A circuit and method includes first circuits powered by a first supply voltage and second circuits powered by a second supply voltage. A level shifter is coupled between the first circuits and the second circuits. The level shifter is configured to select a supply voltage output for a circuit including one of the first supply voltage and the second supply voltage in accordance an input signal, where the input signal depends on at least one of an operation to be performed and component performing the operation.

Level shifter for boosting wordline voltage and memory cell performance

A driver circuit for an integrated circuit device includes a transistor that has a gate terminal, a source terminal, and a bulk substrate terminal. The source terminal is connected to the bulk substrate terminal. A pull-up circuit is connected between a power supply node and the source terminal. The pull up circuit is configured to increase a voltage at the source terminal and the bulk substrate terminal of the transistor responsive to a control signal.

Driver circuits for integrated circuit devices that are operable to reduce gate induced drain leakage (GIDL) current in a transistor and methods of operating the same

When a leakage type determining circuit determines that leakage current components of a gate leakage and a substrate leakage are larger in a resume standby mode, a VDDR regulator generates a power supply voltage VDDR at a first voltage level lower than a power supply voltage VDD, and supplies the voltage as a power supply voltage VDDR1 to an SRAM module via a selector switch. When the leakage type determining circuit determines that a leakage current of a channel leakage is larger, the VDDR regulator supplies the power supply voltage VDDR1 higher than the first voltage level and lower than the power supply voltage VDD to the SRAM module. Also, an ARVSS regulator supplies a cell source power supply voltage higher than a reference voltage to an SRAM module in another region.

Semiconductor integrated circuit device

A circuit can be used, for example, with a multi-supply memory device. The circuit includes a first conductor and a second conductor. A first transistor has a current path coupled between the first conductor and the second conductor. A second transistor also has a current path coupled between the first conductor and the second conductor. A pulse generator circuit has an input coupled to a control terminal of the first transistor and an output coupled to a control terminal of the second transistor.

Method and circuit to enable wide supply voltage difference in multi-supply memory

In one embodiment, an integrated circuit includes a logic circuit and a memory circuit that includes multiple bit lines and bit line precharge circuits. The memory circuit may include level shifters for control signals generated from logic circuit inputs, and particularly there may be one or more level shifters that generate precharge enable signals to control the bit line precharge circuits. The level shifters for the bit line precharge circuits may also be controlled, during periods of time that the memory circuit is idle, by an input control signal (FloatBL herein). If the FloatBL signal is asserted, the bit line precharge circuits may be disabled to float the bit lines. In some embodiments, the FloatBL signal may also disable bit line bit line hold circuits on the bit lines. In some embodiments, when the memory circuit is exiting an idle state, the bit line precharge circuits may be enabled in a staggered fashion.

Leakage and NBTI reduction technique for memory

In one embodiment, an integrated circuit includes at least one logic circuit supplied by a first supply voltage and at least one memory circuit coupled to the logic circuit and supplied by a second supply voltage. The memory circuit is configured to be read and written responsive to the logic circuit even if the first supply voltage is less than the second supply voltage during use. In another embodiment, a method includes a logic circuit reading a memory cell, the logic circuit supplied by a first supply voltage; and the memory cell responding to the read using signals that are referenced to the first supply voltage, wherein the memory cell is supplied with a second supply voltage that is greater than the first supply voltage during use.

Integrated circuit with separate supply voltage for memory that is different from logic circuit supply voltage

A memory circuit is disclosed that comprises a plurality of memory cells coupled to a virtual voltage rail. The plurality of memory cells may form, for example, a sub-array of an SRAM array. A switching circuit may be coupled between the virtual voltage rail and a voltage supply node, and a comparator may be coupled to compare a voltage level present on the virtual voltage rail to a reference voltage to thereby provide an output signal based on the comparison. The switching circuit may be configured to electrically couple the virtual voltage rail to the voltage supply node depending upon the output signal. In some embodiments, the switching circuit may be implemented using either a PMOS transistor or an NMOS transistor, although other embodiments may employ other switching circuits.

Dynamic leakage control for memory arrays

In one embodiment, an integrated circuit comprises at least one logic circuit supplied by a first supply voltage and at least one memory circuit coupled to the logic circuit and supplied by a second supply voltage. The memory circuit is configured to be read and written responsive to the logic circuit even if the first supply voltage is less than the second supply voltage during use. In another embodiment, a method comprises a logic circuit reading a memory cell, the logic circuit supplied by a first supply voltage; and the memory cell responding to the read using signals that are referenced to the first supply voltage, wherein the memory cell is supplied with a second supply voltage that is greater than the first supply voltage during use.

Kaenel Vincent R. Von

Papers

Integrated circuit with separate supply voltage for memory that is different from logic circuit supply voltage

Dynamic leakage control for memory arrays

SRAM with different supply voltages for memory cells and access logic circuitry

Integrierte schaltung mit getrennter versorgungsspannung für speicher, die von der logikschaltung-versorgungsspannung verschieden ist