Substrate bias potential generator of a semiconductor integrated circuit device and a generating method therefor

A substrate bias potential generator for biasing a semiconductor substrate to a predetermined potential includes first and second substrate bias generating circuits which operate alternatively according to the potential of the substrate, whereby consumption of power in the substrate bias potential generator is reduced. The alternative operation of the bias generating circuits each activated by a pulse signal train is performed by using a first insulated gate transistor having a gate electrode connected to the semiconductor substrate, a second insulated gate transistor having a gate electrode for receiving the reference potential, an amplifier for differentially amplifying outputs of the first and second insulated gate transistors, an insulated gate transistor for charging an output of the amplifier to a predetermined potential when the amplifier is activated, and a circuit for transmitting the output of the differential amplifier to the first and second bias potential generating circuits. The differential amplifier is activated in response to an activation signal of a pulse train whereby an activation signal corresponding to the pulse train is transmitted to either substrate bias potential generating circuit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a substrate bias potential generator of a 
semiconductor integrated circuit device and a method therefor and 
particularly to a construction of a substrate bias potential generator and 
a method of generating the bias potential, which makes it possible to 
generate a substrate bias voltage of a desired level reliably with low 
consumption of power to apply the bias voltage to a semiconductor 
substrate in a dynamic semiconductor memory device such as a dynamic 
random access memory (DRAM). 
2. Description of the Background Art 
Recently, personal computers have become widely popular and used in various 
fields. Among such personal computers, portable personal computers called 
lap-top type computers have been lately in great demand. Generally, a 
portable personal computer uses a battery as an operation power supply and 
therefore a memory device incorporated therein needs to have low 
consumption of power. Such a memory device of low consumption of power is 
for example a dynamic type semiconductor memory device or a static type 
semiconductor memory device. 
Normally, in a semiconductor integrated circuit device including insulated 
gate field effect transistors (referred to hereinafter as MOSFETs), a 
substrate bias potential generating circuit is generally provided as shown 
in FIG. 1 for example. 
Referring to FIG. 1, a semiconductor integrated circuit device 500 has 
MOSFETs and it comprises a function circuit 110 for preforming a 
predetermined function, and a substrate bias potential generating circuit 
120 for generating a predetermined potential V.sub.BB to apply it to a 
semiconductor substrate 130. Application of the substrate bias potential 
V.sub.BB makes it possible to reduce parasitic capacitance or the like 
formed between the semiconductor substrate 130 and the circuit elements 
such as MOSFETs included in the function circuit 110. In the following, 
the effect of the substrate bias potential V.sub.BB will be briefly 
described with reference to FIG. 2. 
FIG. 2 shows a sectional structure of a part of the function circuit shown 
in FIG. 1. In FIG. 2, one MOSFET and an impurity region providing an 
interconnection region or the like are typically shown. The MOSFET is 
formed in a predetermined region of a surface of the p type semiconductor 
substrate 130 and it includes n.sup.+ impurity regions 131 and 132 to be 
source and drain regions and a gate electrode 133. A gate insulating film 
134 is formed between the gate electrode 133 and the p type semiconductor 
substrate 130. A channel is formed between the source and drain regions 
131 and 132 according to the voltage applied to the gate electrode 133. 
For example, an n.sup.+ impurity region 135 to be a connection region is 
formed on the surface of the semiconductor substrate 130, with a spacing 
from the impurity region 131. A signal line 136 is provided through a 
thick field insulating film 137 on the surface of the semiconductor 
substrate 130 between the impurity regions 131 and 135. A negative bias 
potential V.sub.BB is applied to the p type semiconductor substrate 130. 
The application of the negative potential V.sub.BB makes it possible to 
reduce a junction capacitance formed by PN junction between the source and 
drain regions 131 and 132 and the semiconductor substrate 130, as well as 
a junction capacitance formed by PN junction between the semiconductor 
connection region 135 and the semiconductor substrate 130. The reduction 
of the junction capacitances causes a decrease in parasitic capacitance 
limiting operation speed and thus the integrated circuit device can 
perform high speed operation. 
If a connection 136 for transmitting a signal of an operation power supply 
voltage level is provided on the field insulating film 137, a channel may 
be formed between the impurity regions 131 and 135 due to the voltage of 
the signal line 136, causing formation of a parasitic MOSFET. However, a 
threshold voltage of the parasitic MOSFET becomes large due to the 
substrate bias potential V.sub.BB and accordingly it is possible to 
prevent operation of the parasitic MOSFET, which assures reliable 
operation of the integrated circuit device. 
In addition, an increasing rate of a threshold voltage due to the substrate 
bias effect of the MOSFET becomes small according to increase of an 
absolute value of the bias voltage V.sub.BB as well known. Accordingly, 
even if deviations in characteristics of the circuit elements occur 
dependent on changes of manufacturing parameters at the time of 
manufacturing the integrated circuits, it is possible to set the threshold 
voltage of MOSFETs having such deviations in characteristics to a value of 
a relatively narrow range by applying the substrate bias potential 
V.sub.BB, and thus the semiconductor integrate circuit device can be 
reliably operated. 
Furthermore, in the case of transfer gate transistors having memory cell 
capacitors connected to bit lines in memory cells of DRAMs as shown in 
FIG. 2, the threshold voltage is increased in the positive direction by 
the substrate bias potential V.sub.BB and thus leakage current in the 
transfer gate transistor is decreased. As a result of the decrease of the 
leakage current in the transfer gate transistor, the charge in the memory 
cell capacitor can be held for a relatively long period and stable 
operation of the memory cells is ensured. 
The substrate bias generating circuit 120 generates the bias potential 
V.sub.BB as a result of charge pump operation utilizing the capacitor, as 
will be clear from the below explanation. The substrate bias potential 
V.sub.BB is smoothed by a parasitic capacitance and a stray capacitance or 
the like existing between the semiconductor substrate 130 to which the 
bias potential is applied and the power supply connection, the 
semiconductor impurity regions or the like, so that it is maintained at a 
fixed level. 
The above described substrate bias potential V.sub.BB is decreased due to 
leakage current caused between the semiconductor substrate 130 and the 
source and drain regions 131 and 132 of the MOSFET or the connection 
region 135. In other words, the bias potential applied to the 
semiconductor substrate 132 becomes low. The leakage current in the 
semiconductor substrate 130 is not always constant and it is affected by 
the operation of the functional circuit components in the integrated 
circuit device. The hole current applied to the substrate is relatively 
small if the MOSFET is in a constant state, that is, held in the on or off 
state. However, if the MOSFET operates and switching operation is carried 
out, the positive hole current which is generated in association with 
circuit operation and flows into the substrate increases accordingly. As a 
result of generation of the hole current, the absolute value of the 
substrate bias potential V.sub.BB becomes small. Consequently, in a 
conventional semiconductor integrated circuit device in general, the 
substrate bias potential generating circuit is set to have a relatively 
large current supply capability in order to maintain the substrate bias 
potential V.sub.BB at the fixed level even if the positive hole current 
which is generated in associated with circuit operation and flows into the 
substrate is increased. 
In the case of a dynamic type semiconductor memory device of such 
semiconductor integrated circuit devices, if it is used for a portable 
personal computer or the like as described above, it is designed to have 
low consumption of power. In general, in a dynamic semiconductor memory 
device, its consumption of power is smallest in standby state. In such a 
standby (in a non-selected state of the semiconductor memory device), 
consumption of power in a circuit for generating the substrate bias 
potential V.sub.BB occupies most of the total consumption of power and in 
order to realize a semiconductor memory device with ultralow standby 
current, it is necessary to reduce consumption of power in a substrate 
bias potential generating circuit which operates even in the standby mode. 
A method for reducing consumption of power in a substrate bias potential 
generating circuit as described above is disclosed for example in Japanese 
Patent Laying-Open Gazette No. 59688/1986, in which two substrate bias 
potential generating circuits having different bias capabilities (current 
supply capabilities) are provided and the substrate bias potential 
generating circuit having the lower capability is constantly operated and 
the other substrate bias potential generating circuit having the higher 
capability is intermittently operated dependent on the potential applied 
to the semiconductor substrate or the operation state of the memory 
device. 
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the entire construction of a 
semiconductor memory device comprising a conventional substrate bias 
potential generating circuit. Referring to FIG. 3, the semiconductor 
memory device comprises a memory cell array 6 for storing information, and 
an address buffer 4 for generating an internal address signal upon receipt 
of external address signals A0 to An. The internal address signal from the 
address buffer 4 is supplied to the memory cell array 6. The memory cell 
array 6 decodes the internal address signal in a decoder not shown and 
selects one or more memory cells in response to the decode signal 
therefrom. The memory cell array 6 has a matrix arrangement in which 
generally memory cells of a 1-transistor 1-capacitor type are arranged in 
rows and columns. 
Normally in a dynamic type semiconductor memory device, a row address for 
designating a row and a column address for designating a column of the 
memory cell array 6 are multiplexed in a time divisional manner and 
supplied to the address buffer 4. Therefore, in order to apply timing for 
accepting the row address and the column address by the address buffer 4, 
there are an RAS buffer 3 for generating an internal row selection control 
signal upon receipt of an externally applied row address strobe signal RAS 
and a CAS buffer 5 for generating an internal column selection control 
signal upon receipt of an external column address strobe signal CAS. The 
signal RAS provides timing for accepting the row address signals AO to An 
by the address buffer 4 and defines a memory cycle of the semiconductor 
memory device. More specifically, when the signal RAS falls to low (L) 
level, the storage operation of the semiconductor memory device is started 
and accessing to the memory cell is effected during the period of L level 
of the signal RAS. In addition, the signal RAS provides timing for 
controlling operation of circuits associated with ro selection included in 
the semiconductor memory device. 
The signal CAS applies timing with which the address buffer 4 accepts the 
column address signal and it also applies operation timing to the circuit 
related with column selection operation in the semiconductor memory 
device. 
First and second substrate bias potential generating circuits 1 and 2 are 
provided to apply the bias potential V.sub.BB of the predetermined level 
to the semiconductor substrate where the semiconductor memory device is 
formed. The first substrate bias potential generating circuit 1 has a 
relatively small current supply capability (bias capability) and it 
constantly operates to generate the substrate bias potential to supply to 
the semiconductor substrate. 
The second substrate bias potential generating circuit 2 operates when the 
bias potential applied to the semiconductor substrate becomes smaller than 
the predetermined level (that is, the bias becomes low) in an operation of 
the memory device, and it applies the bias potential of the predetermined 
level to the semiconductor substrate. The second substrate bias potential 
generating circuit has a relatively large current supply capability (bias 
capability). 
FIG. 4 shows an example of specific constructions of the first and second 
substrate bias potential generating circuits 1 and 2 shown in FIG. 3. 
Referring to FIG. 4, the first substrate bias potential generating circuit 
1 comprises a ring oscillator 11, inverters 12 and 12,, a capacitor 13 and 
n channel MOSFETs 14 and 15. The ring oscillator 11 is formed by an odd 
number of stages of inverters for example and its output is fed back to 
its input to generate a pulse signal of a predetermined frequency. The 
inverters 12 and 12' wave-shape and amplify the output of the ring 
oscillator 11 and provide an output. The capacitor 13 couples capacitively 
the output of the inverter 12 to a node N.sub.A and carries out charge 
pump operation for generating the bias potential by charging and 
discharging operation thereof. 
The MOSFET 14 has its gate and drain connected to the node N.sub.A and its 
source connected to the ground potential. The source and the drain of the 
MOSFETs are defined by polarity of the voltage applied thereto. In the 
following, the respective nodes are simply defined as the source and drain 
for convenience of explanation. The MOSFET 14 has a threshold voltage 
V.sub.T2 and clamps the potential of the node N.sub.A to the threshold 
voltage. 
The MOSFET 15 has its drain connected to the node N.sub.A and its gate and 
source connected to the bias potential output terminal 9. The MOSFET 15 
has a threshold voltage V.sub.T1 and clamps the potential of the node 
N.sub.A to V.sub.BB -V.sub.T1. 
In the case of a construction in which the substrate bias potential is 
generated in response to the pulse signal from the ring oscillator 11, the 
current supply capability of the substrate bias potential generating 
circuit 1 is defined by the oscillation frequency of the ring oscillator 
11, the capacitance value of the charge pump capacitor 13 and the 
conductance of the MOSFET 15. In other words, the charge amount injected 
into the semiconductor substrate 10 in response to one oscillation output 
pulse becomes large as the capacitance value of the capacitor 13 becomes 
large. The number of injections of charge into the semiconductor substrate 
per unit time becomes large as the oscillation frequency of the ring 
oscillator 11 becomes large. The substrate bias potential generating 
circuit 1 which constantly operates is structured to have low power 
consumption characteristics while maintaining the relatively small current 
supply capability. More specifically, the oscillation frequency of the 
ring oscillator 11 is made to have a relatively small value by setting the 
number of stages of the inverter circuit of the ring oscillator 11 to a 
suitable value and setting the signal delay characteristic in each 
inverter circuit suitably. The capacitance value of the capacitor 13 is 
also set to a relatively small value. 
Consumption of power in the ring oscillator 11 is proportional to its 
oscillation frequency. More specifically, the operation current or 
consumption current of the inverter circuit (of the CMOS structure) of the 
ring oscillator 11 is proportional to so-called transient current required 
for charging and discharging of load capacitance (formed by a connection 
capacitance or an input capacitance of the inverter circuit of the 
subsequent stage, or the like) coupled to the output of each inverter 
circuit, in the same manner as in the case of a CMOS inverter circuit as 
well known. Accordingly, in a still state in which the input or output of 
each inverter circuit is fixed to high (H) level or low (L) level, the 
consumption of current in the ring oscillator 11 is substantially 0. Since 
the transient current of each inverter circuit is proportional to each 
operation frequency during oscillation operation, the consumption of power 
of the ring oscillator 11 having the small oscillation frequency is 
decreased accordingly. The current supply capability of the inverter 12 as 
an output buffer for driving rectifier circuit (the capacitor 13, the 
MOSFETs 14 and 15; analog circuit) is relatively small since the 
capacitance value of the capacitor 13 is relatively small. 
The second substrate bias potential generating circuit 2 which operates 
intermittently dependent on the potential of the semiconductor substrate 
or the operation state of the memory device comprises: a ring oscillator 
21 which carries out oscillation operation intermittently; inverters 23 
and 24 for wave-shaping and amplifying the output of the ring oscillator 
21; a charge pump rectifying circuit for rectifying the output of the 
inverter 24 and applying the rectified output to the semiconductor 
substrate; a substrate bias potential generating circuit 28 for detecting 
the potential of the semiconductor substrate and controlling the 
oscillation operation of the ring oscillator 21 according to the detected 
potential; and a NOR gate 29. The ring oscillator 21 includes inverters Il 
and I2 and a NOR gate 22. The number of stages of inverters of the ring 
oscillator 21 is selected suitably according to the oscillation frequency 
and the delay characteristics. In this case, for simplification of the 
illustration, an example of a ring oscillator including three inverters, 
i.e., two inverters Il and I2 and one NOR gate 22 is shown. The output of 
the NOR gate 22 is fed back to the input of the inverter Il and is 
transmitted to the input of the inverter 23. The NOR gate 22 has its one 
input receiving the output of the inverter I2 and its other input 
receiving a control signal NC from the NOR gate 29. 
Inverters 23 and 24, a capacitor 25 and n channel MOSFETs 26 and 27 are 
provided to perform the same function as that of the first substrate bias 
potential generating circuit. The capacitor 25 carries out charge pump 
operation according to the output of the inverter 24, and the n channel 
MOSFETs 26 and 27 clamp the potential of the node N.sub.P at a 
predetermined potential. The MOSFET 26 has a threshold voltage V.sub.T3 
and the MOSFET 27 has a threshold voltage V.sub.T4. 
The substrate potential detecting circuit 28 is connected to the 
semiconductor substrate through a bias potential output terminal 9 and it 
determines whether the potential of the semiconductor substrate is a 
predetermined value or not and outputs a signal N.sub.D according to the 
result. The signal N.sub.D is set to H level when the potential of the 
semiconductor substrate is smaller than a predetermined level in terms of 
an absolute value to cause the substrate bias potential to be low, and it 
is set to L level when the substrate potential is larger than the 
predetermined level in terms of an absolute value. 
The NOR gate 29 has its one input terminal for receiving a signal RAS 
indicating the operation state of the semiconductor memory device from the 
RAS buffer 3 and its other input terminal for receiving the control signal 
N.sub.D from the substrate potential detecting circuit 28 to output a 
control signal N.sub.C. Accordingly, the control signal N.sub.C is set to 
L level if either the signal RAS or the signal N.sub.D rises to H level, 
whereby the ring oscillator 21 is activated to perform oscillating 
operation. When the control signal N.sub.C is at H level, the output of 
NOR gate 22 is fixed to L level and accordingly the ring oscillator 21 
does not perform oscillating operation and no bias potential is provided 
from the substrate bias potential generating circuit 2. As described 
above, the bias capability (the current supply capability) of the 
substrate bias potential generating circuit 2 is defined by the 
oscillation frequency of the ring oscillator 21 and the capacitance value 
of the charge pump capacitor 25. Since the bias capability of the 
substrate bias potential generating circuit 2 is relatively large, the 
oscillation frequency of the ring oscillator 21 and the capacitance value 
of the capacitor 25 are respectively large. 
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a construction of the substrate 
bias potential detecting circuit shown in FIG. 4. Referring to FIG. 5, the 
substrate potential detecting circuit 28 comprises a p channel MOSFET 281 
and n channel MOSFETs 282 and 283, which are connected in series between 
the operation power supply potential Vcc and the substrate potential 
V.sub.BB. The p channel MOSFET 281 has its drain connected to the power 
supply potential Vcc, its gate connected to the ground potential and its 
source connected to a node N1. The n channel MOSFET 282 has its drain 
connected to the node N1, its gate connected to the ground potential and 
its source connected to a node N2. The n channel MOSFET 283 has its drain 
and gate connected to the node N2 and its source connected to the 
substrate potential V.sub.BB. The MOSFETs 282 and 283 have threshold 
voltages V.sub.T5 and V.sub.T6, respectively. Inverters 284 and 285 are 
provided to wave-shape and amplify the output of the node N1. The output 
of the inverter 285 is the signal N.sub.D indicating the result of 
detection of the substrate potential. The p channel MOSFET 281 is 
constantly in the on state since a signal of the ground potential level is 
applied to its gate. If the substrate potential V.sub.BB is 
EQU V.sub.BB &gt;-(V.sub.T5 +V.sub.T6), 
the MOSFET 282 is in the non-conductive state and accordingly the potential 
level of the node N1 is H level. Since the potential level of the node Nl 
is outputted through the inverters 284 and 285, the output signal N.sub.T 
in this case is at H level. 
If the substrate potential V.sub.BB is 
EQU V.sub.BB .ltoreq.-(V.sub.T5 +V.sub.T6), 
the N channel MOSFET 282 is in the conductive state. In this case, if a 
ratio of the sizes of the MOSFETs 282 and 282 is suitably selected and the 
on resistance values thereof are set to a suitable ratio, the level of the 
node N1 can be set to a level determined to be L by the inverter 284. The 
control signal N.sub.D in this case is at L level. 
In the substrate potential detecting circuit 28, if the MOSFETs 282 and 283 
are in the on state, current flows from the power supply potential Vcc to 
the substrate bias potential V.sub.BB. More specifically, if the 
semiconductor substrate is of the p type, the substrate bias potential 
V.sub.BB is set to a negative potential and, also if the semiconductor 
substrate is in the n type, the bias potential V.sub.BB is set to a 
positive value smaller than the operation power supply potential Vcc. In 
such a case, when the MOSFETs 282 and 283 are both in the on state, 
current flows from the operation power supply potential Vcc to the 
semiconductor substrate, with the result that the bias potential level of 
the semiconductor substrate becomes small in terms of an absolute value, 
making it impossible to carry out detection of the substrate bias 
potential correctly. Accordingly, in order to minimize the current flowing 
to the semiconductor substrate through the substrate potential detecting 
circuit, the conductance of the MOSFET 281 is set to a very small value, 
so that only small current flows in the MOSFET 282. 
FIG. 6 is a waveform diagram showing operation of the substrate bias 
potential generating circuit shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Referring to FIG. 6, 
the signal RAS indicates a row address strobe signal applied to the RAS 
buffer 3 of FIG. 3, indicating whether the semiconductor memory device is 
selected to be in operation state or not. V.sub.A and V.sub.B in (b) and 
(c) of FIG. 6 indicate potentials of nodes N.sub.A and N.sub.B in FIG. 4, 
respectively. In the following, operation of the conventional substrate 
bias potential generation circuit will be described with reference to 
FIGS. 3 to 6. 
First, operation of the first substrate bias potential generating circuit 1 
will be described. When the pulse signal from the ring oscillator 11 rises 
to the power supply potential Vcc level and the output level of the 
inverter 12 is accordingly raised to the power supply potential Vcc, the 
potential of the node N.sub.A tends to be raised to the power supply 
potential Vcc due to the capacitance coupling of the capacitance 13. 
However, when the potential of the node N.sub.A rises to the level of the 
threshold voltage V.sub.T2 of the MOSFET 14, the MOSFET 14 is conducted 
and further increase of the voltage is suppressed. As a result, the 
potential of the node N.sub.A is maintained at the level V.sub.T2. In the 
meantime, the capacitor 13 is charged by the output of the inverter 12. 
The MOSFET 15 is in the off state. 
When the output of the ring oscillator 11 is lowered to the ground 
potential level and the output of the inverter 12 is accordingly lowered 
to the ground potential level, the potential of the node N.sub.A tends to 
be lowered to the level (V.sub.T2 -Vcc) due to the capacitance coupling of 
the capacitor 13. However, when the potential of the node N.sub.A becomes 
smaller than the potential (V.sub.BB -V.sub.T1) obtained by subtraction of 
the threshold voltage V.sub.T1 of the MOSFET 15 from the substrate 
potential V.sub.BB, the MOSFET 15 is turned on and electrons are injected 
into the substrate through the MOSFET 15 in the on state, causing the 
potential of the substrate to be lowered. As a result, the potential of 
the node N.sub.A becomes a potential according to the substrate potential. 
By repeating the above described operation, electrons are injected into the 
semiconductor substrate from the terminal 9 through the charge pump 
capacitor 13, to lower the substrate potential. The degree of lowering of 
the substrate potential caused by one electron injection operation, 
namely, one pulse from the ring oscillator 11 is determined by a ratio 
between the capacitance of the capacitance 13 and the load capacitance of 
the semiconductor substrate. By repeating the above described operation 
several times, the potential of the node N.sub.A changes as oscillation 
between the potential (V.sub.T2 -Vcc) and the potential V.sub.BB of the 
substrate finally becomes close to the potential (V.sub.T2 -Vcc+V.sub.T1). 
More specifically, the first substrate bias potential potential generating 
circuit 1 applies the bias potential determined by the threshold voltages 
of the two MOSFETs 14 and 15 and the operation power supply potential. 
Next, operation of the second substrate bias potential generating circuit 2 
will be described. Now let us assume a case in which the semiconductor 
memory device is selected and is in operation state. In this case, the 
signal RAS falls to L level and the signal RAS rises to H level. As a 
result, the NOR gate 29 outputs the control signal N.sub.C of L level 
independent of the level of the signal N.sub.D indicating the detection 
result from the substrate potential detecting circuit 28. Since the NOR 
gate 22 receives the signal of L level at its other input terminal, it 
operates as an inverter and as a result the ring oscillator 21 starts 
oscillation operation. The operation of the capacitor 25 and the MOSFETs 
26 and 27 is the same as the operation of the capacitor 13 and MOSFETs 14 
and 15 included in the first substrate bias potential generating circuit 
1. Thus, the charge pump operation of the capacitor 25 and the clamp 
operation of the MOSFETs 26 an 27 cause injection of electrons into the 
semiconductor substrate through the terminal 9. Since the bias capability 
of the second substrate bias potential generating circuit is larger than 
that of the first substrate bias potential generating circuit, 
compensation is made for decrease of the value of the substrate bias 
potential V.sub.BB in terms of the absolute value due to the substrate 
current of a considerable amount flowing in the operation of the device, 
whereby the substrate potential is maintained at the predetermined level. 
Next, let us assume a case in which the signal RAS is at H level and the 
signal N.sub.D outputted from the substrate potential detecting circuit 28 
is at L level. More specifically, the semiconductor memory device is in a 
non selected state such as a standby state and the potential of the 
semiconductor substrate is biased to a predetermined biased value. In this 
case, the signals applied to the two inputs of NOR gate 29 are both at L 
level and the output signal N.sub.C from the NOR gate 29 is at H level. As 
a result, the NOR gate 22 receives the signal of H level at its other 
input and the output therefrom is at a fixed level of L level. 
Consequently, the ring oscillator 21 does not carry out oscillating 
operation. 
If the signal RAS is at H level and leakage current flows in the 
semiconductor substrate due to generation of holes by any cause such as 
impact ionization to cause the bias potential of the semiconductor 
substrate to be low (namely, the substrate bias potential V.sub.BB to be 
smaller in terms of the absolute value), the output signal N.sub.D from 
the substrate potential detecting circuit 28 rises to H level. As a 
result, the output signal N.sub.C from the NOR gate 29 falls to L level 
and the NOR gate 22 operates as an inverter. Consequently, the ring 
oscillator 21 starts oscillating operation, whereby the potential of the 
semiconductor substrate is lowered to a predetermined potential level 
rapidly by its large bias capability. 
As described above, in the conventional substrate bias potential generating 
circuit, two bias potential generating circuits having different bias 
capabilities are provided and the substrate bias potential generating 
circuit having the smaller bias capability is constantly operated, while 
the substrate bias potential generating circuit having the larger bias 
capability is operated only in the case in which the bias potential of the 
substrate becomes small in terms of the absolute value and the bias 
becomes low, thereby to rapidly lower the substrate potential V.sub.BB. 
Thus, consumption of power in the substrate bias potential generating 
circuits can be reduced. 
However, in the above described construction, if the semiconductor memory 
device, which is a semiconductor integrated circuit device, is selected to 
be in operation state, the two substrate bias potential generating 
circuits both operate, resulting in increase of consumption of power in 
those substrate bias potential generating circuits. 
The construction of the substrate potential detecting circuit enabling the 
substrate bias potential generating circuit to operate intermittently is 
the construction as shown in FIG. 5, in which the potential of the 
substrate is detected by utilizing the threshold voltages of the MOSFETs. 
Accordingly, in the case of the construction in which the MOSFETs are 
connected in series between the operation power supply potential Vcc and 
the semiconductor substrate potential V.sub.BB, when the substrate bias 
potential V.sub.BB becomes larger than the predetermined potential in 
terms of the absolute value and the MOSFETs 282 and 283 are turned on, 
current flows from the operation power supply Vcc to the semiconductor 
substrate, causing the bias of the semiconductor substrate to be low. As a 
result, the substrate potential detecting circuit itself causes change in 
the substrate bias potential and the substrate potential cannot be 
detected correctly. More specifically, if the bias of the semiconductor 
substrate becomes low, the second substrate potential generating circuit 
having the larger bias capability is operated; however, in this case, when 
the bias potential of the semiconductor substrate attains the 
predetermined value, the substrate potential detecting circuit provides a 
path enabling current to flow into the semiconductor substrate, causing 
the bias of the semiconductor substrate to be shallow and as a result the 
semiconductor bias potential generating circuit having the larger bias 
capability is operated unnecessarily. Thus, the substrate potential cannot 
be detected correctly and consumption of power cannot be reduced. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
An object of the present invention is to provide a substrate bias potential 
generator having an improvement in consumption of power. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide a substrate bias 
potential generator which is capable of biasing a semiconductor substrate 
to a predetermined potential level with low consumption of power correctly 
in response to the potential of the semiconductor substrate. 
A further object of the present invention is to provide a substrate bias 
potential generating circuit with low consumption of power which comprises 
a substrate potential detector capable of correctly detecting a potential 
of a semiconductor substrate without exerting adverse effect on the 
potential of the semiconductor substrate and operates in response to an 
output of the substrate potential detector. 
A further object of the present invention is to provide an improvement in a 
method of generating a bias potential of a substrate. 
A substrate bias potential generator according to the present invention 
includes: a semiconductor substrate having a surface on which a 
semiconductor integrated circuit device is formed; first and second 
potential generating circuits formed on the semiconductor substrate and 
having different current supply capabilities an applying bias potentials 
to the semiconductor substrate; an element connected to the semiconductor 
substrate through an input having a high input impedance for detecting the 
potential of the semiconductor substrate; and a circuitry for selectively 
activating only either one or the other, not both, of the first and second 
potential generating circuits in response to an output of the 
semiconductor substrate potential detecting element. The selective 
activation circuitry includes a device for generating an activation 
signal, a device for generating a comparison reference potential, a device 
for comparing an output of the substrate potential detecting device and an 
output of the reference potential generating device, and a device for 
transmitting the output of the activation signal generating device to 
either one or the other, not both, of the first and second potential 
generating circuits in response to the output of the comparing device, 
thereby activating either one or the other, not both, of the first and 
second potential generating circuits. 
The substrate bias potential generator according to the present invention 
is provided with the two substrate bias potential generating circuit 
having different bias capabilities (current supply capabilities) and 
either one or the other, not both, of the two substrate bias potential 
generating circuits is selectively operated according to the potential of 
the semiconductor substrate. Accordingly, only either circuit is always 
operated and the semiconductor substrate can be biased to a predetermined 
potential level with low consumption of current. 
In addition, the substrate potential detecting element for enabling 
selector of the two bias potential generating circuit is connected to the 
semiconductor substrate through the input having a high input impedance 
and, accordingly, the substrate potential detecting element itself does 
not exert any adverse effect such as flow of current in the semiconductor 
substrate. Thus, the potential of the substrate can be detected reliably 
and only either one or the other, not both, of the substrate bias 
potential generating circuits can be operated correctly according to the 
potential of the substrate. 
The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the 
present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed 
description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the 
accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing a construction of a main part of 
a semiconductor memory device according to an embodiment of the invention. 
Referring to FIG. 7, the semiconductor memory device comprises: a memory 
cell array 6 for storing information; an RAS buffer 3 for receiving an 
externally applied row address strobe signal RAS and generating an 
internal operation timing signal; an address buffer 4 for receiving 
externally applied address signals A0 to An; and a CAS buffer 5 for 
receiving an externally applied column address strobe signal CAS. A row 
address signal and a column address signal are multiplexed in a 
time-divisional manner and supplied to the address buffer 4. The internal 
control signals RAS and CAS from the RAS buffer 3 and the CAS buffer 5, 
respectively, are supplied to the address buffer 4 to apply timing for 
accepting the row address signal and the column address signal in the 
address buffer 4. The signal RAS applies operation timing for the memory 
device. More specifically, when the signal RAS falls to L level, the 
semiconductor memory device starts a memory cycle to effect writing or 
reading of memory cell data. If the signal RAS is at H level, the 
semiconductor memory device is in a standby state, namely, in the non 
selected state. The internal address signal from the address buffer 4 is 
supplied to the memory cell array 6. In the memory cell array 6, the 
internal address signals (the row address signal and the column address 
signal) from the address buffer 4 are decoded and data is written into or 
read out from the memory cell(s) in the memory cell array designated by 
the row address signal and the column address signal. Since the path for 
decoding the row address signal and the column address signal and the path 
for writing and reading the data have little importance to the operation 
of the present invention, those paths are omitted from the illustration 
for the purpose of simplification. 
In order to apply a bias potential V.sub.BB of a predetermined potential 
level to the semiconductor substrate 150 where the memory devices are 
provided in an integrated manner, there are a substrate potential detector 
280 for detecting the potential of the semiconductor substrate and 
substrate bias potential generating circuits 10 and 20 which operate 
selectively and intermittently in response to an output signal from the 
substrate potential detector 280. Outputs of the substrate bias potential 
generating circuits 10 and 20 are supplied to the semiconductor substrate 
150 through an output terminal 9 The substrate bias potential generating 
circuit 10 has a relatively small bias capability, while the substrate 
bias potential generating circuit 20 has a relatively large bias 
capability. 
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an exemplary construction of the substrate bias 
potential generating circuit according to the present invention, where the 
semiconductor substrate is of a p type and the substrate bias potential 
V.sub.BB is a negative potential. Referring to FIG. 8, the substrate bias 
potential generating circuit 10 having the relatively small bias 
capability comprises: a ring oscillator 11,; two stages of inverters 17 
and 12 for wave-shaping and amplifying the output of the ring oscillator 
11'; a charge pump capacitor 13 for receiving the output of the inverter 
12; and n channel MOSFETs 14 and 15 for clamping a potential of a node 
N.sub.A to a predetermined potential according to the charge pump 
operation of the capacitor 13. The ring oscillator 11, includes two stages 
of inverters I10 and I11 and an NOR gate 16 having its one input for 
receiving the output of the inverter Ill. The output of the NOR gate 16 is 
supplied to the inverter 17 and it is also fed back to the input of the 
inverter I10. 
The second substrate bias potential generating circuit 20 has the same 
construction as the first substrate substrate bias potential generating 
circuit 1 and it comprises: a ring oscillator 21; two stages of inverters 
23 and 24 for wave-shaping and amplifying the output of the ring 
oscillator 21; a charge pump capacitor 25 for receiving the output of the 
inverter 24; and n channel MOSFETs 26 and 27 for clamping a potential of a 
node N.sub.B to a predetermined potential according to the charge pump 
operation of the capacitor 25. The ring oscillator 21 includes two stages 
of inverters I12 and I13 and an NOR gate 22 having its one input for 
receiving the output of the inverter I13. The output of the NOR gate 22 is 
supplied to the inverter 23 and it is also fed back to the input of the 
inverter I12. 
As described above, the first substrate bias potential generating circuit 
10 has the relatively small bias capability, while the second substrate 
bias potential generating circuit 20 has the relatively large bias 
capability. In the substrate bias potential generating circuit utilizing 
this charge pump function, the bias capability is defined by the 
oscillation frequency of the ring oscillator, the capacitance value of the 
charge pump capacitor and the size of the transistors. Accordingly, the 
bias capabilities of the substrate bias potential generating circuits 10 
and 20 ar defined by the oscillation frequencies and the capacitance 
values of the ring oscillators 11' and 21' and the capacitors 13 and 25, 
as well as the size of the MOSFETs. Although the construction of the ring 
oscillators 11, and 21 each including two inverters and one NOR gate is 
shown as an example, this example is given only for the purpose of 
simplification of the illustration and, needless to say, suitable numbers 
of stages may be used in reality since the oscillation frequency is 
defined by the number of stages of inverters and the delay 
characteristics. 
In order to selectively operate either of the substrate bias potential 
generating circuits 10 and 20 according to the bias potential of the 
semiconductor substrate, there is a substrate potential detector 280 for 
detecting the potential of the semiconductor substrate and outputting a 
signal according to the detection result. The substrate potential detector 
280 comprises a substrate potential detecting circuit 28' for detecting 
the potential of the semiconductor substrate, and an inverter 29 for 
receiving and inverting the signal indicating the detection result from 
the substrate detecting circuit 28', and supplying the inverted signal to 
the other input of the NOR gate 22. The output signal N.sub.D of the 
substrate potential detecting circuit 28, is supplied to the other input 
of the NOR gate 16. The construction of the substrate potential detecting 
circuit 28,, as will be described in detail afterwards, is a construction 
in which it is connected to the semiconductor substrate through an input 
having a high input impedance so as not to apply current to the 
semiconductor substrate the potential o which is to be detected. The 
substrate potential detecting circuit 28, outputs a signal of H level 
while the potential of the semiconductor substrate is in a low bias state 
not attaining the predetermined bias level. On the other hand, when the 
potential of the semiconductor substrate attains the predetermined level 
or it is larger than the predetermined level in terms of the absolute 
value, the output N.sub.D of the substrate potential detecting circuit 28' 
falls to L level. 
The NOR gates 16 and 22 generate signals fixed to L level when the signal 
level applied to the respective other input is H level. On the other hand, 
the NOR gates 16 and 22 operate as inverters when the signal of L level is 
applied to the respective other inputs thereof. Accordingly, until the 
potential of the semiconductor substrate attains the predetermined level, 
that is, if the signal N.sub.D is at H level, the second ring oscillator 
21 effects oscillating operation and the potential of the semiconductor 
substrate is rapidly lowered to the predetermined level by the second bias 
potential generating circuit 20 having the larger bias capability. On the 
other hand, if the potential of the semiconductor substrate attains the 
predetermined level, the output signal N.sub.D from the substrate 
potential detecting circuit 28' falls to L level and accordingly the ring 
oscillator 11' operates and the first substrate bias potential generating 
circuit 10 having the smaller bias capability operates, whereby the 
semiconductor substrate is maintained at the predetermined potential 
level. This operation will be specifically described with reference to 
FIG. 9 showing the operation waveform diagram of the substrate bias 
potential generating circuit shown in FIG. 8. 
Let us assume a case in which the potential V.sub.BB of the semiconductor 
substrate is at the predetermined level in a shallow bias state. In this 
case, the output signal N.sub.D of the substrate potential detecting 
circuit 28, rises to H level. The NOR gate 16 of the ring oscillator 11, 
receives a signal of H level and outputs a fixed signal of L level 
independent of the output level of the inverter Ill. On the other hand, 
the NOR gate 22 receives, at its other input, a signal of L level through 
the inverter 29 and accordingly it operates as an inverter and thus the 
ring oscillator 21 effects oscillating operation. Consequently, the 
potential V.sub.A of the node N.sub.A is at L level and the MOSFET 15 is 
maintained in the off state Thus, charge is not injected into the 
semiconductor substrate. 
On the other hand, in the second substrate bias potential generating 
circuit 20, the ring oscillator 21 effects oscillating operation. 
Consequently, the potential V.sub.B of the node N.sub.B oscillates in the 
same manner as in the above described prior art and the substrate bias 
potential generating circuit 20 lowers the potential of the semiconductor 
substrate rapidly to the predetermined level by utilizing the large bias 
capability. 
When the potential of the semiconductor substrate attains the predetermined 
level as the result of supply of charge from the second substrate bias 
potential generating circuit 20, the substrate potential detecting circuit 
28, outputs a signal of L level this time. In response to this signal 
N.sub.D of L level, the ring oscillator 11, starts oscillating operation, 
while the ring oscillator 21 stops the oscillating operation. As a result, 
the first substrate bias potential generating circuit 10 i activated to 
inject charge into the semiconductor substrate according to its bias 
capability, whereby the potential of the semiconductor substrate is 
maintained at the predetermined bias level. 
As described above, only either one of the two substrate bias potential 
generating circuits having the larger and smaller bias capabilities is 
selectively operated according to the potential of the semiconductor 
substrate irrespective of the non-selected or selected state and the 
operation state of the semiconductor memory device and accordingly 
consumption of power can be further reduced compared with the conventional 
construction. In this case, if the substrate potential detecting circuit 
28' is connected to the semiconductor substrate through an input having a 
high input impedance to detect the substrate potential, the substrate 
potential detecting circuit 28' does not exert any unfavorable influence 
on the potential of the semiconductor substrate and does not cause any 
change in the substrate potential. Accordingly, it becomes possible to 
operate selectively and alternatively only either one of the two substrate 
bias potential generating circuits correctly in response to the detection 
of the potential of the semiconductor substrate and the substrate bias 
potential generating circuit having the larger bias capability is not 
operated unnecessarily. 
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a schematic construction of a substrate bias 
potential generating circuit according to another embodiment. In the 
construction shown in FIG. 10, a ring oscillator 511 is provided in common 
to substrate bias potential generating circuits (strictly, clock signal 
rectifying circuits) 10, and 20, and the output of the ring oscillator 511 
is applied to either one of the bias potential generating circuits 10, and 
20, by means of a switching circuit 600. More specifically, the switching 
circuit 600 transmits an operation signal .phi..sub.CP from the ring 
oscillator 511 to either one of the substrate bias potential generating 
circuits 10, and 20, in response to a signal .phi..sub.D indicating the 
result of detection of the substrate potential from the substrate 
potential detecting circuit 28'. In this case, the bias capabilities of 
the substrate bias potential generating circuits 10' and 20' are defined 
by the oscillation frequency of the ring oscillator 511 and the 
capacitance values of the respective charge pump capacitors C.sub.M and 
C.sub.S and accordingly they are set to suitable values, whereby the two 
substrate bias potential generating circuit having different bias 
capabilities are provided by using one ring oscillator 511. In this 
construction, only one ring oscillator for outputting an oscillation 
signal may be provided and consequently the area occupied by the substrate 
bias potential generating circuit 100 can be reduced. As a result, the 
size of the semiconductor memory device can be decreased. The n channel 
MOSFETs Q.sub.1M, Q.sub.2M, Q.sub.1S and Q.sub.2S each diode-connected in 
the construction of FIG. 10 perform the same function as the clamping 
transistors shown in FIG. 8. 
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a specific construction of the 
switching circuit 600 shown in FIG. 10. Referring to FIG. 11, the 
switching circuit 600 comprises an AND gate AD1 for receiving an 
oscillation signal .phi..sub.CP from the ring oscillator and a detection 
signal .phi..sub.D from the substrate potential detecting circuit 28', and 
a NOR gate N1 for receiving the oscillation signal .phi..sub.CP and the 
detection signal .phi..sub.D. An output of the AND gate AD1 is supplied as 
an oscillation signal .phi..sub.CPM to the bias potential generating 
circuit 20' having the larger bias capability. An output of the NOR gate 
Nl is supplied as an oscillation signal .phi..sub.CPS to the first bias 
potential generating circuit 10' having the smaller bias capability. 
FIG. 12 is a signal waveform diagram showing operation of the switching 
circuit 600 shown in FIG. 11. In the following, referring to FIGS. 10 to 
12, operation of the switching circuit 600 will be described. If the 
detection signal .phi..sub.D of the substrate potential detecting circuit 
28' is at H level, that is, if the potential of the semiconductor 
substrate does not attain the predetermined level, the AND gate AD1 
permits the oscillation signal .phi..sub.CP to pass therethrough. On the 
other hand, the output of the NOR gate N1 is maintained at L level 
independent of the level of the oscillation signal .phi..sub.CP. 
Accordingly, if the detection signal is at H level, the oscillation signal 
.phi..sub.CPM is supplied to the capacitor C.sub.M of the second substrate 
bias potential generating circuit 20, having the larger bias capability, 
whereby the potential of the semiconductor substrate is rapidly lowered to 
the predetermined level. 
On the other hand, when the potential of the semiconductor substrate 
attains the predetermined level and the detection signal .phi..sub.D from 
the substrate potential detecting circuit 28' falls to L level, the output 
of the AND gate AD1 falls to L level, while the NOR gate N1 operates as an 
inverter. Accordingly, the oscillation signal .phi..sub.CPM is fixed to L 
level and the oscillation signal .phi..sub.CPS is an oscillation signal 
obtained by inversion of the oscillation signal .phi..sub.CP from the ring 
oscillator 511. As a result, the first substrate bias potential generating 
circuit 10' having the smaller bias capability operates and the potential 
of the semiconductor substrate is maintained at the predetermined level by 
the charge pump function of the capacitance Cs. 
FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a construction of a substrate bias potential 
generating circuit according to another embodiment of the invention. The 
construction of FIG. 13 includes a reference potential generating circuit 
720 for generating a reference potential of a predetermined level, a 
comparing circuit 740 for comparison with the output of the substrate 
potential detecting circuit 730, and a switching circuit 710 for 
transmitting the oscillation signal .phi..sub.CP from the ring oscillator 
511 to either of the substrate bias potential generating circuits 10' and 
20' in response to the output of the comparing circuit 740. The reasons 
for providing the reference potential generating circuit 720 in the 
control circuit 700 for selecting the bias potential generating circuit 
are as follows. It is necessary to lower the potential of the 
semiconductor substrate to the predetermined level rapidly at the time of 
turn-on of the power supply of the semiconductor memory device. However, 
for example in the case of simply adopting a construction utilizing a 
threshold voltage of MOSFET similar to the detection circuit as shown in 
FIG. 5 as the substrate potential detecting circuit 730, it may be 
considered that the level of the output potential (the detection output 
signal) attains H level with a considerable delay from the rise of the 
power supply potential. In such as case, only the substrate bias potential 
generating circuit having the smaller bias capability is operated and 
accordingly it may be considered to be difficult to lower the potential of 
the substrate rapidly to the predetermined potential. Accordingly, as 
shown in FIG. 13, the internal reference potential generating circuit 720 
(as will be described in detail later) is provided to enable the substrate 
potential to rapidly attain the predetermined level in such cases as 
turn-on of the power supply of the semiconductor memory device and by 
comparing the output of the reference potential generating circuit 720 and 
the output of the substrate potential detecting circuit 730, the second 
substrate bias potential generating circuit having the larger bias 
capability is operated so that the potential of the semiconductor 
substrate can attain the predetermined potential level rapidly. 
FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a specific construction of the 
selection control circuit 700 shown in FIG. 13. Referring to FIG. 14, the 
selection control circuit 700 comprises: a reference potential generating 
circuit 720 for generating a reference potential which attains the 
predetermined level more rapidly compared with the substrate potential 
after turn-on of the power supply; a p channel MOSFET Q11 for detecting an 
output potential Vr of the reference potential generating circuit; a p 
channel MOSFET Q12 for detecting the substrate potential V.sub.BB ; and 
MOSFETs Q17, Q18, Q19 and Q20 for generating signals for inactivating one 
of the substrate bias potential generating circuits and activating the 
other substrate bias potential generating circuit in response to the 
detection outputs of the MOSFETs Q11 and Q12. The transistors Q17 to Q20 
constitute a CMOS flip-flop differential amplifier which generates 
signals, according to the outputs of the detection by MOSFETs Q11 and Q12, 
at output nodes P1 and P2. The output nodes P1 and P2 output the 
oscillation signals .phi..sub.CPS and .phi..sub.CPM to be applied to the 
first substrate bias potential generating circuit having the smaller bias 
capability and the second substrate bias potential generating circuit 20 
having the larger bias capability, respectively. 
There are provided p channel MOSFETs Q13 and Q14 between the detection 
MOSFETs Q11 and Q12 and the output nodes P1 and P2, respectively. The 
MOSFETs Q13 and Q14 function as cut-off transistor for preventing current 
from flowing from the power supply potential Vcc to the output nodes P1 
and P2 when the detection transistors Q11 and Q12 are turned on. There are 
provided p channel MOSFETs Q15 and Q16 in parallel with the MOSFETs Q17 
and Q18, respectively, to precharge the output nodes P1 and P2 to 
predetermined potential levels. The oscillation signal .phi..sub.CP is 
applied from the ring oscillator 511 to the gates of the MOSFETs Q15 and 
Q16. Accordingly, when the oscillation signal .phi..sub.CP falls to L 
level, the MOSFETs Q15 and Q16 are turned on to precharge the nodes P1 and 
P2 to the level of the power supply potential Vcc. The oscillation signal 
is applied to the respective one conduction terminals (sources) of the n 
channel MOSFETs Q19 and Q20 through the inverter I20 so that the flip-flop 
differential amplifier (i.e., the circuit formed by the MOSFETs Q17 to 
Q20) is activated. 
An internal control signal .phi..sub.CP ' is applied to the gates of the 
MOSFETs Q13 and Q14 which function as cutoff transistors. The internal 
control signal .phi..sub.CP ' is formed by causing the oscillation signal 
.phi..sub.CP from the ring oscillator 511 to pass through the inverters 
I20 and I21. 
The reference potential generating circuit 720 for forming the reference 
potential Vr has a construction as shown in FIG. 15. Referring to FIG. 15, 
the reference potential generating circuit 720 includes a charge pump 
capacitor C10, p channel MOSFETs Q30 and Q31 which cooperate with the 
charge pump operation of the capacitor C10 and clamps the potential of the 
node N10 to the predetermined potential, and a parasitic capacitance C12. 
The p channel MOSFET Q30 is provided between the node N10 and the ground 
potential and it clamps the potential of the node N10 at the threshold 
voltage level thereof The p channel MOSFET Q31 is provided between the 
node N10 and an output node N11 and it clamps the potential of the node 
N10 at a value determined by the threshold voltage thereof and the 
reference potential Vr. The P channel MOSFETs Q30 and Q31 are both 
diode-connected. The reference potential generating circuit 720 is formed 
in an n type well region 160 formed on the surface of the p type 
semiconductors substrate 150, as shown in FIG. 16, since its components 
are a capacitor and a p channel MOSFET. The parasitic capacitance C12 
includes a junction capacitance between its circuit element and the n type 
well 160, a junction capacitance formed between the p type region 150 and 
the n type well region 160, and the like. 
The output Vr from the reference potential generating circuit 720 is 
applied to the p.sup.+ type impurity region 170 formed in the n type well 
160 to bias the p.sup.+ impurity region 170 to a predetermined level 
according to the potential of the power supply. The reference potential Vr 
has a negative polarity in the same manner as the reference bias potential 
applied to the semiconductor substrate 150. The signal .phi..sub.CP for 
operating the reference potential generating circuit 720 is applied 
through the inverter I20. 
FIG. 17 is a signal waveform diagram showing operation of the substrate 
bias potential generating circuit shown in FIG. 14. Referring to FIGS. 14 
to 17, operation of the substrate bias potential generating circuit 
according to the embodiment of the invention will be described in the 
following. 
In an initial state such as in turn-on of the power supply for the 
semiconductor memory device, the reference potential Vr and the substrate 
bias potential V.sub.BB are both at OV as the ground potential level. 
However, when the ring oscillator 511 shown in FIG. 7 starts oscillating 
operation in response to the turn-on of the power supply, the reference 
potential Vr outputted from the reference potential generating circuit 720 
rapidly attains the predetermined level -V.sub.R. On the other hand, the 
substrate bias potential V.sub.BB applied to the semiconductor substrate 
150 attains slowly a predetermined bias level compared with the fall of 
the reference potential Vr. A time difference in lowering of the reference 
potential Vr and the substrate bias potential V.sub.BB is caused by the 
below described reasons. The reference potential generating circuit 720 is 
formed in the n type well region 160. In order to generate the reference 
potential Vr, the potential of the p.sup.+ type impurity region 170 of a 
small volume formed in the n type well region 160 is lowered. Thus, the 
reference potential can rapidly attain the predetermined bias potential 
-V.sub.R. On the other hand, in order to lower the potential of the 
semiconductor substrate 150 to the predetermined potential, it is 
necessary to lower the potential of the whole semiconductor substrate 150. 
In view of a ratio of capacities (about several thousands times as much) 
of the p.sup.+ type impurity region 170 and the semiconductor substrate 
150, a relatively long time (about several hundreds of micro seconds) is 
required to lower the potential of the semiconductor substrate 150. 
Accordingly, in the initial state in which the reference potential Vr is 
larger than the substrate bias potential V.sub.BB in terms of the absolute 
value, the impedance of the MOSFET Q11 becomes smaller than that of the 
MOSFET Q12. When the oscillation signal .phi..sub.CP falls to L level, the 
precharge MOSFETs Q15 and Q16 are turned on and the output nodes P1 and P2 
are precharged to H level as the level of the power supply potential Vcc. 
At this time, the output signal .phi..sub.CP from the inverter I20 is at H 
level and accordingly the flip-flop differential amplifier formed by the 
MOSFETs Q17 to Q20 does not operate. 
Next, when the oscillation signal .phi..sub.CP rises to H level, the 
precharge transistors Q15 and Q16 are turned off and the precharge 
operation of the nodes P1 and P2 is stopped. At this time, since the 
oscillation signal .phi..sub.CP is transmitted to the cutoff MOSFETs Q13 
and Q14 through the inverters I20 and I21, respectively, the signal is 
transmitted with a delay from the oscillation signal .phi..sub.CP 
corresponding to a delay time in the two stages of inverters I20 and I21. 
Accordingly, the MOSFETs Q13 and Q14 are turned off with a delay 
corresponding to this delay time from the turn-off of the precharge 
transistor MOSFETs Q15 and Q16. When the output signal .phi..sub.CP of the 
inverter I20 falls to L level in the above described state, the MOSFETs 
Q13 and Q14 for cut-off are still in the on state and accordingly a 
potential difference is produced between the nodes P1 and P2. 
Consequently, the flip-flop differential amplifier formed by the MOSFETs 
Q17 to Q20 operates to change the potential level of the output node P1 to 
H level and the output level of the output node P2 to L level. Then, when 
the oscillation signal .phi..sub.CP falls to L level, the output nodes P1 
and P2 are precharged to the predetermined power supply potential level in 
the same manner as described previously. This operation is repeated and if 
the reference potential Vr is larger than the substrate bias potential 
V.sub.BB in terms of the absolute value, the output signal .phi..sub.CPS 
from the output node P1 rises to H level, in response to the oscillation 
signal .phi..sub.CP, and the output signal .phi..sub.CPM from the output 
node P2 becomes an oscillation signal corresponding to the oscillation 
signal .phi..sub.CP. Thus, the first substrate bias potential generating 
circuit 10' shown in FIG. 13 does not operate and the second substrate 
bias potential generating circuit 20' having the larger bias capability 
operates, thereby to lower the potential of the semiconductor substrate 
150 rapidly to the predetermined potential level. 
In the waveform diagram of FIG. 17, the signals .phi..sub.CP and 
.phi..sub.CP ' are represented as having waveforms of the same phase for 
the purpose of simplification of the illustration; however, in practice, 
the signal .phi..sub.CP ' changes with a delay from the signal 
.phi..sub.CP, corresponding to a delay time by the inverters of I20 and 
I21. 
When the potential of the semiconductor substrate 150 becomes larger than 
the reference potential Vr in terms of the absolute value, the signal 
.phi..sub.CPS becomes an oscillation signal corresponding to the 
oscillation signal .phi..sub.CP and the signal .phi..sub.CPM is fixed to a 
H level, oppositely to the above described operation. As a result, when 
the bias potential of the semiconductor substrate becomes larger than the 
predetermined reference potential -V.sub.R (=Vr) in terms of the absolute 
value only the first substrate bias potential generating circuit 10' 
having the smaller bias capability operates. In the above described 
construction, not only after a sufficient rise of the power supply 
potential but also immediately after turn-on of the power supply 
potential, either substrate bias potential generating circuit can be 
operated dependent on its bias capability according to the potential of 
the semiconductor substrate and thus consumption of power can be reduced. 
In addition, in the above described construction, the gate electrode of the 
MOSFET Q12 is connected to the semiconductor substrate in order to detect 
the potential V.sub.BB of the semiconductor substrate and accordingly the 
substrate potential detecting circuit detects the substrate potential 
through the input having the high input impedance. Consequently, the 
substrate potential detecting circuit itself does not exert any adverse 
effect on the potential of the semiconductor substrate, such as leakage 
current into the substrate, and only either substrate bias potential 
generating circuit can be operated correctly in response to the potential 
of the semiconductor substrate. 
FIG. 18 is a diagram showing another construction example of the selection 
control circuit shown in FIG. 13. In FIG. 18, the portions corresponding 
to those in FIG. 14 are denoted by the same reference characters. 
In the construction of FIG. 18, the control signal .phi..sub.CP ' for 
controlling operation of the MOSFETs Q13 and Q14 for cut-off is generated 
by a flip-flop 750 in place of the inverter I21 shown in FIG. 14. The 
flip-flop 750 receives a signal .phi..sub.CP from the inverter I20 and 
signals .phi..sub.CPS " and .phi..sub.CPM " from the buffer circuit 760. 
The buffer circuit 760 outputs not only the operation control signals 
.phi..sub.CPM " and .phi..sub.CPS " for the flip-flop 750 but also the 
operation control signals .phi..sub.CPM and .phi..sub.CPS for the 
substrate bias potential generating circuit 10, and 20, in response to the 
signals .phi..sub.CPM ' and .phi..sub.CPS ' from the comparison detecting 
circuit 700'. 
The comparison detecting circuit 700' has the same construction as that of 
the selection control circuit of FIG. 14 and it compares the reference 
potential Vr from the reference potential generating circuit 720 and the 
substrate potential V.sub.BB and outputs signals .phi..sub.CPM ' and 
.phi..sub.CPS ' according to the result of the comparison. 
A specific example of the flip-flop 750 is shown in FIG. 19. Referring to 
FIG. 19, the flip-flop 750 includes two NOR gates N40 and N41. The NOR 
gate N40 receives the signal .phi..sub.CP from the inverter I20 and the 
output of the NOR gate N41. The NOR gate N41 receives the two control 
signals .phi..sub.CPM " and .phi..sub.CPS " from the buffer circuit 760 
and the output of the NOR gate N40. The NOR gate N40 outputs the signal 
.phi..sub.CP ' for controlling the operation of the MOSFETs Q13 and Q14 
for current cutoff. In the flip-flop 750, the output signal .phi..sub.CP ' 
is reset to L level if the signal .phi..sub.CP is at H level. 
FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a specific example of the buffer circuit 760 
shown in FIG. 18. Referring to FIG. 20, the buffer circuit 760 comprises a 
path for outputting the signal .phi..sub.CPM for controlling the operation 
of the substrate bias potential generating circuit 20' having the larger 
bias capability, and a path for outputting the signal .phi..sub.CPS for 
controlling the operation of the first substrate bias potential generating 
circuit 10' having the smaller bias capability. The path for outputting 
the signal .phi..sub.CPM includes two stages of inverters I40 and I41 
cascade-connected for receiving the signal .phi..sub.CPM ' from the output 
node P2 of the comparison detecting circuit 700'. The inverter I40 outputs 
the signal .phi..sub.CPM " for controlling the operation of the flip-flop 
750 and the inverter I41 outputs the signal .phi..sub.CPM for controlling 
the operation of the substrate bias potential generating circuit 20'. 
The path for outputting the signal .phi..sub.CPS includes two stages of 
inverters I50 and I51 cascade-connected for receiving the signal 
.phi..sub.CPS ' from the output node P1 of the comparison detecting 
circuit 700'. The inverter I50 outputs the signal .phi..sub.CPS " for 
controlling the operation of the flip-flop 750 and the inverter I51 
outputs the signal .phi..sub.CPS for controlling the operation of the 
substrate bias potential generating circuit 10'. Referring now to FIGS. 18 
to 20, operation of a bias potential switching circuit according to 
another embodiment of the invention will be described. 
First, let us assume a case in which the output signal .phi..sub.CP from 
the inverter I20 is at H level while the ring oscillator 511 effects 
oscillating operation. In this case, the flip-flop 750 is in the reset 
state. More specifically, since the signal of H level is inputted to the 
one input of the NOR gate N40, a signal of L level is outputted from the 
NOR gate N40 independent of .phi..sub.CPM " and .phi..sub.CPS ". In 
response thereto, the MOSFETs Q13 and Q14 for cutoff are both in the on 
state. The output nodes P1 and P2 are precharged to H level. 
Then, when the output signal .phi..sub.CP from the inverter I20 changes to 
L level, the flip-flop differential amplifier of the CMOS structure formed 
by the MOSFETs Q17 to Q20 is activated to start comparison between the 
reference potential Vr from the reference potential generating circuit 720 
and the substrate bias potential V.sub.BB. Since the output nodes P1 and 
P2 have been precharged at H level through the MOSFETs Q15 and 16 
respectively, before activation of the differential amplifier, the signals 
.phi..sub.CPM ' and .phi..sub.CPS ' from the output nodes P1 and P2 are 
both raised to H level and consequently the output signals .phi..sub.CPM " 
and .phi..sub.CPS " from the buffer circuit 760 are both lowered to L 
level. Accordingly, in the initial activation state of the flip-flop 
differential amplifier of the CMOS structure (namely in a state in which a 
potential difference between the reference potential Vr and the substrate 
bias potential V.sub.BB is not increased), the flip-flop 750 is maintained 
in the reset state and the output signal .phi..sub.CP ' is maintained at L 
level. Consequently, even if the flip-flop differential amplifier of the 
CMOS structure is activated, the MOSFETs Q13 and Q14 for cutoff are both 
in the on state. 
Next, when the potential levels of the node P1 and P2 are fixed to H level 
and L level, respectively, according to the result of the comparison 
between the reference potential Vr and the substrate bias potential 
V.sub.BB as a result of the operation of the differential amplifier, 
either one of the output signals .phi..sub.CPM " and .phi..sub.CPS " from 
the buffer circuit 760 rises to H level. As a result, the flip-flop 750 is 
set and the output signal .phi..sub.CP ' rises to H level. More 
specifically, when one input of the NOR gate N41 attains H level, the 
output of the NOR gate N41 falls to L level accordingly. As a result, both 
inputs of the NOR gate N40 fall to L level and thus the output signal 
.phi..sub.CP ' rises to H level. In response to the signal .phi..sub.CP ' 
of H level, the MOSFETs Q13 and Q14 for cutoff are both turned off, 
thereby to cut off the path through which the penetration current flows 
from the power supply potential Vcc to the output nodes P1 and P2 through 
the MOSFETs Q11 and Q12 for detection. On the other hand, the potential 
levels of the output nodes P1 and P2 are outputted as the control signals 
.phi..sub.CPM and .phi..sub.CPS from the buffer circuit 760 and those 
signals are transmitted to the first and second substrate bias potential 
generating circuits 10' and 20'. 
When the oscillation signal .phi..sub.CP falls again to L level and the 
output signal .phi..sub.CP from the inverter I20 rises to H level, the 
flip-flop 750 is reset and the output nodes P1 and P2 are precharged to H 
level as the power supply potential level. By repeating this operation, 
only either one of the substrate bias potential generating circuits is 
activated dependent on the difference between the substrate potential and 
the reference potential. 
In the case of the construction shown in FIG. 14, it is considered that the 
MOSFETs Q13 and Q14 might be turned off before the difference between the 
reference potential Vr and the substrate bias potential V.sub.BB is 
detected, dependent on the detection sensitivity of the CMOS flip-flop 
type differential amplifier formed by the MOSFETs Q17 to Q20, in cases 
where the reference potential Vr from the reference potential generating 
circuit 720 becomes very close to the value of the substrate bias 
potential V.sub.BB. This is because the MOSFETs Q13 and Q14 for cutoff are 
turned off with predetermined timing independent of the detection 
operation of the differential amplifier, namely, the output levels of the 
output nodes P1 and P2 since the operation of the cutoff MOSFETs Q13 and 
Q14 is simply controlled by the delay time by the inverters I21 and I20. 
Thus, if the cutoff MOSFETs Q13 and Q14 are turned off before the 
difference between the substrate potential V.sub.BB and the reference 
potential Vr is detected, the potential levels of the output nodes P1 and 
P2 are both at intermediate levels and it might happens that penetration 
current flows continuously from the power supply potential Vcc to the 
ground potential level through the CMOS flip-flop differential amplifier 
during the period of H level of the oscillation signal .phi..sub.CP. 
However, if the flip-flop 750 is used in place of the inverter for delay 
as shown in FIG. 18, the CMOS flip-flop differential amplifier is 
activated and the cutoff MOSFETs Q13 and Q14 can be turned off after the 
potential levels of the output nodes P1 and P2 are fixed to the level 
obtained by differential amplification of the difference between the 
reference potential Vr and the substrate bias potential V.sub.BB. 
Accordingly, the time required for the potential levels of the output 
nodes P1 and P2 to attain the intermediate level can be minimized and, a 
period in which penetration current flows in the CMOS flip-flop 
differential amplifier can be made very small, making it possible to 
further reduce consumption of current and to detect reliably the 
difference between the reference potential Vr and the substrate bias 
potential V.sub.BB. 
FIG. 21 is a diagram showing another construction example of a reference 
potential generating circuit. Referring to FIG. 21, the reference 
potential generating circuit 720 comprises: a charge pump capacitor C10 
for receiving an oscillation signal .phi..sub.CP ; a p channel MOSFET Q31 
for clamping the potential of the node N10 to a value according to the 
difference between the reference potential Vr and the threshold voltage V 
of the MOSFET Q31; a p channel MOSFET Q30 for clamping the potential of 
the node N10 to the ground potential level; a capacitor C52 and a p 
channel MOSFET Q52 for controlling the clamping operation of the MOSFET 
Q30; and a parasitic capacitance C12 formed between one conduction region 
(impurity region) of the MOSFET Q31 and the semiconductor substrate (the n 
type well region in this example). The gate of the MOSFET Q30 is connected 
to the charge pump capacitor C52 which receives the oscillation signal 
.phi..sub.CP. A diode-connected p channel MOSFET Q52 is provided at a node 
of connection of the capacitor C52 and the gate of the MOSFET Q30, namely, 
between the node N5 and the ground potential. 
In the construction of the reference potential generating circuit shown in 
FIG. 15, the reference potential Vr generated therein is a level of 
-(Vcc-Vt(31) -Vt(30)) where Vt(30) and Vt(31) are absolute values of the 
threshold voltages of the MOSFETs Q30 and Q31, respectively. Accordingly, 
in the construction shown in FIG. 15, the potential to be attained by the 
reference potential Vr cannot be made smaller than the above indicated 
value, namely, cannot be made larger than that in terms of the absolute 
value. However, in the construction shown in FIG. 21, the value of the 
reference potential Vr can be set to a lower potential. In the following, 
operation of the reference potential generating circuit shown in FIG. 21 
will be briefly described. If the oscillation signal .phi..sub.CP is at H 
level, the potential of the node N5 tends to rise to H level due to 
capacitance coupling of the capacitor C52; however, by the function of the 
MOSFET Q52, the potential of the node N5 is clamped to the ground 
potential level .vertline.Vt (52).vertline.. Then, when the operation 
signal .phi..sub.CP falls to L level and the complementary oscillation 
signal .phi..sub.CP rise to H level, the potential of the node N10 tends 
to rise H level, while the potential of the node N5 is lowered to a 
negative potential. At this time, if the capacitance of the capacitor C52 
and the threshold voltage of the MOSFET Q5 are set to enable the potential 
of the node N5 to be lower than the threshold voltage Vt(30) of the MOSFET 
Q30, the MOSFET Q30 is completely conducted and the potential level of the 
node N10 is clamped to the ground potential level. Accordingly, when the 
complementary oscillation signal .phi..sub.CP falls to L level next, the 
potential of the node N10 becomes -(Vr-Vt(31)) level. In the case of 
lowering the potential of the node N10, the complementary signal 
.phi..sub.CP falls to L level. However, in that case, the oscillation 
signal .phi..sub.CP rises to H level at the same time and accordingly 
independent of the clamping operation of the MOSFET Q52, the potential 
level becomes higher than the threshold voltage level of the MOSFET Q30, 
whereby the MOSFET Q30 is turned off. Accordingly, the attainable 
potential level of the node N10 is -(Vr-Vt(31)). If the oscillation signal 
.phi..sub.CP is continuously applied, the attainable potential of the 
reference potential Vr can be lower to -(Vcc-Vt(31)). Assuming that the 
threshold voltages of the MOSFETs Q30 and Q31 are -1.5 V and that the 
operation power supply potential Vcc is 5 V, the attainable potential of 
the reference potential Vr is -2 V in the case of the construction of the 
reference potential generating circuit shown in FIG. 15, while the 
attainable potential of the reference potential Vr can be set to -3.5 V in 
the case of the reference potential generating circuit shown in FIG. 21. 
If the reference potential generating circuit shown in FIG. 21 is applied 
to the substrate bias potential generating circuit, the substrate bias 
potential generating circuit of the construction as shown in FIG. 22 can 
be obtained. Referring to FIG. 22, the substrate bias potential generating 
circuit 20' having the larger bias capability includes two stages of 
inverters I.sub.M1 and I.sub.M2 which are cascade-connected for receiving 
the oscillation signal .phi..sub.CPM, a charge pump capacitor CM connected 
to an output of the inverter I.sub.M2, a charge pump capacitor C.sub.MP 
connected to an output of the inverter I.sub.M1, and p channel MOSFETS 
Q.sub.1M, Q.sub.2M and Q.sub.3M for generation of the substrate potential. 
The MOSFETs Q.sub.IM, Q.sub.2M and Q.sub.3M have the same function and the 
same connection construction as the MOSFETs Q30, Q31 and Q52. 
The substrate bias potential generating circuit 10, having the smaller bias 
capability includes two stages of inverters I.sub.S1 and I.sub.S2 
cascade-connected for receiving the oscillation signal .phi..sub.CPS, a 
capacitor C.sub.SP for carrying out charge pump operation according to an 
output of the inverter I.sub.S1, a capacitor C.sub.S for carrying out 
charge pump operation according to an output of the inverter I.sub.S2, and 
p channel MOSFETs Q.sub.1S, Q.sub.2S and Q.sub.3S for generating a 
predetermined bias potential level according to the charge pump operation 
of the capacitors C.sub.S and C.sub.SP. The MOSFETs Q.sub.1S, Q.sub.2S and 
Q.sub.3S have the same function and the same connection structure as the 
MOSFETs Q30, Q31 and Q52 shown in FIG. 21. Accordingly, in the case of the 
construction of the substrate bias potential generating circuit shown in 
FIG. 22, it is possible to set the substrate bias potential to -(Vcc-Vt) 
in the same manner as in the reference potential generating circuit shown 
in FIG. 21. In this case, the threshold voltage Vt is an absolute value of 
the threshold voltage of the p channel MOSFETs Q.sub.2M and Q.sub.2S. 
Accordingly, by using this structure, it becomes possible to bias the 
semiconductor substrate deeper and to reduce the parasitic capacitance of 
the semiconductor memory device. Thus, the semiconductor memory device can 
be operated with high reliability at high speed. 
In the above described embodiment, if the conductivity type of the MOSFETs 
included in the substrate bias potential generating circuit is opposite to 
that indicated above, the same effects can be obtained. 
In addition, as shown in FIG. 8, switching of the substrate bias potential 
generating circuits is effected by using the NOR gate. However, a NAND 
gate may be used in place thereof. Similarly, although the construction 
using the NOR gate is shown as the flip-flop 120 shown in FIG. 18, other 
gate structure such as a NAND gate may be used in place thereof. 
In addition, although the construction of the substrate bias potential 
generating circuits in the semiconductor memory device was described in 
the foregoing embodiments, a semiconductor integrated circuit device where 
a predetermined bias potential is generally applied to a semiconductor 
substrate may be used. 
Furthermore, the semiconductor substrate may be a semiconductor layer or a 
well region having a surface where circuit elements are formed, insofar as 
predetermined bias potential can be applied thereto. 
As described in the foregoing, according to the present invention, a 
substrate potential is detected by using a substrate bias potential 
detecting circuit having a high input impedance and the output of the 
detection and a reference potential are compared. According to the result 
of the comparison, only either one of the substrate bias potential 
generating circuits having different bias capabilities is selectively 
operated. Consequently, only either one of the two substrate bias 
potential generating circuits is operated constantly and thus a 
semiconductor integrated circuit device having low consumption of power 
can be provided. Particularly, since the substrate potential detecting 
circuit detects the potential of the semiconductor substrate through the 
input having a high input impedance, the potential of the semiconductor 
substrate can be detected reliably without exerting any adverse effect on 
the semiconductor substrate potential. In addition, since one of the 
substrate bias potential generating circuits is alternatively operated 
according to the detected substrate potential, either of the substrate 
bias potentials can be selectively applied with more accuracy according to 
the potential of the semiconductor substrate and thus a semiconductor 
integrated circuit device having less consumption of power can be 
provided. 
Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in 
detail, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration 
and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the spirit 
and scope of the present invention being limited only by the terms of the 
appended claims.