Sun Microsystems, Inc.

Samsung Semiconductor Inc.

Cong K Khieu

Lan Lee

Tri K Tran

Hiep P Ngo

Disclosed is an input/output (IO) device having a power supply node, an input node for receiving an input data signal, and an output node for outputting an output data signal generated in response to the input node receiving the input data bit signal. The IO device also includes a pull-up driver coupled to the power supply node and the output node, wherein the pull-up driver comprises an impedance at the output node which is constant for all voltages at the output node. Additionally, the IO device may have a circuit coupled to the input node, the pull-up driver, and the output node. This circuit is configured to generate a signal that is provided to the pull-up driver. The signal generated by the circuit varies as a function of the voltage at the output node.

Circuit and method for dynamically controlling the impedance of an input/output driver

A memory has memory cells arranged in rows and columns. The memory cells of each row are coupled to a word line that is separate from word lines connecting to the memory cells of other rows. Each column has mutually exclusive subsets of memory cells. The memory cells are coupled to bit lines. Each bit line is coupled to a selected mutually exclusive subset of memory cells. The memory cells of a selected row output a cell voltage on the coupled bit lines when the coupled word line is asserted. A multiplexor receives the cell voltages on the bit lines. The multiplexor is responsive to column select signals to select one of the columns as a selected column, and outputs a multiplexor voltage corresponding to the cell voltage of the memory cell of the selected row and the selected column.

Output circuit for alternating multiple bit line per column memory architecture

A negative edge triggered flip-flop generates an output pulse in response to a negative edge of a clock signal. A first set of nodes receives data input signals, and a second set of nodes receives select input signals for selecting one data input signal as a selected data input signal. The clock node receives the clock signal which has a positive edge and a negative edge. A header circuit connects to the second set of nodes and to the clock node, and integrates the clock signal with the select input signals to generate at least one control signal. A pulse generator circuit connects to the first set of nodes, the header circuit and the output node. The pulse generator circuit generates an output pulse on the output node in response to a control signal and the selected data input signal.

Negative pulse edge triggered flip-flop

A circuit for comparing two digital words has a set of bit compare circuits that generate a set of compare signals. Each bit compare circuit receives a first bit from a first digital word and a corresponding bit from a second digital word and generates one compare signal that indicates a match between the first bit and the corresponding bit. In response to the set of compare signals, a composite match detector circuit generates a composite match signal. A last bit detector circuit generates a last bit signal that indicates a match between a last bit from the first digital word and a last bit from the second digital word. When the last bit signal is received, a match hit generator circuit generates a match hit signal based on the composite match signal and the last bit signal.

Apparatus and method for comparing digital words using a last bit

A reference circuit for supplying current to high speed logic elements in an integrated circuit supplies less current when circuit temperature decreases while a supply voltage remains constant. The reference circuit supplies less current when the supply voltage increases while circuit temperature remains constant. A resistance with a temperature coefficient, in some embodiments a negative temperature coefficient, is used to decrease current flow in a first leg of an output mirror when temperature decreases. A feedback circuit is used to decrease current flow in the first leg of the output current mirror when the feedback circuit senses an increase in supply voltage by sensing a voltage change on a common control node of the output current mirror. The reference circuit sees many applications including supplying current to logic gates, input/output buffers, and sense amplifiers.

Reference circuit for high speed integrated circuits

In a noninverting Bi-CMOS gate, one or more passgates are utilized in the control path leading to a bipolar output transistor which switches the output of the Bi-CMOS gate. The control gate of one of the MOS transistors of a passgate is connected to an input signal of the Bi-CMOS gate. The control gate of the other MOS transistor is connected to the complement of the input signal. The output of the passgate is connected to the base of the bipolar output transistor. More than one such passgate connected to an input signal and its complement can be used. If multiple passgates are used, the outputs of the passgates may be tied together. This technique, utilizing the switching of the passgates with the input signals and their complements, is employed to create a family of Bi-CMOS noninverting gates such as buffers and AND gates. The propagation delay through the noninverting Bi-CMOS gates of the present invention are roughly equal to the propagation delay of a single Bi-CMOS inverter.

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San Jose, CA, United States of America

Cong K Khieu