Boost circuit

• US 5,708,373 A
• Filed: 02/08/1996
• Issued: 01/13/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Inoue, Yoshinori
• Primary Examiner(s): Westin, Edward P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SANTAMAURO, JON P
• Application Number:
  US08/597,371
• Time in Patent Office: 705 Days
• Field of Search: 326/88, 326/80-81, 326/68, 326/63, 326/82-83, 326/26-27, 326/22-23, 327/390-391, 327/589, 365/230.06
• US Class Current: 326/88
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 11/4093 Input/output [I/O] data interface arrangements, e.g. data buffers
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 7/1051 Data output circuits, e.g. read-out amplifiers, data output buffers, data output registers, data output level conversion circuits

Abstract

When input signal IN rises to an "H" level, node N1 attain an "H" level, and output terminal OUT is charged to a level of VCC-V_TH by n channel transistor. Capacitor is charged by the "H" level signal transmitted through inverters, and the charged potential is superimposed on output terminal OUT. When a short pulse is merged with input signal IN, RS flipflop is latched, and node N1 attains an "L" level, thereby discharging the voltage of the output terminal. When the output terminal attains an "L" level, NAND gate is opened and RS flipflop is reset, thereby raising the output terminal again to a boost voltage.

Claims

1. A boost circuit for outputting to an output terminal an output voltage of a level higher than a supply voltage, comprising:

buffer means for outputting an input signal;

a transistor responsive to the input signal of said buffer means rising from a low level to a high level and charging a potential of said output terminal;

a capacitor charged in response to an output signal of said buffer means rising from a low level to a high level and superimposing the charged potential on a potential of said output terminal; and

input prevention means for preventing an input of a high level signal to said buffer means until the potential of said output terminal attains a low level, when a pulse signal falling to a low level is merged with said input signal after said input signal rises from a low level to a high level.

2. The boost circuit according to claim 1, wherein said input prevention means includes latch means for attaining a latch state when a pulse signal falling to a low level is merged with said input signal after said input signal rises from a low level to a high level, and having its latch state released in response to the level of said output terminal falling to a low level to provide a latch output thereof to said buffer means as an input signal.

3. The boost circuit according to claim 2, wherein said latch means includes,

an RS flipflop receiving said input signal at its set input end, and

a gate circuit for inhibiting reset of said RS flipflop by said input signal until the level of said output terminal becomes a low level.