Semiconductor device

• US 20080011861A1
• Filed: 06/22/2007
• Published: 01/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Endo, Masami, Kurokawa, Yoshiyuki, Ikeda, Takayuki
• Granted Patent: US 7,832,647 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/189 Power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card

Abstract

A semiconductor device such as an RFID, which can easily generate a given stable potential, is provided. Circuits included in a semiconductor device are categorized depending on whether a given stable power source potential is necessary. A power source potential generated from a wireless signal received by an antenna with the use of the antenna and a rectifier circuit is supplied to a circuit which needs a given stable power source potential through a regulator. On the other hand, a power source potential generated by the rectifier circuit is supplied to a circuit other than the circuit which needs the arbitrary power source potential. Thus, a semiconductor device including a regulator circuit easily designed with a smaller layout can be provided, and the semiconductor device can easily generate a given stable power source potential.

Claims

1. A semiconductor device comprising:

an antenna;

a rectifier circuit;

a regulator circuit;

a first circuit; and

a second circuit,

wherein a signal which is received by the antenna is supplied to the rectifier circuit,

wherein a power source potential outputted from the rectifier circuit is supplied to the regulator circuit and the second circuit, and

wherein a power source potential outputted from the regulator circuit is supplied to the first circuit.

2. The semiconductor device according to claim 1, wherein the first circuit includes a clock generating circuit.

3. The semiconductor device according to claim 1, wherein the first circuit and the second circuit are connected through a level shifter circuit.

4. A semiconductor device comprising:

an antenna;

a rectifier circuit;

a first regulator circuit;

a second regulator circuit;

a first circuit; and

a second circuit,

wherein a signal which is received by the antenna is supplied to the rectifier circuit,

wherein a power source potential outputted from the rectifier circuit is supplied to the first regulator circuit and the second regulator circuit,

wherein a power source potential outputted from the first regulator circuit is supplied to the first circuit, and

wherein a power source potential outputted from the second regulator circuit is supplied to the second circuit.

5. The semiconductor device according to claim 4, wherein the first circuit includes a clock generating circuit.

6. The semiconductor device according to claim 4, wherein the first circuit and the second circuit are connected through a level shifter circuit.

7. A semiconductor device comprising:

an antenna;

a rectifier circuit;

a regulator circuit;

a voltage limiter circuit;

a first circuit; and

a second circuit,

wherein a signal which is received by the antenna is supplied to the rectifier circuit,

wherein a power source potential outputted from the rectifier circuit is supplied to the regulator circuit and the voltage limiter circuit,

wherein a power source potential outputted from the regulator circuit is supplied to the first circuit, and

wherein a power source potential outputted from the voltage limiter circuit is supplied to the second circuit.

8. The semiconductor device according to claim 7, wherein the first circuit includes a clock generating circuit.

9. The semiconductor device according to claim 7, wherein the first circuit and the second circuit are connected through a level shifter circuit.