Semiconductor memory device and power supply control IC for use with semiconductor memory device

• US 5,650,974 A
• Filed: 12/20/1995
• Issued: 07/22/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Yoshimura, Yoshimasa
• Primary Examiner(s): Popek, Joseph A.
• Application Number:
  US08/575,542
• Time in Patent Office: 580 Days
• Field of Search: 365/226, 365/227, 365/229, 365/228
• US Class Current: 365/229
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 5/141 Battery and back-up supplies
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 5/143 Detection of memory cassette insertion or removal; Continuity checks of supply or ground lines; Detection of supply variations, interruptions or levels G11C5/148 takes precedence; Switching between alternative supplies G11C5/141 takes precedence

Abstract

A semiconductor device includes a first battery BAT 1; a second battery BAT 2; and switches SW1, SW2, SW3, and SW4. Switching block 13 is provided for switching a power source for backing up a memory 3 to retain data. Also a voltage comparator 5 is provided for comparing an external power supply voltage supplied by the power supply VCC of a host apparatus with a reference voltage Vref. In response to the signal from a main battery presence sensor block for sensing the presence of the first battery BAT 1 and the signal from the voltage comparator 5, the memory 3 is backed up to retain data by the external power supply voltage when it is supplied, and further, the second battery BAT 2 is charged by a charging circuit 6 driven by the external power supply voltage. When neither external power supply voltage nor first battery BAT 1 is present, the second battery BAT 2 backs up the memory 3 to retain data. Therefore, power consumption of both main and auxiliary batteries is lessened and memory backup is performed in an assured manner.

Claims

1. A semiconductor memory device comprising:

an external power supply voltage node to which an external power supply voltage is supplied;

an internal power supply voltage node for transmitting an internal power supply voltage;

a volatile semiconductor memory coupled to said internal power supply voltage;

a first battery having a capacity sufficient to drive said semiconductor memory to retain data for a long period of time;

a second battery electrically connected to said internal power supply voltage node for driving said memory to retain data;

charging means driven by the external power supply voltage for charging said second battery;

a first battery voltage node to which a first battery power supply voltage is supplied by said first battery;

a second battery voltage node to which a second battery power supply voltage is supplied by said second battery;

external power supply voltage detector means for detecting said external power supply voltage at said external power supply voltage node and for generating a signal indicative of the external power supply voltage;

first battery presence sensor means for sensing a presence/absence of said first battery and generating an output signal; and

switching means responsive to the signal generated by said external power supply voltage detector means and the output signal from said first battery presence sensor means, for

(a) connecting said external power supply voltage node to said internal power supply voltage node while connecting said charging means to said second battery when said external power supply voltage supplied at said external power supply voltage node is higher than a predetermined value; and

(b) for connecting said first battery voltage node to said internal power supply voltage node or connecting said second battery voltage node to said internal power supply voltage node when the external power supply voltage is lower than the predetermined value.

2. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1, wherein said switching means comprises:

a first switching circuit for interconnecting said external power supply voltage node and said internal power supply voltage node responsive to the signal from said external power supply voltage detector means when said external power supply voltage is higher than the predetermined value;

a second switching circuit for interconnecting said first battery voltage node and said internal power supply voltage node responsive to the signal from said external power supply voltage detector means when said external power supply voltage is lower than the predetermined value;

a third switching circuit for interconnecting said second battery voltage node and said internal power supply voltage node responsive to the signal from said external power supply voltage detector means when said external power supply voltage is lower than the predetermined value;

a fourth switching circuit for interconnecting said charging means and said second battery responsive to the signal from said external power supply voltage detector means when said external power supply voltage is higher than the predetermined value; and

a switching circuit for disconnecting said second battery voltage node from said third switching circuit, and simultaneously disconnecting said second battery voltage node from said fourth switching circuit, responsive to the signal from said external power supply voltage detector means and the output signal from said first battery presence sensor means, when said external power supply voltage is lower than the predetermined value.

3. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1, wherein said first battery presence sensor means comprises:

a reference voltage generator circuit for generating a reference voltage; and

a first battery voltage comparator circuit having one input node to which the first battery power supply voltage is input and another input node to which the reference voltage is input, said first battery voltage comparator comparing the first battery power supply voltage with the reference voltage and outputting a comparison result signal to said switching means.

4. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1, wherein said first battery presence sensor means comprises:

a battery voltage comparator circuit having one input node to which the first battery power supply voltage is input and another input node to which the second battery power supply voltage is input, said battery voltage comparator circuit comparing the first battery power supply voltage with the second battery power supply voltage and outputting a comparison result signal to said switching means.

5. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1, wherein said first battery presence sensor means comprises:

a ground node;

a signal line connected to said switching means;

a pull-up resistor connected between said internal power supply voltage node and said signal line; and

connection means for connecting said signal line to said ground node.

6. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 5 further comprising:

a main body; and

a battery holder which is detachably inserted into said main body for mounting said first battery thereon;

wherein said connection means includes a mechanical switch disposed between said main body and said battery holder, the switch being automatically and mechanically engaged when said battery holder is inserted into said main body to electrically connect said signal line to said ground node.

7. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 6 further comprising:

battery connection means for electrically connecting said first battery to said first battery voltage node when said battery holder is inserted into said main body;

said battery connection means being disposed in a direction of insertion of said battery holder for electrically connecting said battery electrode to said first battery voltage node when the insertion of said battery holder starts; and

said connection means being mechanically engaged when said battery holder is fully inserted into said main body.

8. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1, wherein said first battery presence sensor means comprises:

a ground node;

a signal line connected between said switching means and said first battery voltage node at a connection node; and

a pull-down resistor connected between said ground node and the connection node of said signal line and said first battery voltage node.

9. A one-chip power supply control IC for use in a semiconductor memory device comprising:

a volatile semiconductor memory;

a first battery having a capacity sufficient to drive said semiconductor memory to retain data for a long period of time;

a second battery for driving said memory to retain data;

a first battery voltage node to which said first battery supplies a first battery power supply voltage;

a second battery voltage node to which said second battery supplies a second battery power supply voltage;

an external power supply voltage node to which external power supply voltage is supplied;

an internal power supply voltage node for supplying internal power supply voltage;

first battery presence sensor means for sensing a presence or absence of said first battery and generating an output signal indicative of the presence or absence of said first battery;

charging means driven by the external power supply voltage for charging said second battery;

external power supply voltage detector means for detecting the external power supply voltage at said external power supply voltage node and for generating a signal indicative of the external power supply; and

switching means, responsive to the signal from said external power supply voltage detector means and the output signal from said first battery presence sensor means, for

(a) connecting said external power supply voltage node to said internal power supply voltage node while connecting said charging means to said second battery when said external power supply voltage supplied at said external power supply voltage node is higher than a predetermined value; and

(b) for connecting said first battery voltage node to said internal power supply voltage node or connecting said second battery voltage node to said internal power supply voltage node when the external power supply voltage is lower than the predetermined value.

10. A one-chip power supply control IC for use in a semiconductor memory device comprising:

a volatile semiconductor memory;

a first battery having a capacity sufficient to drive said semiconductor memory to retain data for a long period of time;

a second battery for driving said memory to retain data;

a first battery voltage node to which said first battery supplies a first battery power supply voltage;

a second battery voltage node to which said second battery supplies a second battery power supply voltage;

an external power supply voltage node to which external power supply voltage is supplied;

an internal power supply voltage node for supplying internal power supply voltage;

first battery presence sensor means for sensing a presence or absence of said first battery and generating an output signal indicative of the presence or absence of said first battery;

charging means driven by the external power supply voltage for charging said second battery;

external power supply voltage detector means for detecting the external power supply voltage at said external power supply voltage node and for generating a signal indicative of the external power supply; and

switching means, responsive to the signal from said external power supply voltage detector means and the output signal from said first battery presence sensor means, for

(a) connecting said external power supply voltage node to said internal power supply voltage node while connecting said charging means to said second battery when said external power supply voltage supplied at said external power supply voltage node is higher than a predetermined value; and

(b) when the external power supply voltage is lower than the predetermined value, for connecting said first battery voltage node to said internal power supply voltage node responsive to the output signal of said first battery presence sensor means indicative of the presence of said first battery and for connecting said second battery voltage node to said internal power supply voltage node responsive to the output signal of said first battery presence sensor means indicative of the absence of said first battery.