IP Library Granted Patent US 8,351,238
Granted Patent B2
US 8,351,238 · App. 12/417,245 · Granted Jan 8, 2013

Low-complexity electronic circuits and methods of forming the same

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,351,238
App. No.
12/417,245
Granted
Jan 8, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electronic circuit such as a latch or a sequencer includes a plurality of transistors, all of the transistors being either NMOS transistors or PMOS transistors, and dissipates less than or approximately the same amount of power as an equivalent CMOS circuit.

Claims (56)

1. A memory device comprising:

a memory array comprising a plurality of generally parallel rows and a plurality of generally parallel columns intersecting the plurality of rows;

a memory cell proximate an intersection of a row and a column, the memory cell comprising a resistive-change material; and

control circuitry electrically connected to the memory array, the control circuitry comprising a plurality of MOS transistors,

wherein (i) all of the MOS transistors of the control circuitry are of the same type, the type selected from the group consisting of PMOS and NMOS, (ii) the control circuitry comprises a latch, a number of transistors within the latch ranges from five to seven, and (iii) the latch comprises a reset input.

2. A memory device comprising:

a memory array comprising a plurality of generally parallel rows and a plurality of generally parallel columns intersecting the plurality of rows;

a memory cell proximate an intersection of a row and a column, the memory cell comprising a resistive-change material; and

control circuitry electrically connected to the memory array, the control circuitry (i) comprising a plurality of MOS transistors and (ii) comprising a latch, a number of MOS transistors within the latch ranging from five to seven, the latch comprising a reset input,

wherein (i) all of the MOS transistors of the control circuitry are either PMOS transistors or NMOS transistors, and (ii) the latch comprises three current-steering devices.

3. The memory device of claim 2 , wherein all of the MOS transistors of the control circuitry are of the same type, the type selected from the group consisting of PMOS and NMOS.

4. A memory device comprising:

a memory array comprising a plurality of generally parallel rows and a plurality of generally parallel columns intersecting the plurality of rows;

a memory cell proximate an intersection of a row and a column, the memory cell comprising a resistive-change material; and

control circuitry electrically connected to the memory array, the control circuitry comprising a plurality of MOS transistors,

wherein (i) all of the MOS transistors of the control circuitry are either PMOS transistors or NMOS transistors, and (ii) the control circuitry comprises a latch consisting essentially of twelve transistors and a plurality of inputs and outputs.

5. The memory device of claim 4 , wherein all of the MOS transistors of the control circuitry are of the same type, the type selected from the group consisting of PMOS and NMOS.

6. A memory device comprising:

a memory array comprising a plurality of generally parallel rows and a plurality of generally parallel columns intersecting the plurality of rows;

a memory cell proximate an intersection of a row and a column, the memory cell comprising a resistive-change material; and

control circuitry electrically connected to the memory array, the control circuitry comprising a plurality of MOS transistors,

wherein (i) all of the MOS transistors of the control circuitry are either PMOS transistors or NMOS transistors, (ii) the control circuitry comprises at least one of a latch or a sequencer, and (iii) the control circuitry comprises a plurality of current-steering devices.

7. The memory device of claim 6 , wherein each of the current-steering devices comprises a diode.

8. The memory device of claim 6 , wherein all of the MOS transistors of the control circuitry are of the same type, the type selected from the group consisting of PMOS and NMOS.

9. A memory device comprising:

a memory array comprising a plurality of generally parallel rows and a plurality of generally parallel columns intersecting the plurality of rows;

a memory cell proximate an intersection of a row and a column, the memory cell comprising a resistive-change material; and

control circuitry electrically connected to the memory array, the control circuitry comprising a plurality of MOS transistors,

wherein (i) all of the MOS transistors of the control circuitry are of the same type, the type selected from the group consisting of PMOS and NMOS, and (ii) the control circuitry comprises a sequencer.

10. The memory device of claim 9 , wherein the control circuitry comprises a sequencer and a decoder, wherein the sequencer is addressable.

11. The memory device of claim 10 , wherein the decoder comprises an array of diodes.

12. The memory device of claim 9 , wherein the sequencer is non-addressable.

13. A memory device comprising:

a memory array comprising a plurality of generally parallel rows and a plurality of generally parallel columns intersecting the plurality of rows;

a memory cell proximate an intersection of a row and a column, the memory cell comprising a resistive-change material; and

control circuitry electrically connected to the memory array, the control circuitry comprising a plurality of MOS transistors,

wherein (i) all of the MOS transistors of the control circuitry are either PMOS transistors or NMOS transistors, and (ii) the control circuitry comprises a sequencer comprising a plurality of stages.

14. The memory device of claim 13 , wherein all but one of the stages are substantially identical.

15. The memory device of claim 13 , wherein at least one stage comprises a transistor configured to function as a capacitor.

16. The memory device of claim 13 , wherein all of the MOS transistors of the control circuitry are of the same type, the type selected from the group consisting of PMOS and NMOS.

17. A memory device comprising:

a memory array comprising a plurality of generally parallel rows and a plurality of generally parallel columns intersecting the plurality of rows;

a memory cell proximate an intersection of a row and a column, the memory cell comprising a resistive-change material; and

control circuitry electrically connected to the memory array, the control circuitry comprising a plurality of MOS transistors,

wherein (i) all of the MOS transistors of the control circuitry are of the same type, the type selected from the group consisting of PMOS and NMOS, and (ii) the control circuitry comprises at least one of a latch or a sequencer.

18. The memory device of claim 17 , wherein the resistive change material comprises a chalcogenide alloy.

19. The memory device of claim 18 , wherein the chalcogenide alloy comprises at least one of germanium, antimony, or tellurium.

20. The memory device of claim 17 , wherein the memory cell comprises a current-steering element.

21. The memory device of claim 20 , wherein the resistive-change material and current steering element are in series.

22. The memory device of claim 17 , wherein a power dissipation of the memory device is less than or substantially equal to a power dissipation of an equivalent memory device comprising a CMOS latch and a CMOS sequencer.

23. A method of forming a memory device, the method comprising:

providing a memory array comprising a plurality of generally parallel rows and a plurality of generally parallel columns intersecting the plurality of rows;

providing a latch (i) functionally connected to the memory array and (ii) comprising a plurality of MOS transistors; and

providing a sequencer (i) functionally connected to the memory array and (ii) comprising a plurality of MOS transistors,

wherein all of the MOS transistors of the latch and sequencer are of the same type, the type selected from the group consisting of PMOS and NMOS.

24. The method of claim 23 , wherein a power dissipation of the memory device is less than or substantially equal to a power dissipation of an equivalent memory device comprising a CMOS latch and a CMOS sequencer.

Assignments (14)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL 039389 FRAME 0684 Recorded Feb 8, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 058965/0535 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 12, 2021
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: WODEN TECHNOLOGIES INC.
Reel/Frame 058094/0100 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 24, 2018
From: HGST, INC.
To: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 046939/0587 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 16, 2016
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: HGST, INC.
Reel/Frame 039689/0950 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 19, 2016
From: HGST, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 039389/0684 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE ASSIGNEE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 035748 FRAME 0909. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE ASSIGNEE SI HGST, INC.,3403 YERBA BUENA ROAD,SAN JOSE, CA 95135. Recorded Jun 2, 2015
From: CONTOUR SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
To: HGST, INC.
Reel/Frame 035831/0594 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 21, 2015
From: CONTOUR SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
To: HGST NETHERLANDS B.V.
Reel/Frame 035748/0909 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 20, 2015
From: AMERICAN CAPITAL, LTD.; STILL RIVER FUND III, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; SARAH G. KURZON 2001 REVOCABLE TRUST; OVONYX, INC.; PERRIN, DONALD; RUNNING DEER FOUNDATION; RUNNING DEER TRUST
To: CONTOUR SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
Reel/Frame 035749/0956 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 15, 2015
From: AMERICAN CAPITAL, LTD.; STILL RIVER FUND III, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; SARAH G. KURZON 2001 REVOCABLE TRUST; OVONYX, INC.; PERRIN, DONALD; RUNNING DEER FOUNDATION; RUNNING DEER TRUST
To: CONTOUR SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
Reel/Frame 035685/0571 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 24, 2014
From: AMERICAN CAPITAL, LTD.
To: CONTOUR SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
Reel/Frame 033225/0330 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 20, 2014
From: CONTOUR SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
To: AMERICAN CAPITAL, LTD.; STILL RIVER FUND III, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; SARAH G. KURZON 2001 REVOCABLE TRUST; OVONYX, INC.; PERRIN, DONALD; RUNNING DEER FOUNDATION; RUNNING DEER TRUST
Reel/Frame 033204/0428 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 30, 2014
From: CONTOUR SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
To: AMERICAN CAPITAL, LTD.
Reel/Frame 033063/0617 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 18, 2013
From: CONTOUR SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
To: AMERICAN CAPITAL, LTD.; STILL RIVER FUND III, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; RUNNING DEER TRUST; RUNNING DEER FOUNDATION; SARAH G. KURZON 2001 REVOCABLE TRUST; PERRIN, DONALD
Reel/Frame 029659/0615 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 17, 2009
From: SHEPARD, DANIEL R.
To: CONTOUR SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
Reel/Frame 022838/0090 →