Patent · US Expired

System and method for negative word line driver circuit

US6809986B2 · kind B2 · utility

16Cited by
27References
102Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 29, 2002
Grant dateOct 26, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 17, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG11C8/08
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A negative word line driver employs devices to maintain the potential difference between the active word line signal and the inactive word line signal while reducing the need for a significant negative voltage supply. One form of the negative word line driver employs an isolation element to couple the word line to ground when the inputs to the word line driver indicate the word line should not be active, while the word line is also coupled to the negative voltage supply. Another form of the form of the negative word line driver receives as inputs the voltages to be driven on the word line and can be implemented with fewer transistors but still allows the word line to be driven at a negative voltage with a reduced negative voltage supply.

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