IP Library Granted Patent US 7,570,103
Granted Patent B2
US 7,570,103 · App. 11/641,017 · Granted Aug 4, 2009

Semiconductor device including capacitive circuit and short-circuit preventing circuit connected in series

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,570,103
App. No.
11/641,017
Granted
Aug 4, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

In a semiconductor circuit device including a first terminal adapted to receive a first voltage and a second terminal adapted to receive a second voltage lower than the first voltage, a capacitive circuit and a short-circuit preventing circuit are provided in series between the first and second terminals. In this case, when the capacitive element is in an insulating (non-conductive) state, the short-circuit preventing circuit is in a conductive state, while, when the capacitive circuit is in a conductive state, the short-circuit preventing circuit is in an insulating state.

Claims (42)

1. A semiconductor circuit device comprising:

a first terminal adapted to receive a first voltage;

a second terminal adapted to receive a second voltage lower than said first voltage; and

a capacitive circuit and a short-circuit preventing circuit provided in series between said first and second terminals,

wherein, when said capacitive circuit is in an insulating state, said short-circuit preventing circuit is in a conductive state, while, when said capacitive circuit is in a conductive state, said short-circuit preventing circuit is in an insulating state,

wherein said short-circuit preventing circuit comprises an n-channel enhancement-type MOS transistor provided between said first terminal and said capacitive circuit,

wherein said n-channel enhancement-type MOS transistor has a gate connected to one electrode of said capacitive circuit and a backgate connected to said second terminal, and

wherein another electrode of said capacitive circuit is connected to said second terminal.

2. The semiconductor circuit device as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said first terminal comprises a power supply terminal and said second terminal comprises a ground terminal.

3. The semiconductor circuit device as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said capacitive circuit comprises at least one capacitive element.

4. The semiconductor circuit device as set forth in claim 2 , wherein said capacitive element is of a MOS type.

5. The semiconductor circuit device as set forth in claim 2 , wherein said capacitive element serves as a decoupling capacitor.

6. A semiconductor circuit device comprising:

a first terminal adapted to receive a first voltage;

a second terminal adapted to receive a second voltage lower than said first voltage; and

a capacitive circuit and a short-circuit preventing circuit provided in series between said first and second terminals,

wherein, when said capacitive circuit is in an insulating state, said short-circuit preventing circuit is in a conductive state, while, when said capacitive circuit is in a conductive state, said short-circuit preventing circuit is in an insulating state,

wherein said short-circuit preventing circuit comprises

a p-channel enhancement-type MOS transistor provided between said capacitive circuit and said second terminal,

wherein said p-channel enhancement-type MOS transistor has a gate connected to one electrode of said capacitive circuit and a backgate connected to said first terminal, and

wherein another electrode of said capacitive element is connected to said first terminal.

7. A semiconductor circuit device comprising:

a first terminal adapted to receive a first voltage;

a second terminal adapted to receive a second voltage lower than said first voltage; and

a plurality of pairs of one capacitive circuit and one short-circuit preventing circuit provided in series between said first and second terminals,

wherein, when said capacitive circuit of a respective one of said pairs is in an insulating state, said short-circuit preventing circuit of the respective one of said pairs is in a conductive state, while, when said capacitive circuit of the respective one of said pairs is in a conductive state, said short-circuit preventing circuit of the respective one of said pairs is in an insulating state,

wherein said short-circuit preventing circuit comprises an n-channel enhancement-type MOS transistor provided between said first terminal and said capacitive circuit,

wherein said n-channel enhancement-type MOS transistor has a gate connected to one electrode of said capacitive circuit and a backgate connected to said second terminal, and

wherein another electrode of said capacitive circuit is connected to said second terminal.

8. The semiconductor circuit device as set forth in claim 7 , wherein said first terminal comprises a power supply terminal and said second terminal comprises a ground terminal.

9. The semiconductor circuit device as set forth in claim 7 , wherein said capacitive circuit comprises at least one capacitive element.

10. The semiconductor circuit device as set forth in claim 9 , wherein said capacitive element is of a MOS type.

11. The semiconductor circuit device as set forth in claim 9 , wherein said capacitive element serves as a decoupling capacitor.

12. A semiconductor circuit device comprising:

a first terminal adapted to receive a first voltage;

a second terminal adapted to receive a second voltage lower than said first voltage; and

a plurality of pairs of one capacitive circuit and one short-circuit preventing circuit provided in series between said first and second terminals,

wherein, when said capacitive circuit of a respective one of said pairs is in an insulating state, said short-circuit preventing circuit of the respective one of said pairs is in a conductive state, while, when said capacitive circuit of the respective one of said pairs is in a conductive state, said short-circuit preventing circuit of the respective one of said pairs is in an insulating state,

wherein said short-circuit preventing circuit comprises

a p-channel enhancement-type MOS transistor provided between said capacitive circuit and said second terminal,

wherein said p-channel enhancement-type MOS transistor has a gate connected to one electrode of said capacitive circuit and a backgate connected to said first terminal, and

wherein another electrode of said capacitive circuit is connected to said first terminal.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Nov 29, 2017
From: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
To: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 044928/0001 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 5, 2010
From: NEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
To: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 025315/0201 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 23, 2007
From: WATANABE, EIICHIROU; NAKAHARA, YASUSHI
To: NEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 019068/0640 →