Patent ID: 6337827
Filing Date: 2002-01-08
Classification: G11C

Abstract:
A voltage dropping power unit for dropping a supply voltage and for applying a dropped voltage to a semiconductor memory device, comprising:a voltage control circuit to produce a voltage to be controlled depending on a control voltage in order to supply an operating voltage to said semiconductor memory device; a reference voltage generating circuit to generate a reference voltage used to produce said control voltage; a voltage differential circuit to perform a differential operation so that said voltage output from said voltage control circuit is made equal to said reference voltage irrespective of a level of said voltage output from said voltage control circuit; and wherein said reference voltage generating circuit is provided with a voltage dividing resistor to generate said reference voltage by receiving a current from a supply voltage source and a switching device to form a short-circuit across said voltage dividing resistor in order to decrease an operating current flowing through said voltage differential circuit while said semiconductor memory device is placed in a quiescent state.