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US 2001/0026477 A1Published application
Integrated circuit having an on-board reference generator
AssigneeMicron Technology, Inc.
InventorTroy Manning
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An integrated circuit includes a differential amplifier having a first terminal that is operable to receive an input signal and having a second terminal. The integrated circuit also includes a reference circuit that generates a reference signal on the second terminal of the amplifier. During testing of the integrated circuit, the reference circuit can be activated to generate the reference signal such that a tester need not supply it as a test signal. During normal operation, however, either the reference circuit can generate the reference signal or the reference signal can be supplied by an external source.
Claims50
An integrated circuit, comprising:
- a differential amplifier having a first terminal operable to receive an input signal and having a second terminal;
- and
- a reference circuit coupled to the amplifier and operable to generate a first reference signal on the second terminal.
An integrated circuit, comprising:
- a differential amplifier having first and second input terminals;
- and
- a reference-signal generator having a reference-signal output terminal coupled to the second input terminal of the amplifier.
An integrated circuit, comprising:
- a conductive reference pad operable to receive a first reference signal;
- a circuit having a first input terminal coupled to the reference pad;
- and
- a reference circuit coupled to the circuit and operable to generate a second reference signal on the first input terminal.
1 more element
An integrated circuit, comprising:
- a conductive reference pad;
- a circuit having a first input terminal coupled to the reference pad;
- and
- a reference-signal generator having an output terminal coupled to the first input terminal of the circuit.
1 more element
An integrated circuit, comprising:
- a package;
- a reference-signal terminal accessible from outside of the package and operable to receive a first reference signal;
- a circuit disposed inside of the package and having a first input terminal coupled to the reference-signal terminal;
- and
- a reference circuit disposed inside of the package, coupled to the circuit, and operable to generate a second reference signal on the first input terminal of the circuit.
2 more elements
An integrated circuit, comprising:
- a package;
- a reference-signal terminal accessible from outside of the package;
- a circuit disposed inside of the package and having a first input terminal coupled to the reference-signal terminal;
- and
- a reference-signal generator disposed inside of the package and having an output terminal coupled to the first input terminal of the circuit.
2 more elements
A memory circuit, comprising:
- a conductive reference-signal pad;
- a conductive address-signal pad;
- a conductive data-signal pad;
- an address decoder that includes a differential amplifier having a first input terminal coupled to the reference-signal pad and having a second input terminal coupled to the address-signal pad;
- a reference-signal generator having an output terminal coupled to the first input terminal of the amplifier;
- a memory array coupled to the address decoder;
- and
- a read/write circuit coupled to the data-signal pad and to the memory array.
5 more elements
A memory circuit, comprising:
- a conductive reference-signal pad;
- a conductive data-signal pad;
- a conductive address-signal pad;
- an address decoder coupled to the address-signal pad;
- a memory array coupled to the address decoder;
- a read/write circuit coupled to the memory array and including a differential amplifier having a first input terminal coupled to the reference-signal pad and having a second terminal coupled to the data-signal pad;
- and
- a reference-signal generator having an output terminal coupled to the first input terminal of the amplifier.
5 more elements
A memory circuit, comprising:
- a conductive reference-signal pad;
- a conductive address-signal pad;
- a conductive data-signal pad;
- a conductive control-signal pad;
- an address decoder coupled to the address-signal pad;
- a memory array coupled to the address decoder;
- a read/write circuit coupled to the data-signal pad and to the memory array;
- a control circuit coupled to the address decoder, the control circuit including a differential amplifier having a first input terminal coupled to the reference-signal pad and having a second terminal coupled to the control-signal pad;
- and
- a reference-signal generator having an output terminal coupled to the first terminal of the amplifier.
7 more elements
A memory circuit, comprising:
- a package;
- a reference-signal terminal accessible from outside of the package;
- an address-signal terminal accessible from outside of the package;
- a data-signal terminal accessible from outside of the package;
- an address decoder disposed within the package and including a differential amplifier having a first input terminal coupled to the reference-signal terminal and having a second input terminal coupled to the address-signal terminal;
- a reference-signal generator disposed within the package and having an output terminal coupled to the first input terminal of the amplifier;
- a memory array disposed within the package and coupled to the address decoder;
- and
- a read/write circuit disposed within the package and coupled to the data-signal terminal and to the memory array.
6 more elements
A memory circuit, comprising:
- a package;
- a reference-signal terminal accessible from outside of the package;
- an address-signal terminal accessible from outside of the package;
- a data-signal terminal accessible from outside of the package;
- an address decoder disposed within the package and coupled to the address-signal terminal;
- a memory array disposed within the package and coupled to the address decoder;
- a read/write circuit disposed within the package, coupled to the memory array, and including a differential amplifier having a first input terminal coupled to the reference-signal terminal and having a second terminal coupled to the data-signal terminal;
- and
- a reference-signal generator disposed within the package and having an output terminal coupled to the first input terminal of the amplifier.
6 more elements
A memory circuit, comprising:
- a package;
- a reference-signal terminal accessible from outside of the package;
- an address-signal terminal accessible from outside of the package;
- a data-signal terminal accessible from outside of the package;
- a control-signal terminal accessible from outside of the package;
- an address decoder disposed within the package and coupled to the address-signal terminal;
- a memory array disposed within the package and coupled to the address decoder;
- a read/write circuit disposed within the package and coupled to the data-signal terminal and to the memory array;
- a control circuit disposed within the package and coupled to the address decoder, the control circuit including a differential amplifier having a first input terminal coupled to the reference-signal terminal and having a second terminal coupled to the control-signal terminal;
- and
- a reference-signal generator disposed within the package and having an output terminal coupled to the first terminal of the amplifier.
8 more elements
An electronic system, comprising:
- a data input device;
- a data output device;
- and
- a computer circuit coupled to the data input and output devices and including a processor and a memory circuit coupled to the processor, the memory circuit including:
- a package;
- a reference-signal terminal accessible from outside of the package;
- an address-signal terminal accessible from outside of the package;
- a data-signal terminal accessible from outside of the package;
- an address decoder disposed within the package and including a differential amplifier having a first input terminal coupled to the reference-signal terminal and having a second input terminal coupled to the address-signal terminal;
- a reference-signal generator disposed within the package and having an output terminal coupled to the first input terminal of the amplifier;
- a memory array disposed within the package and coupled to the address decoder;
- and
- a read/write circuit disposed within the package and coupled to the data-signal terminal and to the memory array.
10 more elements
An electronic system, comprising:
- a data input device;
- a data output device;
- and
- a computer circuit coupled to the data input and output devices and including a processor and a memory circuit coupled to the processor, the memory circuit including:
- a package;
- a reference-signal terminal accessible from outside of the package;
- an address-signal terminal accessible from outside of the package;
- a data-signal terminal accessible from outside of the package;
- an address decoder disposed within the package and coupled to the address-signal terminal;
- a memory array disposed within the package and coupled to the address decoder;
- a read/write circuit disposed within the package, coupled to the memory array, and including a differential amplifier having a first input terminal coupled to the reference-signal terminal and having a second terminal coupled to the data-signal terminal;
- and
- a reference-signal generator disposed within the package and having an output terminal coupled to the first input terminal of the amplifier.
10 more elements
An electronic system, comprising:
- a data input device;
- a data output device;
- and
- a computer circuit coupled to the data input and output devices and including a processor and a memory circuit coupled to the processor, the memory circuit including:
- a package;
- a reference-signal terminal accessible from outside of the package;
- an address-signal terminal accessible from outside of the package;
- a data-signal terminal accessible from outside of the package;
- a control-signal terminal accessible from outside of the package;
- an address decoder disposed within the package and coupled to the address-signal terminal;
- a memory array disposed within the package and coupled to the address decoder;
- a read/write circuit disposed within the package and coupled to the data-signal terminal and to the memory array;
- a control circuit disposed within the package and coupled to the address decoder, the control circuit including a differential amplifier having a first input terminal coupled to the reference-signal terminal and having a second terminal coupled to the control-signal terminal;
- and
- a reference-signal generator disposed within the package and having an output terminal coupled to the first terminal of the amplifier.
12 more elements
A method, comprising:
- internally generating a first reference signal on a first terminal of a differential amplifier disposed in an integrated circuit;
- and
- coupling an input signal to a second terminal of the differential amplifier.
A method, comprising:
- during a first time period, providing an externally generated reference signal to a terminal of a circuit disposed in an integrated circuit;
- and
- during a second time period, providing an internally generated reference signal to the terminal of the circuit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.