Having Particular Substrate Biasing Patents (Class 327/534)
  • Publication number: 20090273390
    Abstract: A method of reversing Shockley stacking fault expansion includes providing a bipolar or a unipolar SiC device exhibiting forward voltage drift caused by Shockley stacking fault nucleation and expansion. The SiC device is heated to a temperature above 150° C. A current is passed via forward bias operation through the SiC device sufficient to induce at least a partial recovery of the forward bias drift.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Inventors: JOSHUA D. CALDWELL, Robert E. Stahlbush, Karl D. Hobart, Marko J. Tadjer, Orest J. Glembocki
  • Patent number: 7612604
    Abstract: A body bias control system allows for independent design of a functional module, thereby reducing the burden of designing the module. The body bias control system provides a switch circuit having an area in which the body bias is controlled independently of its outside portion, for controlling the supply of body bias in the vicinity of the area. Preferably three types of switches are provided for switching the body bias to suitable levels for a standby mode, a mode of normal operation and a mode of high-speed operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi ULSI Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayuki Miyazaki, Yusuke Kanno, Goichi Ono, Toshinobu Shinbo, Yoshihiko Yasu, Kazumasa Yanagisawa, Takashi Kuraishi
  • Patent number: 7605601
    Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit device, has a semiconductor substrate; and a first transistor of a first conductivity type and a second transistor of the first conductivity type, the transistors being connected in series between a first power supply line and a first substrate well provided on the semiconductor substrate, the semiconductor integrated circuit device further comprising a first transistor of a second conductivity type and a second transistor of the second conductivity type, the transistors being connected in series between the second power supply line and a second substrate well provided on the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Fumihiko Tachibana, Takahiro Yamashita
  • Patent number: 7605639
    Abstract: An internal voltage generator is capable of supplying a stable internal voltage regardless of an unstable external voltage. The internal voltage includes a first level detecting unit configured to detect a voltage level of the internal voltage and output an output power detecting signal, an oscillating unit configured to produce a periodical signal in response to the output power detecting signal, a second level detecting unit configured to detect a voltage level of an external voltage and output a driving power detecting signal, a dividing unit configured to selectively divide the periodical signal in response to the driving power detecting signal and output a divided signal, and a charge pumping unit configured to provide the internal voltage by pumping the external voltage in response to the divided signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Ja-Seung Gou
  • Patent number: 7605636
    Abstract: A power gating structure controls a connection between a power supply terminal and a virtual power supply node so as to operate a logic circuit in a plurality of operation modes. The power gating structure includes a first path and a second path. In an active mode, the first path electrically couples the power supply terminal with the virtual power supply node in response to a first control signal. In a data retention mode, the second path electrically couples the power supply terminal with the virtual power supply node in response to the first control signal and a second control signal with a predetermined voltage level difference. In a power-down mode, both the first path and the second path electrically isolate the power supply terminal from the virtual power supply node in response to the first control signal and the second control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Young-Chul Rhee
  • Patent number: 7602230
    Abstract: An integrated control circuit for a charge pump includes a first device for regulating the output voltage of the charge pump and a second device for increasing the output voltage from the charge pump with a set ramp. The integrated circuit includes means for activating said first device and providing it with a first value of a supply signal in a first period of time and for activating the second device and providing it with a second value of the supply signal that is greater than the first value in a second period of time after the first in such a way that the output voltage of the charge pump ascends a ramp from a first value to a second value that is greater than the first value, the second value being fixed by reactivation of the first device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.R.L.
    Inventors: Enrico Castaldo, Antonino Conte, Gianbattista Lo Giudice
  • Publication number: 20090251213
    Abstract: A method and circuit for changing a threshold voltage of a transistor. The circuit includes a sense circuit coupled to a switching transistor, a circuit transistor and to one terminal of a resistor. The other terminal of the resistor is connected to a body contact. The switching transistor directs current along one of two different paths in response to an input voltage sensed by the sense circuit. When the switching transistor directs a first current along one path, the first current is steered towards the resistor and flows through the resistor in one direction and when the switching transistor directs a second current along the other path, the second current is directed towards the resistor and flows through the resistor in the opposite direction from the first current. Steering the currents varies the potential of a body with respect to the potential at the source of the circuit transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2008
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Inventors: Aravind Mangudi, Eric David Joseph, Mahbub Hasan
  • Patent number: 7598794
    Abstract: Disclosed is a high voltage switch circuit that can include a first well bias switch configured to track the greater of an input voltage and a supply voltage, a voltage comparator configurable to compare the input voltage to a predetermined reference voltage, and a second well bias switch having a control input coupled to an output of the comparator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Galen E. Stansell, King Eric Kwan, Xiaolin Ouyang
  • Publication number: 20090231023
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a substrate, a storage device formed in the substrate to hold bias settings, and operational blocks formed in the substrate, each operational block including an operational circuit and a charge pump to provide well bias voltages to the operational circuit in response to one or more of the bias settings. A method for testing an integrated circuit having two or more operational blocks includes: (a) determining a maximum operating speed of each of the blocks at a minimum supply voltage; (b) selecting a block that has a slow operating speed; (c) selecting a well bias to speed up the selected block; (d) selecting a supply voltage to meet a target operating frequency at the selected well bias and measuring power; (e) repeating acts (b)-(d) while the measured power is less than a baseline power; and (f) saving the selected well bias and supply voltage settings for operation of the integrated circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2009
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Andreas D. Olofsson
  • Publication number: 20090224822
    Abstract: Signals are coupled to and from stacked semiconductor dies through first and second sets of external terminals. The external terminals in the second set are connected to respective conductive paths extending through each of the dies. Signals are coupled to and from the first die through the first set of external terminals. Signals are also coupled to and from the second die through the conductive paths in the first die and the second set of external terminals. The external terminals in first and second sets of each of a plurality of pairs are connected to an electrical circuit through respective multiplexers. The multiplexers in each of the dies are controlled by respective control circuits that sense whether a die in the first set is active. The multiplexers connect the external terminals in either the first set or the second set depending on whether the bonding pad in the first set is active.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua Alzheimer, Beau Barry
  • Patent number: 7586365
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a voltage includes a reference voltage generator that generates reference voltage, and a bulk bias voltage generator that generates a bulk bias voltage using the reference voltage supplied by the reference voltage generator, and supplies the bulk bias voltage to the reference voltage generator to control the reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Dong Keum Kang
  • Patent number: 7586155
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for manufacturing metal-oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistors that are operable at voltages below 1.5V, which MOS transistors are area efficient, and where the drive strength and leakage current of the MOS transistors is improved. The invention uses a dynamic threshold voltage control scheme that does not require a change to the existing MOS technology process. The invention provides a technique that controls the threshold voltage of the transistor. In the OFF state, the threshold voltage of the transistor is set high, keeping the transistor leakage to a small value. In the ON state, the threshold voltage is set to a low value, resulting in increased drive strength. The invention is particularly useful in MOS technology for both bulk and silicon on insulator (SOI) CMOS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Semi Solutions LLC.
    Inventor: Ashok Kumar Kapoor
  • Patent number: 7586363
    Abstract: A circuit including a charge pump and regulation circuitry is described. The output of the charge pump is connected to provide a first output signal that is connectable to drive a load. A diode is connected to provide a second output signal of lower voltage from the first output signal. The regulation circuitry is connected to the second output level and is connectable to the charge pump to regulate its output. The circuit also includes a current source connectable from the second line to ground, where control circuitry connects the current source to the second line when the first line is connected to the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: SanDisk Corporation
    Inventors: Feng Pan, Jonathan H. Huynh
  • Patent number: 7583034
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a vertical N-channel transistor is coupled in a high side configuration to control a current through an LED. A control circuit operates the vertical N-channel transistor to control a value of the current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Alejandro Lara-Ascorra, Stephen P. Robb, Alan R. Ball
  • Patent number: 7583131
    Abstract: In a charge pump circuit provided with a positive electric potential generating charge pump circuit that generates a positive electric potential and a negative electric potential generating charge pump circuit that generates a negative electric potential, a parasitic bipolar transistor is prevented from turning on so that the charge pump circuit performs normal voltage boosting operation. First, the negative electric potential generating charge pump circuit is put into operation to generate ?VDD as an output electric potential LV. Since the output electric potential LV is applied to a P-type semiconductor substrate, an electric potential of the P-type semiconductor substrate becomes ?VDD. After that, the positive electric potential generating charge pump circuit is put into operation while the negative electric potential generating charge pump circuit continues its operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignees: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Sanyo Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Taiki Kimura, Kensuke Goto
  • Patent number: 7579903
    Abstract: A power-source potential control circuit has: an output terminal outputting a control signal to a power-source generating device which generates a power-source potential in accordance with the control signal; an input terminal connected to an output of the power-source generating device; and a control unit configured to make a comparison between a trimming potential depending on a first potential at the input terminal and a predetermined reference potential and to output the control signal corresponding to a result of the comparison. In a trimming operation mode, the control unit changes the trimming potential in accordance with the result of the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: NEC Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Satoru Oku
  • Publication number: 20090206913
    Abstract: A MOSFET switch which has a low surface electric field at an edge termination area, and also has increased breakdown voltage. The MOSFET switch has a new edge termination structure employing an N-P-N sandwich structure. The MOSFET switch also has a polysilicon field plate configuration operative to enhance any spreading of any depletion layer located at an edge of a main PN junction of the N-P-N sandwich structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2009
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: MaxPower Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Jun Zeng, Mohamed N. Darwish, Shih-Tzung Su
  • Patent number: 7576590
    Abstract: A swing width control circuit and a high voltage pumping circuit using the same are disclosed. The swing width control circuit includes a swing width controller for receiving a first pumping signal having a first swing width and generating a second pumping signal having a second swing width larger than the first swing width of the first pumping signal, in accordance with a level of a supply voltage to pump or precharge a voltage of a specific node, and a swing width holding device for maintaining a swing width of the specific node to be equal to the second swing width of the second pumping signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: You Sung Kim
  • Publication number: 20090201077
    Abstract: A threshold voltage of a transistor is fluctuated because of fluctuation in film thickness of a gate insulating film or in gate length and gate width caused by differences of used substrates or manufacturing steps. In order to solve the problem, according to the present invention, there is provided a clocked inverter including a first transistor and a second transistor connected in series, and a compensation circuit including a third transistor and a fourth transistor connected in series.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsuaki OSAME, Aya ANZAI
  • Publication number: 20090201075
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are taught for reducing drain-source leakage in MOS circuits. In an exemplary CMOS logic gate, a first transistor causes the body of an affected transistor to be at a first body potential. A second transistor brings the body potential of the affected transistor to a second body potential by providing an accurate body voltage from a body voltage source. The first transistor's gate is controlled by a digital voltage source having a same polarity as that of an output of the CMOS logic gate and the second transistor is controlled by a digital voltage source having a same polarity as that of an input to the CMOS logic gate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Inventor: Yannis Tsividis
  • Patent number: 7573317
    Abstract: A programmable logic device (PLD) includes a delay circuit and a body-bias generator. The delay circuit has a delay configured to represent a delay of user circuit implement in the PLD. The body-bias generator is configured to adjust the body bias of a transistor within the user circuit. The body-bias generator adjusts the body bias of the transistor in response to a level derived from the signal propagation delay of the delay circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: David Lewis, Vaughn Betz, Irfan Rahim, Peter McElheny, Yow-Juang W. Liu, Bruce Pedersen
  • Publication number: 20090194830
    Abstract: A semiconductor device such as a resonant device has a capacitive, non-piezoelectric, actuator, the actuator comprising a depletion region. A capacitive actuator for a semiconductor device, a method for fabricating such an actuator, and a method for operating a semiconductor device are also provided. In the operating method, a drive voltage is applied across the depletion region of the semiconductor device, such as a drive voltage having an alternating voltage component for driving a resonant semiconductor device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Inventors: James Ransley, Colm Durkan, Ashwin Seshia
  • Patent number: 7570089
    Abstract: An output stage interface circuit for interfacing with a data bus, comprising first and second rails for receiving respectively a high voltage and a low voltage from a power supply; a data output terminal; a first main switch element coupled between said terminal and the first rail and comprising a first main MOS device having a gate and an independently configurable back gate, and responsive to a first data control signal applied to the gate pulling the voltage on the data output terminal toward the first rail voltage; and a first control circuit responsive to the voltage on said terminal being pulled from a first state across a first voltage reference to a second state for coupling said back gate to said terminal and permitting coupling of the gate of said MOS device to said terminal, the first main MOS device presenting a high impedance on the terminal when its voltage is pulled to the second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Colm Patrick Ronan, John Twomey, Brian Anthony Moane, Liam Joseph White
  • Patent number: 7564296
    Abstract: Semiconductor integrated circuit apparatus and electronic apparatus having a leakage current detection circuit where arbitrarily set leakage current detection ratio does not depend on power supply voltage, temperature, or manufacturing variations, and where leakage current detection is straightforward. Semiconductor integrated circuit apparatus extracts a stable potential from the center of two NchMIS transistors, amplifies drain current of an NchMOS transistor taking this potential as a gate potential to a current value of an arbitrary ratio using current mirror circuit, makes this current value flow through NchMOS transistor with the gate and drain connected, and applies drain potential of this NchMOS transistor to the gate of leakage current detection NchMOS transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Minoru Ito
  • Patent number: 7560976
    Abstract: In one example embodiment, a speed circuit path includes inverter chains that are controllable to operate in a slower, low sub-threshold leakage current mode or a faster, higher sub-threshold leakage current mode depending on an operating mode of the semiconductor device. A non-speed circuit path includes inverter chains that operate to reduce sub-threshold leakage current regardless of an operating mode of the semiconductor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seouk-Kyu Choi, Nam-Jong Kim, Il-Man Bae, Jong-Hyun Choi
  • Patent number: 7562233
    Abstract: Adaptive control of operating and body bias voltages. In accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, a desirable operating frequency for the microprocessor is determined. Information stored within and specific to the microprocessor is accessed. The information can comprise coefficients of a quadratic approximation of a frequency-voltage characteristic of the microprocessor for a set of body biasing conditions. An efficient voltage for operating the microprocessor at the desirable operating frequency is computed. The microprocessor is operated at the efficient voltage and the set of body biasing conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Transmeta Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Chen-Li Sheng, Matthew Robert Ward
  • Patent number: 7560975
    Abstract: The well voltage of a CMOS circuit having low-threshold-voltage MOSFETs is controlled when the power supply is turned on, during normal operation, and when the supply voltage is cut off. The CMOS circuit can thus operate stably with lower power consumption, because latching-up is reduced when the supply voltage is applied to the CMOS circuit or when the supply voltage is cut off, and subthreshold current is decreased during normal operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Kiyoo Itoh, Hiroyuki Mizuno
  • Patent number: 7560974
    Abstract: A level detector within a back-bias voltage generator includes a toggling unit and a temperature detector. The toggling unit causes an enable signal to be activated when an absolute value of a back-bias voltage is less than an absolute value of a monitoring level. The temperature detector controls the toggling unit for increasing the absolute value of the monitoring level with an increase in temperature with high temperature sensitivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyong-Jun Noh, Gyu-Hong Kim
  • Publication number: 20090174464
    Abstract: Use of a forward biased diode to reduce leakage current of transistors implemented on silicon on insulator (SOI) is a particular challenge due to the difficulty of achieving effective contact with the region beneath the gate of the transistor. An improved implementation in SOI gate fingers that reach under the source through tunnels that are contacted with a region outside the transistor. A further embodiment uses drain extension implants to provide good channel connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2009
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Inventors: Ashok Kumar Kapoor, Robert Strain
  • Patent number: 7557639
    Abstract: A semiconductor device of the invention comprises a logic circuit to which a power supply voltage, a sub-power supply voltage lower than the power supply voltage, a ground voltage and a sub-ground voltage higher than the ground voltage are supplied; a main power supply line supplying the power supply voltage; and a main ground line supplying the ground voltage. A unit circuit constituting the logic circuit includes first to third PMOS transistors and first to third PMOS transistors. The third PMOS transistor is connected between sources of the first and second PMOS transistors, the main power supply line is connected to its one node, and the sub-power supply voltage is generated at its other node. The third NMOS transistor is connected between sources of the first and second NMOS transistors, the main ground line is connected to its one node, and the sub-ground voltage is generated at its other node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Elpida Memory, Inc.
    Inventor: Takamitsu Onda
  • Patent number: 7557642
    Abstract: A system and a method is disclosed for allowing bandgap circuitry to function on a low supply voltage integrated circuit, and for using the reference voltage (Vbg) generated by the bandgap circuitry to enable a reference voltage to control system voltage. An illustrative embodiment comprises a charge pump to raise a supply voltage to a system voltage, and an open loop controller, which provides a first signal to activate the charge pump, enabling a bandgap circuit, which outputs a bandgap voltage reference. Further, the system comprises a closed loop controller, which regulates the system voltage by comparing the system voltage to the bandgap reference voltage. Upon the system voltage falling below a target voltage, the closed loop controller provides a second signal to activate the charge pump. Additionally the system comprises a switch controller, which selects the closed loop controller upon sensing the bandgap circuit is active.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kuoyuan (Peter) Hsu, Maofeng Len
  • Publication number: 20090160367
    Abstract: The power supply of the present invention is composed of: a charge pump circuit (54) that periodically turns on and off a plurality of charge-transfer switches (Q1 to Q4) according to clock signals (c1 and c2), thereby charges and discharges a charge storage capacitor (C1) and thus produces the desired output voltage (Vo) from an input voltage (Vi) to supply it to a load (LED); an output current detection circuit 57 for detecting an output current Io (a reference current (Im) thereof in FIG. 1) to the load; and means (a frequency conversion circuit 52 in FIG. 1) that varies the frequency of the clock signals c1 and c2 based on the result of the detection of the output current Io. With this configuration, it is possible to achieve high electric power efficiency irrespective of the magnitude of a load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2007
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Inventor: Yoshinori Imanaka
  • Publication number: 20090160531
    Abstract: A circuit and a method of operation to reduce dynamic and static power dissipation in the circuit are disclosed. The circuit is multi-threshold, voltage-biased and includes a p-channel field effect transistor (FET) and an n-channel FET. A source terminal of the p-channel FET interconnects to a higher-voltage rail of a power supply and a source terminal of the n-channel FET interconnects to a lower-voltage rail of the power supply. At least one of the FETs includes a back contact. The circuit may be operated by applying a fixed bias voltage to the back contact. The fixed bias voltage is independent of the power supply voltage which may be varied. In a normal state, the supply voltage is adjusted to decrease dynamic power consumption. In a low power state, the supply voltage is further adjusted to limit leakage current. The circuit may optionally include a second fixed biasing voltage source so that both FETs are biased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: ATI Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Oscar Law, Changyok Park
  • Publication number: 20090160006
    Abstract: A high fill-factor photosensor array is formed comprising a P-layer, an I-layer, one or more semiconductor structures adjacent to the I-layer and each coupled to a N-layer, an electrically conductive electrode formed on top of the P-layer, and an additional semiconductor structure, adjacent to the N-layer and which is electrically connected to a voltage bias source. The bias voltage applied to the additional semiconductor structure charges the additional semiconductor structure, thereby creating a tunneling effect between the N-layer and the P-layer, wherein electrons leave the N-layer and reach the P-layer and the electrically conductive layer. The electrons then migrate and distribute uniformly throughout the electrically conductive layer, which ensures a uniform bias voltage across to the entire photosensor array. The biasing scheme in this invention allows to achieve mass production of photosensors without the use of wire bonding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: Palo Alto Research Center, Inc.
    Inventors: JengPing Lu, James B. Boyce, Kathleen Dore Boyce
  • Publication number: 20090160510
    Abstract: Bias voltage generator circuit and clock synchronizing circuit includes a bias unit configured to control a current in response to a bandwidth control signal, an amplification unit configured to differentially amplify an input signal in response to the current controlled by the bias unit and an output unit configured to receive an output signal of the amplification unit to output the bias voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Inventors: Taek-Sang Song, Kyung-Hoon Kim, Dae-Han Kwon, Dae-Kun Yoon
  • Patent number: 7551153
    Abstract: Methods and systems to achieve linear and exponential control over a current to drive color LEDs have been achieved. Current digital-to-analog converters (IDAC) comprising each an exponential current digital-to analog converter and a linear IDAC, being cascaded to each other are used for a linear and an exponential control of a current driving a set of color LEDs, preferably RGB LEDs. The linear part of the IDAC, which is converting the mantissa of a floating-point number is used to control the color composition of the color LEDs. The exponential part of the IDAC, which is converting the exponent of the floating-point number is used to control the brightness of the color LEDs. While fading from one color to a next color a linear color change is required. The exponential part of the IDAC is used to dim the LEDs from bright to dark and vice versa. In order to get the visual perception of a linear dimming an exponential current change is required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Adler, Carlo Peschke
  • Publication number: 20090150688
    Abstract: A method and a system for supplying power to a microcontroller with a single cell. One embodiment of the present invention discloses incorporation of a power supply pump circuit with the microcontroller and their dynamic interaction. The microcontroller sends its power requirements to the power supply pump circuit and in response, the power supply pump circuit controls the operating voltage with optimal efficiency. The dynamic update of power supply pump circuit results in an efficient use of the power supply pump circuit and thus results in a reduction of the number of dry cell batteries to only a single cell. Incorporation of the microcontroller and power supply pump circuit onto a single chip reduces the pin number requirements as well as the space required on the printed circuit board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORP.
    Inventors: Harold Kutz, Warren Snyder
  • Patent number: 7545685
    Abstract: A high-voltage switch circuit includes an enable control circuit, a feedback circuit, a boosting circuit, and a high voltage switch. The enable control circuit precharges an output node to a set voltage in response to an enable signal. The feedback circuit supplies a feedback voltage to an input node in response to a switch control voltage generated from the output node when the output node is precharged. The boosting circuit boosts the feedback voltage and outputs a boosting voltage to the output node, in response to clock signals, thereby increasing the switch control voltage. The high voltage switch is turned on or off in response to the switch control voltage, and is turned on to receive a high voltage and output the received high voltage. The boosting circuit includes an amplification circuit of a cross-coupled type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Seok Joo Lee
  • Patent number: 7545201
    Abstract: A system and method for providing a voltage. The system includes a first transistor including a first gate, a first terminal, and a second terminal. The first terminal is configured to receive a first predetermined voltage, and the first gate is configured to receive a first control signal. Additionally, the system includes a second transistor including a second gate, a third terminal, and a fourth terminal. The second gate is configured to receive a second control signal, the third terminal is biased to a second predetermined voltage, the second terminal and the fourth terminal are directly connected to a first node, and the first node is associated with a first voltage level. Moreover, the system includes a third transistor including a third gate, a fifth terminal, and a sixth terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Shanghai) Corporation
    Inventors: Wenzhe Luo, Paul Ouyang
  • Patent number: 7538569
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a substrate, a storage device formed in the substrate to hold bias settings, and operational blocks formed in the substrate, each operational block including an operational circuit and a charge pump to provide well bias voltages to the operational circuit in response to one or more of the bias settings. A method for testing an integrated circuit having two or more operational blocks includes: (a) determining a maximum operating speed of each of the blocks at a minimum supply voltage; (b) selecting a block that has a slow operating speed; (c) selecting a well bias to speed up the selected block; (d) selecting a supply voltage to meet a target operating frequency at the selected well bias and measuring power; (e) repeating acts (b)-(d) while the measured power is less than a baseline power; and (f) saving the selected well bias and supply voltage settings for operation of the integrated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Andreas D. Olofsson
  • Patent number: 7538585
    Abstract: Disclosed is a transconductor including: first and second transistors each having first and second gates, the first and second gates being independently controlled, differential voltage input being supplied between the one first gate and the other first gate, the one source and the other source being connected, a first control voltage being commonly given to both of the second gates, and the drains being differential current output terminals; third and fourth transistors each having the same connection as the first and second transistors, each of the one drain and the other drain being connected with either of the one drain and the other drain of the first and the second transistors so that polarities are opposite to each other; and a current source connected with both of the sources of the first and the second transistors and both of the sources of the third and the fourth transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Rui Ito, Tetsuro Itakura
  • Patent number: 7538599
    Abstract: The invention relates to electronic integrated circuits capable of operating either in active mode or in standby mode and to have, in standby mode, a very low current consumption. According to the invention, the leakage current of a power transistor inserted in series between a supply terminal and an active circuit is controlled by a gate reverse overbias in the following manner: a first reference transistor, and a second reference transistor identical to the first, are biased with the same gate reverse overbias voltage as the power transistor, the first transistor having its source linked to the supply terminal, and the second reference transistor having its source linked to its drain. The leakage currents in these two transistors are compared, and it is considered that the optimal bias of the gate is obtained when the leakage currents are equal. Applications to circuits supplied by a battery or a cell (portable telephones, cameras, portable computers, etc.).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique
    Inventor: Alexandre Valentian
  • Patent number: 7535307
    Abstract: An internal voltage generator includes an oscillator, a cycle control unit and a voltage generator. The oscillator periodically generates a pulse-shaped oscillation signal. The cycle control unit bypasses the oscillation signal to an output node, or selectively controls the cycle of the oscillation signal and output a controlled oscillation signal to the output node. The voltage generator generates an internal voltage in response to the oscillation signal or the controlled oscillation signal received through the output node. The cycle of the controlled oscillation signal is shorter than that of the oscillation signal. The operating speed of the voltage generator when receiving the controlled oscillation signal is faster than that of the voltage generator when receiving the oscillation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Seong Jun Lee
  • Publication number: 20090121779
    Abstract: A control circuit with a high voltage sense device. In one embodiment, a circuit includes a first transistor disposed in a first substrate having first, second and third terminals. A first terminal of the first transistor is coupled to an external voltage. A voltage provided at a third terminal of the first transistor is substantially proportional to a voltage between the first and second terminals of the first transistor when the voltage between the first and second terminals of the first transistor is less than a pinch-off voltage of the first transistor. The voltage provided at the third terminal of the first transistor is substantially constant and less than the voltage between the first and second terminals of the first transistor when the voltage between the first and second terminals of the first transistor is greater than the pinch-off voltage of the first transistor. The circuit also includes a control circuit disposed in the first substrate and coupled to the third terminal of the first transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2009
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: POWER INTEGRATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Donald R. Disney
  • Patent number: 7532034
    Abstract: A mixed-voltage input/output buffer having low-voltage design comprises a pre-driver, a tracking unit, a driving unit, and input/output pad, a floating-well unit and a transporting unit. The pre-driver receives first data signal and enable signal and outputs first and second data voltages. The tracking unit provides Gate-Tracking function. The driving unit couples the pre-driver and the tracking unit for production of a first buffer voltage corresponding to the first data voltage. The input/output pad couples the driving unit to output a first buffer voltage and to receive a second data signal. The output unit is used for outputting a second buffer voltage corresponding to the second data signal. The floating-well unit couples to the driving unit and the input/output pad in order to output first buffer voltage and receive second data signal. The floating-well unit is used for preventing leakage current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: National Chiao Tung University
    Inventors: Ming-Dou Ker, Shih-Lun Chen
  • Patent number: 7532059
    Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit device includes: a first bias generating circuit, a second bias generating circuit and a control circuit. The first bias generating circuit generates a first substrate bias voltage of a P-channel transistor. The second bias generating circuit generates a second substrate bias voltage of N-channel transistor. The control circuit controls the first bias generating circuit and the second bias generating circuit independently on the basis of operating states of circuits to which the first substrate bias voltage and the second substrate bias voltage are applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: NEC Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Isao Naritake
  • Publication number: 20090115496
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a VPP voltage generator that generates a stable VPP voltage. The VPP voltage generator of the present invention generates a stable VPP voltage. Therefore, power consumption can be saved, a precharge time of word line can be prevented from increasing and a tRCD characteristic can be improved. It is thus possible to improve the operational performance of semiconductor memory devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Jeong Woo LEE
  • Publication number: 20090108905
    Abstract: A dynamic NP-swappable body bias circuit includes a core circuit, a power switch and a body bias controller. The core circuit includes a body bias terminal. The power switch includes a body bias terminal, and connects the core circuit to an external voltage supply. The body bias controller is connected to the body bias terminals of the core circuit and the power switch so that the power switch and the core circuit are under the control of the body bias controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: National Chung Cheng University
    Inventors: Jinn-Shyan Wang, Jian-Shiun Chen, Ching-wei Yeh
  • Publication number: 20090096507
    Abstract: An integrated MIS capacitor has two substantially identical MIS capacitors. A first capacitor comprises a first region of a first conductivity type adjacent to a channel region of the first conductivity type in a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor substrate has a second conductivity type. A gate electrode is insulated and spaced apart from the channel region of the first capacitor. The second capacitor is substantially identical to the first capacitor and is formed in the same semiconductor substrate. The gate electrode of the first capacitor is electrically connected to the first region of the second capacitor and the gate electrode of the second capacitor is electrically connected to the first region of the first capacitor. In this manner, the capacitors are connected in an anti-parallel configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: Silicon Storage Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Feng Gao, Changyuan Chen, Vishal Sarin, William John Saiki, Hieu Van Tran, Dana Lee
  • Patent number: 7518431
    Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a charge pump circuit that repeats charge and discharge of a capacitor based on a clock signal when an ON/OFF control voltage is ON; a first delay circuit that delays the ON/OFF control voltage; a switch that shorts an output of the charge pump circuit and a GND input terminal when the delayed ON/OFF control voltage is OFF and opens when the delayed ON/OFF control voltage is ON; a first circuit block that is driven by a power voltage which is supplied from a power source input terminal and the charge pump circuit; and a second circuit block that is driven by a power voltage which is supplied from the power source input terminal and the GND input terminal. The first and second circuit blocks are mounted on the same semiconductor integrated circuit chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Taku Kobayashi, Keiichi Fujii