SRAM circuitry
US7349241B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 8, 2007 |
| Grant date | Mar 25, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 8, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11C11/4125
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A static ram cell is described. The cell includes a pair of cross-coupled transistors and a pair of diode-connected transistors operated from a wordline that provides power to the cell. The cell has three main operating modes, reading, writing, and data retention. Reading is performed by sensing current flowing from a powered-up wordline through a conductive one of the cross-coupled transistors. Writing is performed by pulsing the source of the conductive one of the cross-coupled transistors with a positive voltage to flip the conductive states of the cross-coupled transistors. Data retention is performed by using leakage currents to retain the conductive states of the cross-coupled transistors. A decoder for an array of static ram cells may be operated synchronously and in a pipelined fashion using a rotary traveling wave oscillator that provides the clocks for the pipeline. The cell is capable of detecting an alpha particle strike with suitable circuitry.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.