Voltage pump for integrated circuit and operating method thereof
US6023187A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 23, 1997 |
| Grant date | Feb 8, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 23, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02M3/073
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
One embodiment of an apparatus for generating a boosted voltage to drive a data signal comprises a voltage pump that includes a driver coupled to an input signal for generating the boosted voltage signal from the input signal; a capacitor coupled to the data signal that stores a charge thereof; and an output transistor that delivers an incremental charge to the driver when the drive signal is asserted. Thus, the boosted voltage signal compensates for a change in logic level of the drive signal. In another embodiment, the apparatus also has gates for combining a plurality of data signals into a single disable-on-low signal. The disable-on-low signal is coupled to the output transistor. When all the data signals are at a low logic level, the disable-on-low signal turns off the output transistor, disabling the circuit. As a result, the circuit conserves power by generating the boosted voltage signal only when needed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.