Restore circuit for a semiconductor storage
US4334294A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 11, 1980 |
| Grant date | Jun 8, 1982 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 11, 2000 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11C11/416
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Disclosed is a restore circuit for restoring an integrated semiconductor storage array having storage cells consisting of bipolar transistors. The restore circuit includes a reference voltage generator, an impedance converter, and switches to connect the reference voltage generator and the impedance converter to the storage array. The reference voltage generating circuit includes a current source and at least one reference storage cell identical in construction to the storage cells of the array. The reference voltage generating circuit provides a reference voltage to the impedance converter which supplies a second reference voltage to the array at a greatly reduced impedance. The equivalent circuit of the storage cells is that of a capacitor in parallel with a diode. Thus, the impedance converter provides an initial surge of capacitive current which restores the cells, followed by a standby current which is a function of the diode characteristics of the cell equivalent circuit.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.