Voltage recovery circuit and method therefor
US6008677A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 2, 1998 |
| Grant date | Dec 28, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 2, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11C16/20
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method an apparatus for performing a reset operation in an integrated circuit where a memory programming voltage is recovered allowing use of the memory during reset. The voltage recovery unit includes a high voltage conversion portion active for a first recovery period, and a low voltage conversion portion active for a subsequent second recovery period, the low voltage conversion portion is inactive for the first recovery period. The first and second recovery portions are responsive to assertion of a reset signal and an intermediate reset signal generated before the end of the reset period. Recovery of the programming voltage allows uncorrupted retrieval and use of a configuration word during reset. The high voltage conversion portion includes p-channel devices with robust breakdown resistance, and the low voltage conversion portion includes n-channel devices which provides improved speed of operation.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.