Patent · US Expired

Data holding circuit and buffer circuit

US5859800A · kind A · utility

4Cited by
4References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 14, 1997
Grant dateJan 12, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 14, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH03K3/356173
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A highly reliable data holding circuit with a reduced circuit area and reduced power consumption is disclosed. Output terminals (DO, DOB) are connected to input terminals (DI, DIB) receiving signals at H and L levels (potentials VDD and GND) in mutually exclusive relation through transistors (MN2, MN1) and inverters (INV1, INV2). Input terminals of the inverters (INV1, INV2) are connected to power supplies (VDD) through transistors (MP2, MP1) having gate electrodes connected to output terminals of the inverters (INV2, INV1), respectively. The transistors (MN2, MN1) cause a voltage drop of the signals to be applied to the inverters (INV1, INV2) by the amount of a threshold voltage (Vthn). One of the transistors (MP1, MP2) which receives a signal at L level at its control terminal provides a potential (VDD) to the input terminal of one of the inverters (INV1, INV2) which is to output a signal at L level, compensating for the voltage drop by the amount of the threshold voltage (Vthn).

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.