Control pin for specifying integrated circuit voltage levels
US6515507B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 29, 2000 |
| Grant date | Feb 4, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 29, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03K3/0315
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An integrated circuit has one or more external control pins to control and indicate which of two or more different VCC or other voltage levels will be used. The control pin receives a logic signal, high or low, and draws zero static power. A user can use the integrated circuit with two or more VCC voltage levels by indicating which voltage level at the control pins. In a specific embodiment, the integrated circuit has nonvolatile memory cells such as EEPROM or Flash cells that a configurable and reconfigurable using on-chip programming circuitry. The programming circuitry may generate and use superhigh or high voltages, higher than the VCC voltage.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.