The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 16, 2001
Filed:
Sep. 03, 1998
Masayoshi Nomura, Kawasaki, JP;
Akimitsu Mimura, Ome, JP;
Yuji Yokoyama, Ome, JP;
Tsugio Takahashi, Hamura, JP;
Other;
Abstract
An oscilator circuit for a integrated circuit memory device to optimize the refresh operating circuit and suppress wasteful power consumption in which the oscillator frequency is set high during high temperatures and the oscillator frequency is set low during low temperatures. A current I,is generated by means of the current source,having characteristics in which it is increased during high temperatures and decreased during low temperatures, and is supplied to the ring oscillator,. A current corresponding to the current I,is supplied to each inverter in the frame oscillator,, and since the oscillator frequency is controlled by means of the current value of the supplied current, the frequency of the clock signal CLK generated increases accompanying a rise in temperature, and since the refresh operation is conducted based on the clock signal CLK, the data holding capabilities can be ensured during high temperatures, wasteful power consumption can be reduced during low temperatures, and optimization of the refresh operating frequency can be realized.