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:
Jul. 10, 2007
Filed:
Nov. 30, 2005
Larry R. Fenstermaker, Nazareth, PA (US);
Gregory S. Cartney, Coplay, PA (US);
Larry R. Fenstermaker, Nazareth, PA (US);
Gregory S. Cartney, Coplay, PA (US);
Lattice Semiconductor Corporation, Hillsboro, OR (US);
Abstract
In certain embodiments, the present invention is a word-line driver for an address decoder that decodes a multi-bit address to enable access to a row of circuit elements such as memory cells in a block of memory implemented in a dedicated memory device or as part of a larger device, such as an FPGA. The word-line driver has a feed-back latch for each word-line that ensures that the word-line is not energized when that word-line is not selected for access. By controlling the feed-back latch using a decoded address bit value rather than a pre-charged enable signal as do some prior-art dynamic word-line drivers, the word-line driver prevents undesirable energizing of multiple word-lines. The word-line driver can be implemented using less layout area and less power than some analogous prior-art static word-line drivers.