Semiconductor memory device allowing reduction in current consumption
AssigneeMitsubishiki Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorsTakashi Kono, Katsuyoshi Mitsui
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A through-current Ic of a comparator circuit is switched in accordance with a response speed required with respect to a current consumption. Additionally, a through-current Is of a shifter circuit, which sends to the comparator circuit an output signal at an appropriate level transmitting a difference between an internal power supply potential Vdd and a reference potential Vref is switched according to the required response speed. When a device is in a standby state requiring a small current consumption in internal power supply potential Vdd, both through-currents Ic and Is are set small so that the whole current consumption can be further reduced.
Claims10
A semiconductor device comprising
- a power supply circuit receiving an external power supply potential, supplying a power supply current to a load circuit connected to an internal power supply node, and controlling an amount of said power supply current at a response speed corresponding to externally applied setting such that the potential on said internal power supply node is held at a constant potential, said power supply circuit including
- a reference potential generating circuit for generating a reference potential used as a reference value of said constant potential,
- a control circuit for receiving said setting,
- a level shifter circuit for shifting levels of the potential on said internal power supply node and said reference potential into predetermined potential ranges at a response speed corresponding to the output of said control circuit, and outputting the level-shifted potentials,
- a first drive circuit operating in accordance with the level-shifted potentials, and
- a second drive circuit for receiving said external power supply potential, and supplying said power supply current of the amount corresponding to an output of said first drive circuit to said internal power supply node.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.