IP Library Granted Patent US 8,264,893
Granted Patent B2
US 8,264,893 · App. 13/238,114 · Granted Sep 11, 2012

Semiconductor device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,264,893
App. No.
13/238,114
Granted
Sep 11, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A data input buffer is changed from an inactive to an active state after the reception of instruction for a write operation effected on a memory unit. The input buffer is a differential input buffer having interface specs based on SSTL, for example, which is brought to an active state by turning on a power switch to cause a through current to flow and receives a signal therein while immediately following a small change in small-amplitude signal. Since the input buffer is brought to the active state only when the write operation's instruction for the memory unit is provided, it is rendered inactive in advance before the instruction is provided, whereby wasteful power consumption is reduced. In another aspect, power consumption is reduced by changing from the active to the inactive state in a time period from a write command issuing to a next command issuing.

Claims (8)

1. A clock synchronous semiconductor device, comprising:

a data terminal which receives data;

an input buffer having a differential amplifier coupled to said data terminal; and

a plurality of memory cells, each of which is necessary to refresh,

wherein said differential amplifier has an input terminal for receiving an input enable signal; and

wherein, in a time period from a write command issuing to a next command issuing, said input enable signal is changed from an active state to an inactive state.

2. A clock synchronous semiconductor device according to claim 1 ,

wherein, in the time period from said write command issuing to said next command issuing, said input enable signal is changed from said active state to said inactive state after write data are written to the memory cells.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 13, 2015
From: HITACHI DEVICE ENGINEERING CO., LTD.
To: RENESAS TECHNOLOGY CORP.
Reel/Frame 035633/0157 →
MERGER Recorded May 13, 2015
From: RENESAS TECHNOLOGY CORP.
To: NEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 035656/0044 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 13, 2015
From: NEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
To: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 035656/0121 →