inverter delay elements comprising the delay signal path. An input is coupled to a first stacked inverter delay element of the delay signal path to receive an input signal and an output is coupled to the switch circuit and is coupled to the delay signal path to receive a delayed version of the input signal after propagating through the delay signal path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Transmeta Corporation
    Inventor: Robert Paul Masleid
  • Patent number: 7265574
    Abstract: A method and a circuit for producing a fail-safe output signal in case of an open circuit condition of an input pad of a digital circuit unit, comprising a first inverter stage providing a constant switch level; a second inverter stage providing a variable switch level that depends of the signal level of the input pad and comparing the constant switch level of the first inverter stage with the variable switch level of the second stage and providing an output signal at an output terminal thereof if the variable switch level of the second stage is greater than the constant switch level; and an additional circuit clement connected in series with the second inverter for decreasing the switch level of the second inverter stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: NXP, B.V.
    Inventor: Albert Jan Huitsing
  • Patent number: 7106093
    Abstract: A semiconductor device having a plurality of cascaded IC's (14, 15, 16), wherein the matching impedance between a signal transmission path (12) connected to an external signal transmission path and an input-side or output-side IC (14, 16) is set at 50 ohms which is equal to the characteristics impedance of the external signal transmission path. The matching impedance between a internal signal transmission path (13) and an input-side or output-side IC or intermediate IC is set at 200 ohms which is higher than the 50 ohms. The semiconductor device reduces the current dissipation and can operate at a higher speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuyuki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6937538
    Abstract: A hierarchical memory structure having memory cells, and sense amplifiers and decoders coupled with the memory cells to form first tier memory module, and subsequent tiers being formed by having (n?1)-tier memory modules, which are coupled with (n)-tier sense amplifiers and (n)-tier decoders. Also provided are a single-ended sense amplifier having sample-and-hold reference, and a charge-share limited-swing-driver sense amplifier; an asynchronously-resettable decoder; a wordline decoder having row redundancy; a redundancy device having redundant memory cells operated by a redundancy controller; a diffusion replica delay circuit; a high-precision delay measurement circuit; and a data transfer bus circuit imposing a limited voltage swing on a data bus. Methods are provided for a write-after-read operation without an interposed precharge cycle, and write-after-write operation with an interposed precharge cycle are provided, either operation being completed in less than one memory access cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Esin Terzioglu, Morteza Cyrus Afghahi, Mehdi Hatamian
  • Publication number: 20040257117
    Abstract: In order to provide a semiconductor device having a means for operating normally even when the amplitude of a signal voltage is smaller than the amplitude of a power source voltage, a correcting means is provided before a digital circuit to be operated normally. As for a signal outputted from the correcting means, when a transistor in the objective digital circuit is required to be turned OFF, the correcting means outputs a corresponding signal, namely a first power source potential. At this time, the transistor is turned OFF. On the other hand, when the transistor is required to be turned ON, the correcting means outputs a first input potential. Consequently, the objective digital circuit is turned OFF when it is required to be in an OFF state while turned ON when it is required to be in an ON state. Thereby, the objective digital circuit can be normally operated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2003
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Applicant: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hajime Kimura
  • Publication number: 20040239370
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention perform logical operations utilizing a symmetric logic circuit comprising two logic units. In a symmetric logic circuit, the circuit configuration used to process a first logic input in the first logic unit is the same as the circuit configuration used to process a second logic input in the second logic unit, and the circuit configuration used to process the second logic input in the first logic unit is the same as the circuit configuration used to process the first logic input in the second logic unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2004
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Bo Zhang
  • Patent number: 6768340
    Abstract: The present invention provides a fault-tolerant inverter circuit, comprising a signal input point for receiving the input signals. A first inverter, the input end of the first inverter connects to the signal input point. A second inverter, the input end of the second inverter connects to the output end of the first inverter. A third inverter, the input end of the third inverter connects to the output end of the second inverter. A signal output point, and it is used to connect the output end of the third inverter. A first conducting wire, the two ends of which connect respectively to the signal input point of the first inverter and the output end of the second inverter. A second conducting wire, the two ends of which connect respectively to the outputting end of the first inverter and the signal output point. Therefore, the fault-tolerant inverter of the present invention provides fault-tolerance when an opening occurs in any conducting wire or transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Via Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Chin Lee
  • Patent number: 6753695
    Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit device comprises a plurality of MIS transistors, and an integrated circuit unit including logic gate circuits configured by a combination of the plurality of MIS transistors. Each of the MIS transistors has a gate including a circuit element represented by an equivalent circuit in which a capacitance and resistance are parallel-connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Haruki Toda, Kenji Tsuchida, Satoshi Eto, Kuninori Kawabata
  • Patent number: 6744297
    Abstract: An inverter circuit includes an input end receiving an input signal having a low level and a high level, wherein the low level is greater than zero, a P-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor (PMOS) transistor having a gate electrode coupled to the input end and a source electrode coupled to a voltage source, a first N-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor (NMOS) transistor having a drain electrode coupled to a drain electrode of the PMOS transistor to serve as an output end, and a source electrode thereof coupled to ground, and a voltage drop device coupled to the gate electrode of the first NMOS transistor and the input end to provide a voltage drop from the input end to the gate electrode of the first NMOS transistor, thereby eliminating a current leakage of the first NMOS transistor at the low level of the input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Via Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Chao-Sheng Huang
  • Patent number: 6714059
    Abstract: An improved high-speed domino logic circuit uses two delayed clock signals, CLKD and CLKDBAR, and three transistors to introduce a transition delay time. According to the invention, the delayed clock signals are used in conjunction with the three added transistors to avoid the contest or “fight” between a first node and the keeper transistor in the event of a path to ground being created through the logic block portion of improved high-speed domino logic circuit. The improved high-speed domino logic circuits of the invention, in contrast to prior art domino logic circuits, can be designed to have high noise immunity and increased speed. In addition, since according to the invention, only three new transistors are required, the modification of the invention is space efficient and readily incorporated into existing designs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Swee Yew Choe