IP Library Granted Patent US 10,971,218
Granted Patent B2
US 10,971,218 · App. 16/423,554 · Granted Apr 6, 2021

Method and apparatus for memory noise-free wake-up protocol from power-down

Inventor: Harold Pilo (Underhill, VT)
Assignee: Synopsys, Inc.
G11C11/417G11C11/419
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,971,218
App. No.
16/423,554
Granted
Apr 6, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A memory device having a wake-up protocol is disclosed. The memory device comprises a plurality of bitcells operative in a deep-sleep mode having corresponding bitline pairs coupled to the plurality of bitcells, a first PFET coupled between a core voltage supply and the plurality of bitcells configured to supply a core voltage to the plurality of bitcells, and a second PFET having a drain coupled to the plurality of bitcells, a source coupled to a gate of the first PFET, and a gate configured to receive a first wake signal to enable precharge of the plurality of bitcells.

Claims (29)

1. A memory device having a wake-up protocol comprising:

a plurality of bitcells having corresponding bitline pairs coupled to the plurality of bitcells;

a first transistor coupled between a voltage core supply and the plurality of bitcells configured to supply a core voltage to the plurality of bitcells, the first transistor configured to receive a second wake signal to charge the plurality of bitcells to the core voltage; and

a second transistor having a drain coupled to the plurality of bitcells, a source coupled to a gate of the first transistor, and a gate configured to receive a first wake signal to enable precharge of the plurality of bitcells, wherein a delay is introduced between application of the first wake signal and the second wake signal.

2. The memory device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a delay circuit for introducing the delay between the application of the first wake signal and the second wake signal.

3. The memory device of claim 1 , wherein the first wake signal turns on the second transistor.

4. The memory device of claim 3 , wherein the first transistor is configured as a diode coupled between the gate of the first transistor and a drain of the first transistor.

5. The memory device of claim 1 , wherein the first transistor precharges the plurality of bitcells to a transitional core voltage.

6. A memory device comprising:

a plurality of bitline cross-coupled transistors operative in a deep-sleep mode having corresponding bitline pairs with each pair coupled to a respective bitline cross-coupled transistors;

a plurality of corresponding bitline precharge transistors coupled to an input voltage supply and to the corresponding bitline pairs of the plurality of bitline cross-coupled transistors;

a first transistor coupled between the input voltage supply and the plurality of bitline cross-coupled transistors configured to precharge the bitline pairs to a first voltage level in response to a wake signal wherein the plurality of bitline precharge transistors charges the bitline pairs to a second voltage level in response to a bitline restore signal; and

a delay circuit coupled between the first transistor and the plurality of corresponding bitline precharge transistors, the delay circuit for introducing a delay to the wake signal to generate the bitline restore signal.

7. The memory device of claim 6 , wherein the first voltage level is a transitional voltage level of the second voltage level.

8. A method of operating a memory device, said memory device having a plurality of bitcells with corresponding bitline pairs, the method comprising:

applying a second wake signal to a first transistor coupled between a voltage core supply and the plurality of bitcells, the first transistor for supplying a core voltage to the plurality of bitcells, the second wake signal for charging the plurality of bitcells to the core voltage, and

applying a first wake signal to a gate of a second transistor having a drain coupled to the plurality of bitcells and a source coupled to a gate of the first transistor, the first wake signal for precharging the plurality of bitcells from the deep-sleep mode, wherein a delay is introduced between application of the first wake signal and the second wake signal.

9. The method of operating a memory device of claim 8 , further comprising the step of introducing a predetermined time delay between applying the first wake signal and the second wake signal.

10. The method of operating a memory device of claim 8 , wherein the step of turning on the second transistor includes the step of limiting the first transistor to charge the plurality of bitcells to a transitional voltage.

11. The method of operating a memory device of claim 10 , wherein the step of applying the first wake signal to a gate of the second transistor to precharge the plurality of bitcells includes the step of clamping the gate and the drain of the first transistor to a diode drop to precharge the plurality of bitcells.

12. The method of operating a memory device of claim 8 , wherein the step of applying the second wake signal includes the step of turning off the first wake signal.

13. The method of operating a memory device of claim 12 , wherein the step of turning off the first wake signal includes the step of turning off the second transistor.

14. A method of operating a memory device, comprising:

applying a wake signal to a first transistor coupled between an input voltage supply and a plurality of bitline cross-coupled transistors, the plurality of bitline cross-coupled transistors having corresponding bitline pairs having each pairs;

applying a bitline restore signal to a plurality of corresponding bitline precharge transistors coupled to the input voltage supply, the plurality of corresponding bitline precharge transistors having corresponding bitline pairs coupled to the plurality of bitline cross-coupled transistors; and

introducing a delay to the wake signal to generate the bitline restore signal.

15. The method of operating a memory device of claim 14 , wherein the step of applying the wake signal includes the step of pre-charging the first voltage level to a transitional voltage.

16. The method of operating a memory device of claim 14 , wherein the step of applying the bitine restore signal includes the step of maintaining the wake signal to the first transistor.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 29, 2020
From: INVECAS, INC.
To: SYNOPSYS, INC.
Reel/Frame 051971/0624 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 28, 2019
From: PILO, HAROLD
To: INVECAS, INC.
Reel/Frame 049293/0323 →
Continuity (1)
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