Self substrate bias generator formed in a well

• US 4,740,715 A
• Filed: 09/16/1986
• Issued: 04/26/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Okada, Yoshio
• Primary Examiner(s): Zazworsky, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): RUBIN, MARGARET R
• Application Number:
  US06/907,803
• Time in Patent Office: 588 Days
• Field of Search: 307/445, 307/297, 307/296 R, 307/200 B, 357/48
• US Class Current: 327/536
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 3/205 Substrate bias-voltage generators for static stores G11C5/146

Abstract

The invention relates to a self substrate bias generator. A well is formed in a semiconductor substrate. The first capacitor is connected between the terminal to which the first clock signal is supplied and the first node. The second capacitor is connected between the terminal to which the second clock signal, which has an opposite phase to the first signal, is supplied and the second node. The first to fourth transistors are formed in the well. For the first transistor, a current path is connected between the substrate and the first node and its gate is connected to the first node. For the second transistor, a current path is connected between the substrate and the second node and its gate is connected to the second node. For the third transistor, a current path is connected between a predetermined potential and the first node and its gate is connected to the second node. For the fourth transistor, a current path is connected between the predetermined potential and the second node and its gate is connected to the first node. If the substrate is of the P type, the charges are pumped from the substrate to the predetermined potential by the generator. In the case of the N-type substrate, the charges are pumped from the predetermined potential into the substrate.

Claims

1. A self substrate bias generator comprising:

a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type;

means for supplying first and second signals having substantially opposite phases;

a first capacitor in which said first signal is supplied to one electrode and the other electrode is connected to a first node;

a second capacitor in which said second signal is supplied to one electrode and the other electrode is connected to a second node;

a well of a second conductivity type formed in said semiconductor substrate; and

first to fourth MOS transistors formed in said well,

wherein a current path of said first MOS transistor is connected between the substrate and said first node and its gate is connected to the first node,

a current path of said second MOS transistor is connected between the substrate and said second node and its gate is connected to the second node,

a current path of said third MOS transistor is connected between a predetermined potential and said first node and its gate is connected to the second node, and

a current path of said fourth MOS transistor is connected between said predetermined potential and said second node and its gate is connected to the first node.

2. A self substrate bias generator according to claim 1, wherein said semiconductor substrate is a P-type semiconductor substrate, and said self substrate bias generator is a circuit for pumping the charges in the semiconductor substrate to said predetermined potential and maintaining the potential of the semiconductor substrate to a potential below said predetermined potential.

3. A self substrate bias generator according to claim 2, wherein an electronic circuit is formed in the portion other than the portion of said semiconductor substrate where said self substrate bias generator is formed, and said predetermined potential is substantially the same as the earth potential to be applied to said electronic circuit.

4. A self substrate bias generator according to claim 1, wherein said means for supplying said first and second signals is means for supplying clock signals such as to set a potential of the first node to an L level after the third transistor is turned off and to set a potential of the second node to an L level after the fourth transistor is turned off.

5. A self substrate bias generator according to claim 4, wherein the means for supplying said first and second signals comprises:

means for supplying a third clock signal;

delay means for delaying said third clock signal;

means for receiving said third clock signal and a delay signal from said delay means, for generating the NAND of said third clock signal and said delay signal, and for outputting this NAND as said first signal; and

means for receiving said first signal and said delay signal, generating the OR of the third signal and the delay signal, and for outputting this OR as said second signal.

6. A self substrate bias generator according to claim 1, wherein said semiconductor substrate is an N-type semiconductor substrate, and said self substrate bias generator is a circuit for pumping the charges from said predetermined potential into said semiconductor substrate and for maintaining the potential of the semiconductor substrate to a potential above said predetermined potential.

7. A self substrate bias generator according to claim 6, wherein an electronic circuit is formed in the portion other than the portion of said semiconductor substrate where said self substrate bias generator is formed, and said predetermined potential is substantially the same as the power source potential to be applied to said electronic circuit.

8. A self substrate bias generator according to claim 6, wherein the means for supplying said first and second signals is means for supplying clock signals so as to set a potential of said first node to an H level after said third transistor is turned off and to set a potential of said second node to an H level after said fourth transistor is turned off.

9. A self substrate bias generator according to claim 8, wherein the means for supplying said first and second clock signals comprises:

means for supplying a third clock signal;

delay means for delaying said third clock signal;

means for receiving said third clock signal and a delay signal from said delay means, for generating the AND of said third clock signal and said delay signal, and for outputting this AND as said first signal; and

means for receiving said first signal and said delay signal, for generating the NOR of the third signal and the delay signal, and for outputting this NOR as said second signal.

10. A self substrate bias generator according to claim 2, wherein said first and second signals are first and second clock signals, respectively, said first clock signal changes in level from H level to L level after the level of said second clock signal changes from L level to H level, and said second clock signal changes in level from H level to L level after the level of said first clock signal changes from L level to H level.

11. A self substrate bias generator according to claim 6, wherein said first and second signals are first and second clock signals, respectively, said second clock signal changes in level from H level to L level after the level of said first clock signal changes from L level to H level, and said first clock signal changes in level from H level to L level after the level of said second clock signal changes from L level to H level.