Patent · US Expired

Semiconductor device

US6731558B2 · kind B2 · utility

19Cited by
7References
6Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 5, 2002
Grant dateMay 4, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 5, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG11C11/406
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A bias voltage having a positive temperature dependency is supplied to a current source that determines the operating current of a refresh timer that issues a refresh request to allow the driving current of the current source to have a positive temperature characteristic. In this manner, the refresh cycle of the refresh timer shortens the issue intervals when the temperature rises, and lengthens the issue intervals of the refresh request when the temperature decreases. Thus, the consumed current for the refresh at room temperature is reduced. Consequently, the consumed current in a self-refresh mode under the room temperature condition can be reduced.

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