Semiconductor device with means for charge recycling
US5694445A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 20, 1995 |
| Grant date | Dec 2, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 20, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03K19/0019
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A semiconductor device of the invention is provided with a charge-discharge capacitor and plural charge collecting capacitors which are respectively connected in parallel to the charge-discharge capacitor via switches. The charge-discharge capacitor is not only connected to a power source via a switch but also connected to a circuit for discharging via another switch. By controlling the switches which are used to turn on and off the connections between the charge collecting capacitors and the charge-discharge capacitor, charge is collected to the charge collecting capacitors in order of the electric potential, namely from the lower potential to the higher, and then the charge moves back to the charge-discharge capacitor in reverse order and is recycled. As a result, the charge recycling rate is raised to 50% or more, and the electric power to be consumed can be further decreased. Moreover this invention can be applied to a refresh operation for the identical memory-cell-array. It is preferable to include means for switching charge collecting capacitors to be connected in parallel and in series, so that charge is collected when the charge collecting capacitors are connected in paral…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.