# US 7,746,122 B2 · Input buffer for semiconductor memory apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,746,122 B2 - Document ID: US7746122B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/637,081 - Filed: 2006-12-12 - Published: 2007-08-16 - Granted: 2010-06-29 - Earliest claimed: 2006-02-10 - Assignees: Hynix Semiconductor Inc. - Inventors: Hoe Kwon Jeong - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7746122B2 ## CPC - G11C 7/1078: {Data input circuits, e.g. write amplifiers, data input buffers, data input registers, data input level conversion circuits} - G11C 7/1084: {Data input buffers, e.g. comprising level conversion circuits, circuits for adapting load} - G11C 7/109: {Control signal input circuits} - G11C: STATIC STORES (semiconductor memory devices H10B) ## Abstract Disclosed are an input buffer, and more particularly, a technique that is capable of improving the operation speed of the input buffer by improving response speed with respect to an input signal. The input buffer includes a buffer unit that operates when an activation control signal is activated, compares the voltage of an input signal to a preset reference voltage, and outputs the result of the comparison to an output node, a driving unit that performs driving control on an output of the buffer unit, and outputs an output signal, and a pull-down control unit that outputs a pull-down control signal that has a high pulse for a predetermined time when transition of a potential of the input signal occurs. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An input buffer comprising: a buffer unit configured to operate when an activation control signal is activated, compare a voltage of an input signal to a preset reference voltage, and output a result of the comparison to an output node; and a response speed control unit coupled to the buffer unit and configured to receive the input signal and the output from the output node, generate a pulse signal according to input conditions of the input signal and the output from the output node, and perform a control operation to change a logic level of a voltage at the output node in response to the pulse signal, wherein the response speed control unit includes a pulse generating unit for the pulse signal, and the pulse generating unit includes a NOR gate receiving the input signal and the output from the output node and configured to output the pulse signal. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The input buffer of claim 1, wherein the response speed control unit includes: and a pull-down unit coupled to the pulse generating unit and configured to perform a control operation to charge or discharge the voltage at the output node in response to the pulse signal, wherein the pull-down unit is configured to perform the discharging operation when the pulse signal is a high level. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The input buffer of claim 1, wherein the response speed control unit is configured to activate and output the pulse signal when the input signal changes from a high level to a low level and the output from the output node is at a low level. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The input buffer of claim 1, wherein the response speed control unit is configured to activate and output the pulse signal when the input signal changes from a high level to a low level and the output from the output node changes from a high level to a low level. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The input buffer of claim 2, wherein the pull-down unit includes an NMOS transistor to which the pulse signal is applied. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The input buffer of claim 1, further comprising: a driving control unit configured to invert an input control signal and output the activation control signal. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The input buffer of claim 1, further comprising: an output driver configured to amplify the output of the buffer unit and output the amplified output. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The input buffer of claim 7, wherein the output driver includes a plurality of inverter elements configured to non-inversely delay the output signal at the output node and output an output signal. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The input buffer of claim 1, wherein the buffer unit includes a differential amplifier. ### Claim 10 An input buffer, the input buffer comprising: a buffer unit configured to operate when an activation control signal is activated, compare the voltage of an input signal to a preset reference voltage, and output a result of the comparison as an output to an output node, wherein the buffer unit includes: first and second PMOS transistor configured to receive the activation control signal, and first and second NMOS transistor configured to receive the input signal and the preset reference voltage, respectively; and a third NMOS transistor configured to supply a ground voltage to the first and second NMOS transistors when the activation control signal is activated, and activate the buffer unit; and wherein the buffer unit further includes third and fourth PMOS transistor coupled in parallel to the first and second PMOS transistors, respectively, and configured to selectively supply a power supply voltage to the first and second NMOS transistors according to the activation control signal an output driver coupled to the buffer unit and configured to control the driving of the output of the buffer unit, and output an output signal; and a pull-down control unit coupled to the buffer unit and configured to receive the input signal and the output signal of the output driver, output a pull-down control signal having a high pulse for a predetermined time when a change in potential of the input signal occurs, and perform pull-down driving on the buffer unit in response to an enabling of the pull-down control signal. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The input buffer of claim 10, wherein the pull-down control unit is configured to activate and output the pull-down control signal when the input signal changes from a high level to a low level and the output from the output node is at a low level. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The input buffer of claim 10, further comprising: a driving control unit configured to invert an input control signal and output the activation control signal. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The input buffer of claim 10, wherein the pull-down control unit includes: a logical element configured to perform a logical operation on the input signal and the output signal of the output driver, and output the pull-down control signal; and a pull-down driving element coupled to the logical element and configured to perform pull-down driving of the buffer unit for a predetermined time period according to the pull-down control signal, wherein the pull-down driving element is configured to perform the pull-down driving when the pull-down control signal is at a high level. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The input buffer of claim 13, wherein the logical element includes a NOR gate. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The input buffer of claim 13, wherein the pull-down driving element includes a fourth NMOS transistor that is coupled between the first and second NMOS transistors and a ground voltage terminal, and has a gate terminal configured to receive the pull-down control signal. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The input buffer of claim 14, wherein the pull-down driving element includes a fourth NMOS transistor that is coupled between the first and second NMOS transistors and a ground voltage terminal, and has a gate terminal configured to receive the pull-down control signal. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The input buffer of claim 10, wherein the output driver includes a plurality of inverter elements configured to amplify the output at the output node and output the amplified signal as the output signal. ### Claim 18 An input buffer, the input buffer comprising: a driving control unit configured to output an activation control signal; a buffer unit coupled to a the driving control unit and configured to compare a voltage of an input signal to a preset reference voltage in response to an activation control signal, and output a result of the comparison as an output signal to an output node; and a response speed control unit coupled to a buffer unit and configured to include a pulse generating unit configured to receive the input signal and the output signal output from the output node and to generate a pulse signal, wherein the pulse generating unit includes a NOR gate, and a pull-down unit coupled to the pulse generating unit and configured to perform a control operation to change a logic level of a voltage at the output node in response to receiving the pulse signal output by the pulse generating unit, wherein the response speed control unit is configured to activate and output a pulse signal when the input signal changes from a high level to a low level while the output from the output node is a low level or the output from the output node changes from a high level to a low level. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The input buffer of claim 18, wherein the pull-down unit includes an NMOS transistor configured to receive the pull-down control. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The input buffer of claim 18, wherein the driving control unit includes an inverter is configured to inverts an input control signal and output the activation control signal. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The input buffer of claim 18, further comprising: an output driver coupled to the buffer unit and configured to amplify the output signal of the buffer unit and output the amplified output. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The input buffer of claim 21, wherein the output driver includes a plurality of inverter elements configured to non-inversely delay the signal at the output node and output the output signal. ### Claim 23 (depends on 18) The input buffer of claim 18, wherein the buffer unit includes a differential amplifier.