Semiconductor integrated circuit, latch circuit, and flip-flop circuit

• US 9,871,503 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2017
• Issued: 01/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Semiconductor Solutions Co., Ltd. (Winbond Electronics Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Nakanishi, Kazuyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Jager, Ryan
• Application Number:
  US15/665,070
• Publication Number:
  US 20170331464A1
• Time in Patent Office: 169 Days
• Field of Search: 327211
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 3/012 Modifications of generator to improve response time or to decrease power consumption
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 3/037 Bistable circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 3/356026 with synchronous operation H03K3/356034, H03K3/356052 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 3/35606 with synchronous operation
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 3/356121 with synchronous operation H03K3/35613, H03K3/356147 take precedence

Abstract

A semiconductor integrated circuit connected between a first node and a second node includes first to fourth transistors. When a signal at the second node changes, the fourth transistor is turned on, and a potential obtained by shifting a third potential by the threshold of the fourth transistor is applied to the gate of the second transistor.

Claims

1. A semiconductor integrated circuit connected between a first node and a second node, the semiconductor integrated circuit comprising:

a first transistor of a first conductivity type located between a first potential node to which a first potential is applied and the first node, and having a gate connected to the second node;

a second transistor of a second conductivity type having a drain connected to the first node;

a third transistor of the second conductivity type located between a third node connected to a source of the second transistor and a second potential node to which a second potential is applied, and having a gate connected to the second node;

a fourth transistor of the first conductivity type having a source and a drain either one of which is connected to a gate of the second transistor, and a gate and the drain to both of which the second potential is applied;

a fifth transistor of the first conductivity type located between a drain of the first transistor and the first node; and

a sixth transistor of the second conductivity type having a gate and a drain to both of which the first potential is applied, and a source connected to a gate of the fifth transistor,

wherein when a signal at the second node changes, a third potential for turning on the fourth transistor is applied to the gate of the fourth transistor, and a potential obtained by shifting the third potential by a threshold of the fourth transistor is applied to the gate of the second transistor.

2. A latch circuit comprising the semiconductor integrated circuit according to claim 1 as a latch feedback unit.

3. The latch circuit according to claim 2 that receives an input signal and a clock signal and outputs a latch signal, the latch circuit comprising:

a first inverter that inverts the input signal and outputs the inverted input signal;

a control switch that interrupts or transmits the output signal of the first inverter, based on the clock signal; and

a second inverter that receives a signal output from the control switch, inverts the received signal, and outputs the inverted received signal as the latch signal,

wherein the latch feedback unit is configured to receive the latch signal at the second node and feed back the latch signal to an input of the second inverter via the first node, and

the control switch is composed of one transistor.

4. The latch circuit according to claim 3, further comprising:

an auxiliary circuit including;

a seventh transistor having a gate to which the output signal of the first inverter is applied; and

an eighth transistor having a gate to which the clock signal is applied, and connected in series with the seventh transistor,

wherein the auxiliary circuit directly propagates the output signal of the first inverter to an output signal of the latch circuit, when the control switch transmits the output signal of the first inverter.

5. A flip-flop circuit comprising the latch circuit according to claim 2.