Self-refresh timer circuit and method of adjusting self-refresh timer period

1. A self-refresh timer circuit for generating a timer period for controlling self-refresh operation of a semiconductor memory device comprising:

a temperature-dependent voltage source for outputting a voltage having a temperature dependency based on a diode characteristic;

a control current generating circuit for applying an output voltage of said temperature-dependent voltage source to a temperature detecting device having a diode characteristic and for generating a control current having a magnitude in proportion to a current flowing through said temperature detecting device;

a timer period generating circuit for generating a timer period in inverse proportion to the magnitude of said control current; and

adjusting means including first adjusting means for adjusting coefficient of powers of temperatures in a temperature characteristic of said timer period and second adjusting means for adjusting logarithmic level of the temperature characteristic of said timer period.

2. A self-refresh timer circuit according to claim 1 , wherein said first adjusting means adjusts the coefficient of powers of temperature by changing the output voltage level of said temperature-dependent voltage source, and said second adjusting means adjusts the logarithmic level by changing the magnitude of said control current.

3. A self-refresh timer circuit according to claim 2 , wherein said first adjusting means can select a predetermined output voltage level from a plurality of preset output voltage levels different from each other, and said second adjusting means can select a predetermined magnitude of said control current from a plurality of preset magnitude different from each other.

4. A self-refresh timer circuit according to claim 3 , wherein said adjusting means can change the output voltage level and the magnitude of said control current so as to maintain the same said timer period at a preset high-temperature measurement point.

5. A self-refresh timer circuit according to claim 3 or 4 , wherein said control current generating circuit generates said control current by transmitting the current flowing through said temperature detecting device using a current mirror having a mirror ratio which can be switched, and wherein said second adjusting means changes the magnitude of said control current according to switching control of said mirror ratio.

6. A self-refresh timer circuit according to claims 3 or 4 , wherein said temperature-dependent voltage source outputs a voltage of a voltage dividing circuit capable of switching a division ratio of resistors, and said first adjusting means changes the output voltage level according to switching control of said division ratio.

7. A self-refresh timer circuit according to claim 1 , wherein said control current generating circuit has a feedback circuit which maintains the magnitude of said control current constant beneath a predetermined temperature by a negative feedback.

8. A self-refresh timer circuit according to claim 7 , wherein said control current generating circuit can change said predetermined temperature by controlling a magnitude of the negative feedback of said feedback circuit.

9. A self-refresh timer circuit according to claim 7 or 8 , wherein said control current generating circuit operates said feedback circuit during normal operation is set and stops said feedback circuit during test operation is set.

10. A self-refresh timer period adjusting method for adjusting said timer period of the self-refresh timer circuit according to claim 1 ,

wherein it is possible to select a desired temperature characteristic to which said timer period conforms at a preset high-temperature measurement point from temperature characteristics obtained by adjusting the coefficient of powers of temperature and the logarithmic level of the temperature characteristic of said timer period.

11. A self-refresh timer period adjusting method according to claim 10 , wherein it is possible to select a desired temperature characteristic by adjusting one of or both of the coefficient of powers of temperature and the logarithmic level at a preset low-temperature measurement point from temperature characteristics to which said timer period conforms at said high-temperature measurement point.

12. A self-refresh timer period adjusting method according to claim 11 , wherein said timer period at said desired temperature characteristic can be adjusted so as to be slightly below a temperature characteristic determined by a data retention time of a memory cell.