Integrated circuit devices having voltage level responsive mode-selection circuits therein and methods of operating same
US6081460A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 30, 1998 |
| Grant date | Jun 27, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 30, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11C11/4094
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Integrated circuit devices include preferred mode selection circuits therein which generate a signal that designates a first mode of the integrated circuit device when a potential of a first control signal is within a first range and a potential of a power supply signal (e.g., Vcc) is within a second range at the same time. The mode selection circuit also prevents changes in the potential of the first control signal from disabling the first mode when the potential of the power supply signal is not within the second range. When the integrated circuit device is a memory device, the first control signal may be a row or column address signal (Ai), for example. The mode selection circuit may comprise a level shifter which generates a downward level shifted version of the address signal. The mode selection circuit generates a signal that designates a first mode of the memory device when a potential of the address signal exceeds a first threshold (e.g., 5 volts) and a potential of the power supply signal (Vcc) is below a second threshold at the same time. The mode selection circuit also prevents changes in the potential of the address signal (Ai) from disabling the first mode so long as a…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.