Patent ID: 6642775
Filing Date: 2003-11-04
Classification: G01R,G11C,H01L,H02M

Abstract:
A semiconductor integrated circuit having a high voltage generator for generating a boosted internal power supply potential, the high voltage generator comprising:a plurality of charging circuits, each having a capacitor, one terminal thereof being connected to a high-level side power terminal via a first switching device, another terminal thereof being connected to a low-level side power terminal via a second switching device; and a plurality of third switching devices each provided between adjacent two charging circuits so that a node at which the first switching device and the capacitor of each charging circuit are connected is connected to another node at which the second switching device and the capacitor of the succeeding charging circuit are connected, wherein the capacitor of each charging circuit is charged with a potential almost equal to a power supply potential when the first and the second switching devices are turned on whereas the third switching devices are turned off and the charged capacitors of the charging circuits are coupled in series when the first and the second switching devices are turned off whereas the third switching devices are turned on, thus outputting a boosted potential; wherein the capacitor of each charging circuit has a respective n-type well in a p-type well of a semiconductor substrate isolated from the respective first n-type well of each other capacitor, and a gate electrode formed over the n-type well via a gate insulating film; and wherein each of the first said the second switching devices includes an NMOS transistor, and each third switching device includes a PMOS transistor formed on the n-type well in the p-type well.