Internal voltage generator for a non-volatile semiconductor memory device
First Claim
1. A semiconductor device, comprising:
- an output circuit operating with voltage signals on a first and a second supply line as operating power supply voltages for producing a signal of a level of a voltage on one of the first and second supply lines in accordance with an input signal;
means for transmitting a signal of either of a first voltage level and a second voltage level onto the first supply line; and
shifting means in response to a voltage shifting toward the first voltage level on the first supply line for shifting in voltage level a third voltage level signal on the second supply line toward the first voltage level.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The semiconductor device includes a voltage generator for generating selectively a signal of a first level or a second level onto a first supply line, and a voltage converter using voltage signals on the first supply line and a second supply line for producing a signal of the voltage level on the first or the second supply line in accordance with an input signal, and a voltage level shifter for detecting the level of the voltage on the first supply line to shift in voltage level a signal on the second power supply line toward the first level when the voltage on the first supply line approaches the first level. The difference of the voltages on the first and second supply lines can be reduced to improve the break-down characteristics of a transistor included in the voltage converter, resulting in a reliable semiconductor device.
57 Citations
51 Claims
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1. A semiconductor device, comprising:
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an output circuit operating with voltage signals on a first and a second supply line as operating power supply voltages for producing a signal of a level of a voltage on one of the first and second supply lines in accordance with an input signal; means for transmitting a signal of either of a first voltage level and a second voltage level onto the first supply line; and shifting means in response to a voltage shifting toward the first voltage level on the first supply line for shifting in voltage level a third voltage level signal on the second supply line toward the first voltage level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A non-volatile semiconductor memory device, comprising:
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a plurality of non-volatile memory cells arranged in a matrix of rows and columns, a plurality of word lines arranged on respective rows, each of the word lines connecting memory cells on an associated row, row decoder means for decoding an address signal, drive means provided for each said word line and responsive to an output of the row decoder means for transferring a voltage signal on either of a first supply line and a second supply line onto a selected word line, generator means responsive to an predetermined operation mode instructing signal for generating and supplying a voltage signal of a first level onto the first supply line, and adjusting means in response to the generation of the first level voltage signal for adjusting a voltage on the second supply line so as to reduce a voltage difference between the first and second supply lines. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A semiconductor device comprising:
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an output circuit responsive to an input signal for generating an output signal of a voltage level of either of voltages on a first supply line and a second supply line; a first voltage supply means for supplying a first voltage of either one of a first level and a second level on the first supply line; and a second voltage supply means for detecting a level of a voltage supplied from said first voltage supply means and for supplying a second voltage of either one of the second level and a third level on the second supply line according to the result of detection. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40)
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41. A non-volatile semiconductor memory device, comprising:
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a memory cell array including a plurality of non-volatile memory cells arranged in rows and columns; a plurality of word lines provided corresponding to said rows, each of said word lines connecting memory cells of a corresponding row; predecode means operating with a first level voltage and a second level voltage as operating power supply voltages for predecoding an address signal to generate a first predecode signal and a second predecode signal; voltage generating means responsive to an operation mode instructing signal for generating a third level voltage; level convert means for converting the first and second predecode signals into a first shift signal and a second shift signal of the first and third voltage levels while maintaining the logical value of the first and second predecode signals; decode means operating with the first and third level voltages as operating supply voltages for decoding the first predecode signal to generate a row selection signal; and drive means responsive to said row selection signal for transferring the second shift signal onto a word line selected by said row selection signal. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 50)
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49. A method of operating a semiconductor device including
an output circuit operating with voltage signals on a first and a second supply line as operating power supply voltages for producing a signal of a level of a voltage on one of the first and second supply lines in accordance with an input signal, comprising the steps of: -
transmitting a signal of either of a first voltage level and a second voltage level onto the first supply line; and shifting in response to a voltage shifting toward the first voltage level on the first supply line for shifting in voltage level a third voltage level signal on the second supply line toward the first voltage level.
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51. A method of operating a semiconductor device, comprising the steps of:
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responsive to an input signal for generating an output signal of a voltage level of either of voltages on a first supply line and a second supply line; supplying a first voltage of either one of a first level and a second level on the first supply line; and detecting a level of a voltage supplied from said first voltage supply means and for supplying a second voltage of either one of the second level and a third level on the second supply line according to the result of detection.
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Specification