Patent · US Expired

Word line driver circuit for a static random access memory and method therefor

US7085175B2 · kind B2 · utility

30Cited by
3References
35Claims
0Family size

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Key dates

Filing dateNov 18, 2004
Grant dateAug 1, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 18, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG11C11/413
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A static random access memory (14) has a normal mode of operation and a low voltage mode of operation. A memory array (15) includes memory cells (16) coupled to a first power supply node (VDD) for receiving a power supply voltage. A plurality of word line drivers is coupled to word lines of the memory array (15) and to a second power supply node (37). A word line driver voltage reduction circuit (36) has an input coupled to the first power supply node (VDD) and an output coupled to the second power supply node (37) for reducing a voltage on the output in relation to a voltage on the input in response to a low power supply voltage signal, and thus improving a static noise margin of the memory cells (16).

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