Standby voltage boosting stage and method for a memory device
First Claim
1. A standby voltage boosting circuit, for a memory device having a supply voltage, comprising:
- a voltage booster circuit to receive the supply voltage and to provide a boosted voltage higher than the supply voltage for use in active operation of the device, the voltage booster circuit having a first input;
a generating circuit, having a first input to receive a standby signal, a second input to receive an operating mode signal, and a first output coupled to the voltage booster circuit input, to generate a first control signal on the first output; and
a control circuit, having an input to receive the standby signal, the control circuit including an operating mode detecting circuit having an output to provide the operating mode signal, the operating mode signal having a first value indicating a voltage boost operating mode, and a second value indicating a supply voltage operating mode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A voltage booster stage including a voltage booster circuit; a generating circuit generating an enabling signal enabling the voltage booster circuit; and a control circuit controlling the generating circuit. The control circuit receives a standby signal, and generate an operating mode signal having a first value indicating a voltage boost operating mode, and a second value indicating a supply voltage operating mode. The generating circuit receives the operating mode signal and the standby signal, and generates the enabling signal enabling the voltage booster circuit in the presence of the standby signal and the first value of the operating mode signal.
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Citations
45 Claims
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1. A standby voltage boosting circuit, for a memory device having a supply voltage, comprising:
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a voltage booster circuit to receive the supply voltage and to provide a boosted voltage higher than the supply voltage for use in active operation of the device, the voltage booster circuit having a first input; a generating circuit, having a first input to receive a standby signal, a second input to receive an operating mode signal, and a first output coupled to the voltage booster circuit input, to generate a first control signal on the first output; and a control circuit, having an input to receive the standby signal, the control circuit including an operating mode detecting circuit having an output to provide the operating mode signal, the operating mode signal having a first value indicating a voltage boost operating mode, and a second value indicating a supply voltage operating mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A standby voltage boosting method, for a memory device having a supply voltage, comprising steps of:
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generating an operating mode signal to have a first value indicating a voltage boost operating mode, and a second value indicating a supply voltage operating mode; generating a standby signal to have one of a first value and a second value; and generating a control signal, for controlling a voltage booster circuit when the standby signal and the operating mode signal have predetermined values the voltage booster circuit to supply a boosted voltage higher than the supply voltage. the boosted voltage for use in actively operating the memory device. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of operating a voltage boosting circuit for a device, the voltage boosting circuit being operable in a boosting mode and a standby mode, comprising steps of:
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detecting when the device is operating in a device boost mode, the device potentially requiring voltage boosting during operation of the device in the device boost mode; disabling operation of the voltage boosting circuit when the device is not operating in the device boost mode; and enabling operation of the voltage boosting circuit when the device is not operating in the device boost mode. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A voltage boosting circuit for a device, comprising:
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a voltage pump circuit; means for detecting when the device is operating in a device boost mode, the device potentially requiring voltage boosting during operation of the device in the device boost mode; means for disabling operation of the voltage pump circuit when the device is not operating in the device boost mode; and means for enabling operation of the voltage pump circuit when the device is not operating in the device boost mode. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method of operating a voltage boosting circuit operable in a boosting mode and a standby mode, the method comprising steps of:
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storing a first frequency value; operating the voltage boosting circuit at a standby frequency during the standby mode, the standby frequency being responsive to the first frequency value; and operating the voltage boosting circuit at a boosting frequency during the boosting mode of operation. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A voltage boosting circuit for a device, the voltage boosting circuit being operable in a boosting mode and a standby mode, comprising:
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a voltage pump circuit; a storage element to store a first frequency value; means for operating the voltage pump circuit at a standby frequency, coupled to the storage element, the standby frequency being responsive to the first frequency value during the standby mode; and means for operating the voltage pump circuit at a boosting frequency during the boosting mode of operation. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38)
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39. A standby pump circuit, comprising:
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a plurality of voltage boosting stage circuits, each comprising a voltage boosting element, a first drive circuit, coupled to the voltage boosting element, to drive the voltage boosting element at a first frequency, and a second drive circuit, coupled to the voltage boosting element, to drive the voltage boosting element at a second frequency; and a selection circuit to selectively enable operation of the first drive circuit and the second drive circuit. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A standby voltage boosting circuit for a non-volatile memory device having a supply voltage, comprising:
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a voltage booster circuit to receive the supply voltage and to provide a boosted voltage higher than the supply voltage for use in active operation of the device, the voltage booster circuit having a first input; a generating circuit, having a first input to receive a standby signal, a second input to receive an operating mode signal, and a first output coupled to the voltage booster circuit input, to generate a first control signal on the first output; and a control circuit, having an input to receive the standby signal, the control circuit including an operating mode detecting circuit having an output to provide the operating mode signal, the operating mode signal having a first value indicating a voltage boost operating mode, and a second value indicating a supply voltage operating mode.
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45. A standby voltage boosting method for a non-volatile memory device having a supply voltage, comprising steps of:
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generating an operating mode signal to have a first value indicating a voltage boost operating mode, and a second value indicating a supply voltage operating mode; generating a standby signal to have one of a first value and a second value; and generating a control signal, for controlling a voltage booster circuit when the standby signal and the operating mode signal have predetermined values the voltage booster circuit to supply a boosted voltage higher than the supply voltage, the boosted voltage for use in actively operating the memory device.
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Specification