# US 6,721,213 B2 · Electronic circuit and semiconductor storage device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,721,213 B2 - Document ID: US6721213B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/229,162 - Filed: 2002-08-28 - Published: 2003-03-06 - Granted: 2004-04-13 - Earliest claimed: 2001-08-30 - Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba - Inventors: Atsushi Nakayama; Toshimasa Namekawa - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6721213B2 ## CPC - G11C 7/222: {Clock generating, synchronizing or distributing circuits within memory device} - G11C 7/22: Read-write [R-W] timing or clocking circuits; Read-write [R-W] control signal generators or management - G11C 8/08: Word line control circuits, e.g. drivers, boosters, pull-up circuits, pull-down circuits, precharging circuits, for word lines - G11C 8/10: Decoders - G11C 11/4076: Timing circuits (for regeneration management G11C11/406) - G11C 11/4082: {Address Buffers; level conversion circuits} - G11C 11/4087: {Address decoders, e.g. bit - or word line decoders; Multiple line decoders} - H03K 19/00323: {Delay compensation} - H03K 19/00369: {Modifications for compensating variations of temperature, supply voltage or other physical parameters} - H03K 2005/00123: {Avoiding variations of delay due to integration tolerances} - H03K 2005/0013: {Avoiding variations of delay due to power supply} - G11C: STATIC STORES (semiconductor memory devices H10B) - H03K: PULSE TECHNIQUE (measuring pulse characteristics G01R; modulating sinusoidal oscillations with pulses H03C; transmission of digital information H04L; discriminator circuits detecting phase difference between two signals by counting or integrating cycles of oscillation H03D3/04; automatic control, starting, synchronisation or stabilisation of generators of electronic oscillations or pulses where the type of generator is irrelevant or unspecified H03L; coding, decoding or code conversion, in general H03M) ## Abstract An electronic circuit according to this invention includes a first delay compensation circuit which receives a first power supply voltage and a first signal and outputs a first output signal delayed by a first predetermined time, a second delay compensation circuit which receives a second power supply voltage and the first signal and outputs a second output signal delayed by a second predetermined time, a first logic circuit which receives the first power supply voltage and the second output signal output from the second delay compensation circuit and outputs a first operation result by performing first logic operation, and a second logic circuit which receives the second power supply voltage and the first output signal output from the first delay compensation circuit and outputs a second operation result by performing second logic operation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electronic circuit comprising: a first delay compensation circuit which receives a first power supply voltage and a first signal and outputs a first output signal delayed by a first predetermined time; a second delay compensation circuit which receives a second power supply voltage and the first signal and outputs a second output signal delayed by a second predetermined time; a first logic circuit which receives the first power supply voltage and the second output signal output from said second delay compensation circuit and outputs a first operation result by performing first logic operation; and a second logic circuit which receives the second power supply voltage and the first output signal output from said first delay compensation circuit and outputs a second operation result by performing second logic operation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A circuit according to claim 1, wherein the first power supply voltage is higher than the second power supply voltage, the first input signal has the same level as that of the second power supply voltage of high level, and said circuit further comprises a first boosting circuit which receives the first input signal and boosts the second power supply voltage of high level to the first power supply voltage and applies the voltage to said first delay compensation circuit, and a second boosting circuit which receives the second output signal output from said second delay compensation circuit and having the same level as that of the second power supply voltage of high level, boosts the second power supply voltage of high level to the first power supply voltage, and applies the voltage to said first logic circuit. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A circuit according to claim 1, wherein said first delay compensation circuit receives an N-bit address and has first operation elements corresponding to N (N is an integer not less than one) bits each of which receives one address bit of the address and the first power supply voltage to calculate and output an AND thereof, said second delay compensation circuit receives an N-bit address and has first operation elements corresponding to N (N is an integer not less than one) bits each of which receives one address bit of the address and the second power supply voltage to calculate and output an AND thereof, said first logic circuit has third operation elements corresponding to N bits each of which receives two inverted or non-inverted signals of an N-bit signal output from said second delay compensation circuit to calculate and output an AND thereof, and said second logic circuit has fourth operation elements corresponding to N bits each of which receives two inverted or non-inverted signals of an N-bit signal output from said first delay compensation circuit to calculate and output an AND thereof. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A circuit according to claim 1, wherein said first delay compensation circuit has a circuit arrangement which is electrically equivalent to said first logic circuit and causes substantially the same signal delay as that caused by said first logic circuit, and said second delay compensation circuit has a circuit arrangement which is electrically equivalent to said second logic circuit and causes substantially the same signal delay as that caused by said second logic circuit. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A circuit according to claim 1, wherein the first signal is a timing signal for synchronizing the first logic operation of said first logical circuit with the second logic operation of said second logic circuit. ### Claim 6 An electronic circuit comprising: a first delay compensation circuit which receives a first power supply voltage, includes a transistor having a first characteristic, receives a first signal, and outputs a first output signal delayed by a first predetermined time; a second delay compensation circuit which receives a second power supply voltage, includes a transistor having a second characteristic, receives a second signal, and outputs a second output signal delayed by a second predetermined time; a first logic circuit which receives the first power supply voltage and the second output signal output from said second delay compensation circuit, performs first logic operation, and outputs a first operation result; and a second logic circuit which receives the first power supply voltage and the first output signal output from said first delay compensation circuit, performs second logic operation, and outputs a second operation result. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A circuit according to claim 6, wherein the first power supply voltage is higher than the second power supply voltage, the first input signal has the same level as that of the second power supply voltage of high level, and said circuit further comprises a first boosting circuit which receives the first input signal, boosts the second power supply voltage of high level to the first power supply voltage, and applies the voltage to said first delay compensation circuit, and a second boosting circuit which receives the second output signal output from said second delay compensation circuit and having the same level as that of the second power supply voltage of high level, boosts the second power supply voltage of high level to the first power supply voltage, and applies the voltage to said first logic circuit. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) A circuit according to claim 6, wherein said first delay compensation circuit receives an N-bit address and has first operation elements corresponding to N (N is an integer not less than one) bits each of which receives one address bit of the address and the first power supply voltage to calculate and output an AND thereof, said second delay compensation circuit receives an N-bit address and has first operation elements corresponding to N (N is an integer not less than one) bits each of which receives one address bit of the address and the second power supply voltage to calculate and output an AND thereof, said first logic circuit has third operation elements corresponding to N bits each of which receives two inverted or non-inverted signals of an N-bit signal output from said second delay compensation circuit to calculate and output an AND thereof, and said second logic circuit has fourth operation elements corresponding to N bits each of which receives two inverted or non-inverted signals of an N-bit signal output from said first delay compensation circuit to calculate and output an AND thereof. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) A circuit according to claim 6, wherein said first delay compensation circuit has a circuit arrangement which is electrically equivalent to said first logic circuit and causes substantially the same signal delay as that caused by said first logic circuit, and said second delay compensation circuit has a circuit arrangement which is electrically equivalent to said second logic circuit and causes substantially the same signal delay as that caused by said second logic circuit. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) A circuit according to claim 6, wherein the first signal is a timing signal for synchronizing the first logic operation of said first logical circuit with the second logic operation of said second logic circuit. ### Claim 11 An electronic circuit comprising: a first level shifter which receives a first signal that has a second voltage at high level, boosts the second voltage to a first voltage, and outputs the first signal; a first delay compensation circuit which receives a first power supply voltage having the first voltage and the first signal output from said first level shifter and outputs a first output signal delayed by a first predetermined time; a second level shifter which receives the first output signal that has the first voltage at high level and output from said first delay compensation circuit, boosts the first voltage to the second voltage, and outputs the first output signal; a second delay compensation circuit which receives the second power supply voltage and the first signal that has the second voltage at high level and outputs a second output signal delayed by a second predetermined time; a third level shifter which receives the second output signal output from said second delay compensation circuit and boosts the second voltage of the second output signal of high level to the first voltage; a first logic circuit which receives the first power supply voltage and the second output signal output from said third level shifter, performs first logic operation, and outputs a first operation result; and a second logic circuit which receives the second power supply voltage having the second voltage and the first output signal output from said second level shifter, performs second logic operation, and outputs a second operation result. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A circuit according to claim 11, wherein said first delay compensation circuit receives an N-bit address and has first operation elements corresponding to N (N is an integer not less than one) bits each of which receives one address bit of the address and the first power supply voltage to calculate and output an AND thereof, said second delay compensation circuit receives an N-bit address and has first operation elements corresponding to N (N is an integer not less than one) bits each of which receives one address bit of the address and the second power supply voltage to calculate and output an AND thereof, said first logic circuit has third operation elements corresponding to N bits each of which receives two inverted or non-inverted signals of an N-bit signal output from said second delay compensation circuit to calculate and output an AND thereof, and said second logic circuit has fourth operation elements corresponding to N bits each of which receives two inverted or non-inverted signals of an N-bit signal output from said first delay compensation circuit to calculate and output an AND thereof. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) A circuit according to claim 11, wherein said first delay compensation circuit has a circuit arrangement which is electrically equivalent to said first logic circuit and causes substantially the same signal delay as that caused by said first logic circuit, and said second delay compensation circuit has a circuit arrangement which is electrically equivalent to said second logic circuit and causes substantially the same signal delay as that caused by said second logic circuit. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) A circuit according to claim 11, where in the first signal is a timing signal for synchronizing the first logic operation of said first logical circuit with the second logic operation of said second logic circuit. ### Claim 15 A semiconductor storage device comprising: a memory cell array having a plurality of memory cells connected to a plurality of bit lines; column selection gates each provided for a corresponding one of the bit lines to select the bit line; a column decoder which generates a column selection signal for selectively driving said column selection gates; data buffers each of which is provided for a corresponding one of said column selection gates, receives data output from said corresponding column selection gate, and amplifies and outputs the data; a data buffer control logic circuit which generates a data buffer driving signal for selectively driving said data buffers; a first delay compensation circuit which receives a first power supply voltage and a timing signal and outputs a first output signal delayed by a first predetermined time to said data buffer control logic circuit; and a second delay compensation circuit which receives a second power supply voltage and the timing signal and outputs a second output signal delayed by a second predetermined time to said column decoder. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A device according to claim 15, wherein said column decoder is configured to receive a column address and generate the column selection signal by decoding in accordance with the timing signal, said first delay compensation circuit is configured to receive the first power supply voltage in place of the column address, perform decoding in accordance with the timing signal, and output a result to said data buffer control logic circuit; said data buffer control logic circuit includes a first latch circuit which receives an output control signal, holds the signal, and outputs the signal, and a first operation element which receives the output control signal output from said first latch circuit and the timing signal, calculates an AND thereof, and outputs the data buffer driving signal; and said second delay compensation circuit includes a second latch circuit which receives the second power supply voltage in place of the output control signal, holds the voltage, and outputs the voltage, and a second operation element which receives the second power supply voltage output from said second latch circuit and the timing signal, calculates an AND thereof, and outputs the AND to a second operation element. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) A device according to claim 15, wherein said first delay compensation circuit has a circuit arrangement which is electrically equivalent to said column decoder and causes substantially the same signal delay as that caused by said column decoder, and said second delay compensation circuit has a circuit arrangement which is electrically equivalent to said data buffer control logic circuit and causes substantially the same signal delay as that caused by said data buffer control logic circuit. ### Claim 18 A semiconductor storage device comprising: a memory cell array having a plurality of memory cells connected to a plurality of bit lines; column selection gates each provided for a corresponding one of the bit lines to select the bit line; a column decoder which generates a column selection signal for selectively driving said column selection gates; data buffers each of which is provided for a corresponding one of said column selection gates, receives data output from said corresponding column selection gate, and amplifies and outputs the data; a data buffer control logic circuit which generates data buffer drive signals for selectively driving said data buffer; a first level shifter which receives a timing signal that has a second voltage at high level, and outputs the timing signal upon boosting the second voltage to a first voltage; a first delay compensation circuit which receives a first power supply voltage having the first voltage and the timing signal output from said level shifter and outputs a first output signal delayed by a first predetermined time; a second level shifter which receives the first output signal that has the first voltage at high level and output from said first delay compensation circuit, and outputs the first output signal to said data buffer control logic circuit upon boosting the first voltage to the second voltage; a second delay compensation circuit which receives the second power supply voltage and the timing signal that has the second voltage at high level, and outputs a second output signal delayed by a second predetermined time; and a third level shifter which receives the second output signal output from said second delay compensation circuit, boosts the second voltage of the second output signal of high level to the first voltage, and outputs the signal to said column decoder. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) A device according to claim 18, wherein said column decoder is configured to receive a column address and generate the column selection signal by decoding in accordance with the timing signal, said first delay compensation circuit is configured to receive the first power supply voltage in place of the column address, perform decoding in accordance with the timing signal, and output a result to said data buffer control logic circuit; said data buffer control logic circuit includes a first latch circuit which receives an output control signal, holds the signal, and outputs the signal, and a first operation element which receives the output control signal output from said first latch circuit and the timing signal, calculates an AND thereof, and outputs the data buffer driving signal; and said second delay compensation circuit includes a second latch circuit which receives the second power supply voltage in place of the output control signal, holds the voltage, and outputs the voltage, and a second operation element which receives the second power supply voltage output from said second latch circuit and the timing signal, calculates an AND thereof, and outputs the AND to said column decoder. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) A device according to claim 18, wherein said first delay compensation circuit has a circuit arrangement which is electrically equivalent to said column decoder and causes substantially the same signal delay as that caused by said column decoder, and said second delay compensation circuit has a circuit arrangement which is electrically equivalent to said data buffer control logic circuit and causes substantially the same signal delay as that caused by said data buffer control logic circuit. ### Claim 21 A semiconductor storage device comprising: a memory cell array having a plurality of memory cells connected to intersections of a plurality of word lines and a plurality of bit lines; a row decoder which generates a word line selection signal for selectively driving the word lines; sense amplifiers each of which is provided for a corresponding one of the bit lines, detects data output from the corresponding bit line, and output the data; a sense amplifier control circuit which generates a sense amplifier driving signal for selectively driving said sense amplifiers; a first level shifter which receives a timing signal that has a second voltage at high level, and outputs the timing signal upon boosting the second voltage to a first voltage; a first delay compensation circuit which receives a first power supply voltage having the first voltage and the timing signal output from said level shifter and outputs a first output signal delayed by a first predetermined time; a second level shifter which receives the first output signal that has the first voltage at high level and output from said first delay compensation circuit, and outputs the first output signal to said data buffer control logic circuit upon boosting the first voltage to the second voltage; a second delay compensation circuit which receives the second power supply voltage and the timing signal that has the second voltage at high level, and outputs a second output signal delayed by a second predetermined time; and a third level shifter which receives the second output signal output from said second delay compensation circuit, boosts the second voltage of the second output signal of high level to the first voltage, and outputs the signal to said column decoder. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) A device according to claim 21, wherein said row decoder is configured to receive a row address and generate the word line selection signal by decoding in accordance with the timing signal, said first delay compensation circuit is configured to receive a predetermined voltage in place of the row address, perform decoding in accordance with the timing signal, and output a result to said level shifter; said sense amplifier driving circuit includes a first latch circuit which receives a sense amplifier activation signal, holds the signal, and outputs the signal, and a first operation element which receives the sense amplifier activation signal output from said first latch circuit and the timing signal, calculates an AND thereof, and outputs the sense amplifier driving signal; and said second delay compensation circuit includes a second latch circuit which receives the second power supply voltage in place of the sense amplifier activation signal, holds the signal, and outputs the signal, and a second operation element which receives the second power supply voltage output from said second latch circuit and the timing signal, calculates an AND thereof, and outputs the AND to said third level shifter. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) A device according to claim 21, wherein said first delay compensation circuit has a circuit arrangement which is electrically equivalent to said row decoder and causes substantially the same signal delay as that caused by said row decoder, and said second delay compensation circuit has a circuit arrangement which is electrically equivalent to said sense amplifier control circuit and causes substantially the same signal delay as that caused by said sense amplifier control circuit.