Patent · US Active

Nonvolatile memory apparatus

US7457161B2 · kind B2 · utility

6Cited by
8References
6Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 3, 2007
Grant dateNov 25, 2008
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 26, 2027

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG11C5/147
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Current consumption in a nonvolatile memory apparatus operable on two or more different power voltages is to be substantially reduced in its standby mode. A stepped-down power supply unit provided in a flash memory to generate an internal power voltage, when supplied from outside with about 3.3 V as a power voltage, causes a first stepped-down power supply circuit to output the internal power voltage to control circuits when in normal operation. In a low power consumption mode, a second stepped-down power supply circuit outputs the internal power voltage to the control circuits, and in a standby mode a third stepped-down power supply circuit outputs to the control circuits an internal power voltage stepped down by an N-channel MOS transistor.

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