Multi-threshold CMOS system having short-circuit current prevention circuit
OwnerHyo-sig Woninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed is a multi-threshold complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (MTCMOS) circuit system. The MTCMOS circuit system includes a single control transistor that it uses to switch a MTCMOS circuit between a sleep mode and an active mode. The MTCMOS circuit also includes a short-circuit current prevention circuit controlled by a MTCMOS control circuit. The short-circuit current prevention circuit receives an output signal from the MTCMOS circuit and selectively transmits the output signal to a latch circuit depending on the logic state of a control signal from the MTCMOS control circuit.
Claims20
A multi-threshold complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (MTCMOS) circuit system, the system comprising:
- a MTCMOS circuit comprising an output terminal and adapted to transition between an active mode and a sleep mode in response to control signals generated by a MTCMOS control circuit, wherein the MTCMOS circuit comprises:
- a logic circuit comprising a plurality of field effect transistors characterized by a threshold voltage, and comprising a plurality of terminals, wherein one of the plurality of terminals has a virtual power source voltage;
- and,
- a control transistor connected between ground and the one terminal having the virtual power source voltage;
- wherein the control transistor has a threshold voltage higher than the threshold voltage.
A method of controlling a multi-threshold complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (MTCMOS) circuit comprising a logic circuit connected to a power source, a control transistor connected between the logic circuit and ground, and a short-circuit prevention circuit connected between the power source and ground by respective first and second transistors, the method comprising:
- switching the control transistor using a first control signal;
- and,
- switching the first and second transistors using a second control signal.
The method of claim I 1, wherein the predetermined wake up signal and the stop signal are generated by a MTCMOS control circuit.
The method of claim I 1, wherein switching the first control signal from the first logic state to the second logic state connects the logic circuit to ground;
- and,
- switching the first control signal from the second logic state to the first logic state disconnects the logic circuit from ground.
The method of claim I 1, wherein the control transistor and the first and second transistors are turned on to place the MTCMOS circuit in an active mode;
- and,
- the control transistor and the first and second transistors are turned off to place the MTCMOS circuit in a sleep mode.
A method of operating a multi-threshold complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (MTCMOS) circuit comprising a logic circuit connected to a power source, a control transistor connected between the logic circuit and ground, and a short-circuit prevention circuit connected between the power source and ground by respective first and second transistors, the method comprising:
- providing a predetermined wake up signal and a stop signal to a MTCMOS control circuit supplying a first control signal and a second control signal;
- switching the first control signal from a first logic state to a second logic state in response to a transition of the predetermined wake up signal from the first logic state to the second logic state;
- switching the second control signal from the second logic state to the first logic state following a first predetermined delay after the first logic signal has transitioned from the first logic state to the second logic state;
- transmitting an output signal from the logic unit to an external circuit via a transmission controlling unit in the short-circuit prevention circuit;
- and,
- latching the output signal from the logic unit with a latch contained in the short-circuit prevention circuit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.