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:
Sep. 28, 2010
Filed:
Sep. 19, 2005
Cornelis Hermanus Van Berkel, Eindhoven, NL;
Cornelis Hermanus Van Berkel, Eindhoven, NL;
ST-Ericsson SA, Geneva, CH;
Abstract
The present invention relates to a memory circuit and a method of controlling data retention in the memory circuit, wherein a supply signal is selectively switched to a respective one of at least two virtual supply lines () each shared by a respective one of a plurality of groups (-to-) of memory cells (Cto C). The selective switching is controlled based on a global activity control signal (A), used for setting the memory circuit either into a standby state or into an active state, and a local data retention indication signal (DRto DRn) allocated to a dedicated group of memory cells. Thereby, the data retention part of the memory circuit can be adapted to the application and its state, and standby mode leakaged power is only dissipated in those memory cells for which data retentions actually required.