Patent ID: 6603696
Filing Date: 2003-08-05
Classification: G11C

Abstract:
A refresh controller for controlling a refresh rate of dynamic data, the refresh controller comprising:a variable bias voltage generator adapted to receive a supply voltage and operable in a normal mode to generate a bias voltage having a substantially constant value, and operable in a low-power mode to adjust the value of the bias voltage as a function of a magnitude of the supply voltage; a self-refresh oscillator coupled to the variable bias voltage generator to receive the bias voltage signal, the self-refresh oscillator developing a refresh clock signal having a frequency that is a function of the bias voltage; and a refresh control circuit coupled to the self-refresh oscillator to receive the refresh clock signal, the refresh control circuit operable in response to the refresh clock signal to develop refresh signals that control the refresh rate of the dynamic data as a function of the frequency of the refresh clock signal.