Patent · US Active

Memory device with area efficient power gating circuitry

US8462562B1 · kind B1 · utility

1Cited by
4References
20Claims
0Family size

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Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 18, 2011
Grant dateJun 11, 2013
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 1, 2032

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG11C11/417
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A memory device comprises a memory block, a power gating transistor, and control circuitry. The memory block includes at least one memory cell comprising a storage element electrically connected to a source potential line, a drive strength of the storage element being a function of a voltage level on the source potential line. The power gating transistor, in turn, is connected between the source potential line and a voltage source. The control circuitry is operative to configure the power gating transistor to electrically connect the source potential line to the voltage source while the memory block is in a first mode, and to clamp the source potential line at a voltage different from that of the voltage source when the memory block is in a second mode.

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