Low voltage memory device and method thereof

US7675806B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Freeescale Semiconductor, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Bradford Hunter · Austin, US
• David Burnett · Austin, US
• Troy L. Cooper · Canal Fulton, US
• Prashant U. Kenkare · Austin, US
• Ravindraj Ramaraju · Austin, US
• Andrew C. Russell · Austin, US
• Shayan Zhang · Cedar Park, US
• Michael D. Snyder · Cedar Park, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 17, 2006
• Grant date: Mar 9, 2010
• Expiry date: Jul 27, 2027

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G11C5/147
• WIPO field: Computer technology
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A device is disclosed having a low-voltage memory device. The device includes a first memory having a first memory topology and a second memory having a second memory topology, with both memories located in an integrated circuit. The first memory is a relatively high-density memory device, capable of storing large amounts of data relative to the second memory. The second memory is a low-voltage memory device capable of being accessed at low-voltages relative to the voltage at which the first memory can be accessed. Accordingly, the second memory is accessible when the integrated circuit is placed in a low-voltage mode of operation, which may represent a data retention state (sleep state) for the first memory or other portions of the integrated circuit. Thus, the device is able to store large amounts of data in the high density memory in a normal or active mode of operation, and also have access to the low-voltage memory during the low-voltage mode of operation.