Patent · US Expired

Semiconductor memory device including a clocking circuit for controlling the read circuit operation

US6128248A · kind A · utility

30Cited by
9References
4Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 1, 1999
Grant dateOct 3, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 1, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04L7/0331
  • WIPO fieldDigital communication
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A semiconductor memory device is provided which includes a memory cell array, a read circuit which reads data from said memory cell array, and an external terminal which receives an external clock signal. A first input circuit receives the external clock signal and outputs a first internal clock signal delayed from the external clock signal. A second input circuit receives the first internal clock signal and outputs a second internal clock signal delayed from the first internal clock signal. The memory device also includes a circuit which counts a clock signal having a frequency higher than that of the external clock signal and a circuit which starts the counting in response to the second internal clock signal, reverses the direction of said counting in response to the first internal clock signal and detects when a count of said counting circuit again reaches the count at the start of said counting, thereby outputting a timing signal therefrom. A clock output circuit is provided which outputs a third internal clock signal for controlling the operation of said read circuit based on the timing signal.

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