IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,644,090
Granted Patent B2
US 8,644,090 · App. 13/926,098 · Granted Feb 4, 2014

Semiconductor device

Inventors: Binhaku Taruishi (Tachikawa, JP); Hiroki Miyashita (Higashimurayama, JP); Ken Shibata (Tokyo, JP); Masashi Horiguchi (Koganei, JP)
Assignees: Renesas Electronics Corporation; Hitachi Device Engineering Co., Ltd.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,644,090
App. No.
13/926,098
Granted
Feb 4, 2014
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 (16)

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 the differential amplifier has:

an input terminal for receiving an input enable signal,

an output terminal for outputting received data,

a power supply transistor for supplying a first supply voltage,

a pre-charge transistor connected between the output terminal and a pre-charge voltage, and

an inverter connected between the output terminal and the pre-charge transistor,

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 active state the power supply transistor is turned on and the pre-charge transistor is turned off; and

wherein in the inactive state the power supply transistor is turned off and the pre-charge transistor is turned on.

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

wherein in the time period from the write command issuing to the next command issuing, the input enable signal is changed from the active state to the 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 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 11-245821 · Aug 31, 1999 · national
Continuity (9)
Continuation 13600271 · Aug 31, 2012
Continuation 13238114 · Sep 21, 2011
Continuation 12710394 · Feb 23, 2010
Continuation 12252241 · Oct 15, 2008
Continuation 11174655 · Jul 6, 2005
Continuation 10188804 · Jul 5, 2002
Division 10023891 · Dec 21, 2001
Division 09640762 · Aug 18, 2000
Related Publication 20130286753A1 · Oct 31, 2013