Abstract:
A pull-up circuit prevents generation of a leak current if a difference of potentials occurs between a power source voltage of a pull-up circuit (a bus-hold circuit) and an input terminal. A control terminal is provided in the bus-hold circuit. Inputs of the input terminal and the control terminal are input to a NOR gate, and an output of the NOR gate is input to a gate terminal of a first MOSFET that controls coupling between an input terminal and the power source voltage of the bus-hold circuit. A second MOSFET (“control” MOSFET) is provided as a switch that operates by an inverted output of the control terminal. By coupling the first MOSFET and the control MOSFET in series, the coupling between the input terminal and the power source voltage is controlled with a higher precision, thereby preventing generation of a leak current.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-211910 filed on Sep. 14, 2009 including the specification, drawings and abstract is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to an inter-module interface circuit within a semiconductor device or between a semiconductor device and an external circuit, and an interface circuit between different types of power source voltages of a semiconductor device operated by two or more power source voltages. 
         [0003]    A pull-up circuit improves a margin of an input voltage level by fixing an input terminal to a desired level. 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  illustrates a configuration of a bus-hold circuit, which is a typical pull-up circuit. 
         [0005]    First, focusing on  FIG. 1(   a ), an inverter  11  is inserted between an input terminal IN and an output terminal OUT. An output of the inverter  11  is branched and subsequently input to a MOSFET. If a first MOSFET  12  is a pMOSFET, the first MOSFET  12  is turned on when an “L” level voltage is applied. Here, the first MOSFET  12  is not limited to a pMOSFET and an nMOSFET can also be used. 
         [0006]    If an “H” level voltage is applied to a gate terminal when the first MOSFET  12  is an nMOSFET (or, alternatively, if an “L” level voltage is applied when the first MOSFET  12  is a pMOSFET), the first MOSFET  12  is turned on. 
         [0007]    An invention described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2008-21733 discloses a technology that enables high-speed operation by optimizing the thickness of a gate oxidation film when there is a circuit module using a plurality of power source voltages in a single semiconductor integrated circuit. When considering the thickness of a gate oxidation film, a bus-hold circuit of  FIG. 1(   a ) is transformed such as shown in  FIG. 1(   b ). That is, a input voltage-adjusting MOSFET  21  is inserted between the input terminal IN and the inverter  11 . The “H” level of a signal input to the input terminal IN is lowered by a threshold voltage Vth of the input voltage-adjusting MOSFET  21  (Vcc−Vth), and thereby input potentials of the input terminal IN and the inverter  11  are separated to protect the gate oxide film of the internal circuit. 
         [0008]    It is also conceivable, as shown in  FIG. 1(   c ), to insert a NOR gate  31  instead of the inverter  11  to provide a control terminal CNT as an input terminal. This has an advantage that an output terminal OUT can be fixed regardless of the level of the input terminal IN by setting the control terminal CNT to “L”. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    There is however also a problem with the circuit of  FIGS. 1(   a ) to  1 ( c ). 
         [0010]    For example, let us assume that the power source voltage Vcc and the “H” level voltage of the signal applied to the input terminal IN are both designed to be 3V. There is no problem if the signal applied to the input terminal IN is 3V. No leak current occurs because the input terminal IN and the power source voltage Vcc are both 3V when the first MOSFET  12  is conductive. 
         [0011]    This is however not true if the “H” level voltage of the signal applied to the input terminal IN falls due to an error during manufacture or due to a circuit coupled to the input terminal IN. That is, when the “H” level voltage of the signal applied to the input terminal IN falls, a difference of potentials occurs between the input terminal IN and the power source voltage Vcc to generate a leak current. This may result in an increased power consumption of a semiconductor including the pull-up circuit and an electronic device including the semiconductor. 
         [0012]    In addition, when a plurality of power source voltages such as those assumed in the aforementioned Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2008-21733 are included, it frequently happens that the voltage of the input terminal IN is higher than the power source voltage Vcc. Hence, measures to be taken for such an occasion must be considered from the beginning of the design. 
         [0013]    The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances and provides means that prevents generation of a leak current if a difference of potentials occurs between the power source voltage Vcc of a pull-up circuit (a bus-hold circuit) and the input terminal IN. 
         [0014]    The other purposes and the new feature of the present invention will become clear from the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings. 
         [0015]    The following explains briefly the outline of some embodiments disclosed in the present application. 
         [0016]    A first pull-up circuit according to a representative embodiment of the present invention includes an input terminal for receiving an input signal, a control terminal for receiving a control signal, a first MOSFET, a second MOSFET (“control MOSFET”), and a NOR gate for outputting an inverted logical sum of the input signal and the control signal, wherein the first MOSFET and the control MOSFET are coupled in series between the power source voltage and the input terminal, and an output of the NOR gate is input to a gate terminal of the first MOSFET and the control signal is input to a gate terminal of the control MOSFET, respectively. 
         [0017]    In the pull-up circuit, an output of the NOR gate or an inverted output of the NOR gate may be used as an output of the pull-up circuit. 
         [0018]    Another pull-up circuit according to a representative embodiment of the present invention includes an input terminal for receiving an input signal, a control terminal for receiving a control signal, a first MOSFET, a control MOSFET, two or more impedance-increasing MOSFETs, and a NOR gate for outputting an inverted logical sum of the input signal and the control signal, wherein the first MOSFET, the control MOSFET, and the two or more impedance-increasing MOSFETs are coupled in series between the power source voltage and the input terminal, and an output of the NOR gate is input to a gate terminal of the first MOSFET and a gate terminal of the two or more impedance-increasing MOSFETs. Meanwhile, the inverted signal of the control signal is input to a gate terminal of the control MOSFET. 
         [0019]    Another pull-up circuit according to a representative embodiment of the present invention includes an input terminal for receiving an input signal, a control terminal for receiving a control signal, a first MOSFET, a control MOSFET, and an inverter for outputting an inverted signal of the input signal, wherein the first MOSFET and the control MOSFET are coupled in series between the power source voltage and the input terminal, and an inverted signal of the output of the inverter is input to a gate terminal of the first MOSFET and an inverted signal of the control signal is input to a gate terminal of the control MOSFET, respectively. 
         [0020]    In the pull-up circuit, an output of the inverter may be used as an output of the pull-up circuit. 
         [0021]    A method of controlling a pull-up circuit according to a representative embodiment of the present invention relates to a pull-up circuit including an input terminal for receiving an input signal, a power-source terminal for supplying a power source voltage, a bus-holding MOSFET electrically coupled between the power-source terminal and the input terminal and receiving a signal depending on the input signal at a gate terminal thereof, and a control MOSFET electrically coupled between the power-source terminal and the input terminal, the method including a step of decoupling conduction between the source and drain of the control MOSFET to prevent a current from flowing from the power-source terminal to the input terminal. 
         [0022]    The following explains briefly the effect acquired by the typical invention among the inventions disclosed in the present application. 
         [0023]    Characteristics of a semiconductor device can be improved according to a representative embodiment of the present invention. In particular, generation of a leak current can be prevented in a semiconductor device using a pull-up circuit. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0024]      FIGS. 1(   a ) to  1 ( c ) are diagrams illustrating a configuration of a bus-hold circuit which is a typical pull-up circuit; 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  is a circuit diagram of a pull-up circuit according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  is a truth table representing an operation of the pull-up circuit of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  is a waveform chart representing an operation of the pull-up circuit of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 5  is a graph showing an amount of a leak current of a conventional bus-hold circuit according to  FIG. 1(   c ); 
           [0029]      FIG. 6  is a graph showing an amount of a leak current of a pull-up circuit according to the first embodiment of the present invention when the control terminal is at an “H” level; 
           [0030]      FIG. 7  is a graph showing an amount of a leak current of a pull-up circuit according to the first embodiment of the present invention when the control terminal is at an “L” level; 
           [0031]      FIGS. 8(   a ) and  8 ( b ) are circuit diagrams of another pull-up circuit according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0032]      FIG. 9  is a circuit diagram of a pull-up circuit according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0033]      FIG. 10  is a conceptual diagram of a semiconductor device applying a pull-up circuit according to the present invention; 
           [0034]      FIG. 11  is a circuit diagram representing a configuration of an input-output circuit block of  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0035]      FIG. 12  is a circuit diagram of a pull-up circuit which is a transformation of the pull-up circuit of  FIG. 9 ; and 
           [0036]      FIG. 13  is a planar perspective view of main parts when the pull-up circuit of  FIG. 12  is mounted on a substrate of an actual semiconductor circuit. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0037]    Embodiments of the invention will be described below, referring to accompanying drawings. Although the input voltage-adjusting MOSFET  21  of  FIG. 1(   b ) is omitted in the following drawings, it may be inserted as appropriate depending on the purpose of usage. 
         [0038]      FIG. 2  is a circuit diagram of a pull-up circuit according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0039]    The circuit has been devised based on  FIG. 1(   c ). A second MOSFET  13  (referred to herein as “control MOSFET”) is further added to the circuit of  FIG. 1(   c ). 
         [0040]    The control MOSFET  13  works as a switch used for controlling conductivity between the power source voltage Vcc and the input terminal IN. 
         [0041]    The source and drain of the control MOSFET  13  are coupled in series between the first MOSFET  12  and the power source voltage Vcc (when the control MOSFET  13  is an nMOSFET, the input of the control terminal CNT is inverted and input to the gate terminal). 
         [0042]    With such a configuration, the control terminal CNT works as an enable signal of the output terminal OUT similarly to  FIG. 1(   c ). The control terminal CNT is in an enabled state at the “L” level, in which state the signal applied to the input terminal IN is transmitted to the output terminal OUT. 
         [0043]    On the other hand, the difference from  FIG. 1(   c ) lies in that the control MOSFET  13  is provided in  FIG. 2 . Turning ON/OFF the power source voltage Vcc is controlled by the control MOSFET  13 . That is, the control MOSFET  13  is turned on when the control terminal CNT is at the “L” level, whereas the control MOSFET  13  is turned OFF when the control terminal CNT is at the “H” level. 
         [0044]      FIG. 3  is a truth table representing an operation of the pull-up circuit of  FIG. 2 . As can be seen, the output terminal OUT remains at the “L” level as long as the control terminal CNT is at the “H” level. If, on the other hand, the control terminal CNT falls to the “L” level, the output terminal OUT also varies according to the level of the input terminal IN similarly to  FIG. 1(   c ). As a result, the power source voltage Vcc and the input terminal IN are made conductive only when the control terminal CNT is at the “L” level and the input terminal IN is at the “H” level. 
         [0045]      FIG. 4  is a waveform chart representing an operation of the pull-up circuit of  FIG. 2 . As can be seen in the waveform chart, the waveform input to the input terminal IN is not reflected to the output terminal OUT as long as the control terminal CNT is at the “H” level. If, on the other hand, the control terminal CNT is at the “L” level, the waveform input to the input terminal IN is inverted and output from the output terminal OUT. 
         [0046]    An effect of the pull-up circuit according to the first embodiment of the invention will be described below. 
         [0047]      FIG. 5  shows the amount of leak current of a conventional bus-hold circuit according to  FIG. 1(   c ). In addition,  FIG. 6  shows the amount of leak current of the pull-up circuit according to the first embodiment of the invention when the control terminal CNT is at the “H” level, and  FIG. 7  shows the amount of leak current of the pull-up circuit according to the first embodiment of the invention when the control terminal CNT is at the “L” level. In any of these figures, the horizontal axis represents the input voltage applied to the input terminal IN and the vertical axis represents the amount of leak current. 
         [0048]    As can be seen in  FIG. 5 , a leak current is generated in a conventional bus-hold circuit from the rise of an input voltage applied to the input terminal IN, and the leak current decreases as the input voltage applied to the input terminal IN approaches the power source voltage Vcc. The leak current however never becomes zero if the “H” level of the input voltage applied to the input terminal IN is smaller than the power source voltage Vcc. 
         [0049]    With the embodiment of the invention, the leak current can be completely suppressed when the control terminal CNT is at the “H” level (see  FIG. 6 ). 
         [0050]    In addition, even if the control terminal CNT is at the “L” level ( FIG. 7 ) generation of a leak current can be prevented as long as the input voltage applied to the input terminal IN does not rise to the “H” level. When the input voltage applied to the input terminal IN exceeds an “H” level threshold value, a leak current is generated which is similar, if not identical, to the leak current of the conventional pull-up circuit. In other words, generation of a leak current can be prevented until the input voltage applied to the input terminal IN exceeds the “H” level threshold value. 
         [0051]    Having taken such measures, generation of a leak current between the power source voltage Vcc and the input terminal IN can be prevented. 
         [0052]    Exemplary modifications of the above circuit include the circuits shown in each of  FIGS. 8(   a ) and  8 ( b ).  FIGS. 8(   a ) and  8 ( b ) are circuit diagrams of another pull-up circuit according to the first embodiment of the invention. 
         [0053]    The circuit of  FIG. 8(   a ) is similar to the circuit seen in  FIG. 1(   a ), but has an additional control terminal in form of control MOSFET  13 . Similarly, the circuit of  FIG. 8(   b ) is similar to the circuit seen in  FIG. 1(   b ), but has an additional control terminal in form of control MOSFET  13 . In a case where the NOR gate  31  of  FIG. 2  does not exist, the control terminal CNT is coupled only to the control MOSFET  13 , as with these circuits of  FIGS. 8(   a ) and  8 ( b ). 
         [0054]    Regardless of the above modification, exemplary modifications as a matter of design for implementation are also included in the scope of the invention. In  FIG. 2 , for example, the output of the NOR gate  31  is directly used as the output of the pull-up circuit (i.e., the inverted signal of the input signal). Modifications such as inverting the output of the NOR gate  31  by the inverter and subsequently using it as the output of a pull-up circuit may however be considered, as a matter of course. 
         [0055]    A second embodiment of the present invention will be described next. 
         [0056]      FIG. 9  is a circuit diagram of a pull-up circuit according to the second embodiment of the invention. 
         [0057]    The pull-up circuit further has a third MOSFET  41  and a fourth MOSFET  42  inserted and coupled in series between the first MOSFET  12  and the control MOSFET  13 . 
         [0058]    The third MOSFET  41  and the fourth MOSFET  42  are similar to the first MOSFET  12  in that each of them respectively functions as a switch. The output of the NOR gate  31  is inverted and coupled to the gate terminals of the third MOSFET  41  and the fourth MOSFET  42 , as to the first MOSFET  12  (when the third MOSFET  41  and the fourth MOSFET  42  are composed of a nMOS, the output of the NOR gate  31  is directly input). 
         [0059]    With the above configuration, the impedance between the power source voltage Vcc and the input terminal IN can be increased. By raising the impedance, the leak current during a normal operation can be reduced. That is, the absolute amount of leak current of  FIG. 7  can be reduced. 
         [0060]    Although two impedance MOSFETs are added in the configuration of the second embodiment, the number is not essential and it suffices as long as a required impedance is secured. 
         [0061]    An exemplary application 1 of the above two embodiments will be described next. The exemplary application 1 describes where in the semiconductor device the pull-up circuit of the first and second embodiments is applied.  FIG. 10  is a conceptual diagram of a semiconductor device  100  applying a pull-up circuit according to the invention. 
         [0062]    The semiconductor device  100  can be generally divided into an inner region  110  and an outer region  120 . 
         [0063]    The inner region  110  includes basic components for performing processing by the semiconductor device  100 . That is, the inner region  110  comprises a CPU  111 , a system clock  112 , a ROM  113 , a RAM  114 , a peripheral interface  115 , and an internal bus  116 . 
         [0064]    The CPU  111  is a central processor that performs the main control of the semiconductor device. 
         [0065]    The system clock  112  is a frequency divider or multiplier that generates a reference operation clock. 
         [0066]    The ROM  113  is a read only memory capable of continuously storing even in the event of power shutdown. On the other hand, the RAM  114  is a Random Access Memory for temporarily storing a program to be executed. 
         [0067]    The peripheral interface  115  is an interface circuit that provides an interface with a circuit outside the semiconductor device  100 . 
         [0068]    The internal bus  116  is a common path for exchanging data between modules such as the CPU  111  included in the inner region  110 . 
         [0069]    There are a plurality of bonding pads  121  and input-output circuit blocks  122  to be input terminals in the outer region  120 . 
         [0070]    The bonding pad  121  is a physical and electric coupling point on which solder paste is coated when the semiconductor device  100  is mounted on a substrate or the like (not shown). 
         [0071]    The input-output circuit block  122  transfers or temporarily stores transmission/reception data as a so-called input-output buffer. 
         [0072]    Usually, the power source voltages are different in the inner region  110  and the outer region  120 . In many cases, the outer region  120  has a voltage of 3.3V and the inner region  110  has a voltage of 1.5V, for example. Due to the difference of the power source voltages, the gate oxide films of the transistor have different thicknesses. In the above case, the outer region  120  has a thickness of about 7 nm and the inner region  110  has a thickness of about 3 nm. 
         [0073]    A pull-up circuit according to the invention is used in a circuit, i.e., an input-output circuit block  122 , located at the border between the outer region  120  and the inner region  110 .  FIG. 11  is a circuit diagram representing a configuration of the input-output circuit block  122  of  FIG. 10 . 
         [0074]    The input-output circuit block  122  includes an ESD protection circuit  122 - 1 , an input buffer circuit  122 - 2 , an input logic circuit  122 - 3 , an output buffer circuit  122 - 4 , and an output logic circuit  122 - 5 . Among these, the ESD protection circuit  122 - 1 , the input buffer circuit  122 - 2 , and the output buffer circuit  122 - 4  are driven by the 3.3V power source voltage of the outer region  120 . On the other hand, the input logic circuit  122 - 3  and the output logic circuit  122 - 5  are driven by the 1.5V or 3.3V power source voltage of the inner region  110 . 
         [0075]    The ESD protection circuit  122 - 1  absorbs overvoltage to prevent the device from being damaged by electrostatic discharge (ESD). 
         [0076]    The input buffer circuit  122 - 2  transfers or temporarily latches information sent from the ESD protection circuit  122 - 1  and transmits it to the input logic circuit  122 - 3 . 
         [0077]    An object of the pull-up circuit according to the invention is to prevent generation of a leak current due to the voltage of the input edge being lower than the power source voltage. Hence, the pull-up circuit according to the invention can be applied to the input buffer circuit  122 - 2 . The reason of this is because the voltage of the outer region  120  is 3.3V and the voltage of the inner region  110  is 1.5V, both satisfying the condition. 
         [0078]    The input logic circuit  122 - 3  outputs data accumulated in the input buffer circuit  122 - 2  to the peripheral interface  115  of the inner region  110 . The input logic circuit  122 - 3  includes an internal output terminal for outputting the data to the peripheral interface  115  of the inner region  110  and an input control signal terminal for receiving a control signal from the peripheral interface  115  of the inner region  110 . 
         [0079]    Contrary to the input buffer circuit  122 - 2 , the output buffer circuit  122 - 4  outputs data from the inner region  110  to the bonding pad  121 . Because the input voltage is higher in this case and thus generation of a leak current is limited to a temporary phenomenon during transition, there is little room for applying the pull-up circuit according to the invention. 
         [0080]    The output logic circuit  122 - 5  converts the format of data sent from the peripheral interface  115  of the inner region  110 . 
         [0081]    Although an exemplary application of the pull-up circuit according to the invention has been described in the foregoing, it is not intended to be limiting. In addition, two types of power source voltages, 3.3 V and 1.5 V, have been explained in the above description. The number of types of power source voltages is however not limited thereto, and there may be three or more types of voltages. In addition, voltages other than 3.3 V and 1.5 may also be used. 
         [0082]    An application 2 will be described next. 
         [0083]    As has been stated above, it is assumed so far in this specification that all the MOSFETs are pMOS devices. A semiconductor device however usually comprises nMOS and pMOS devices in a mixed manner (CMOS). A case where the circuit comprises CMOS devices will be described below. 
         [0084]      FIG. 12  is a circuit diagram of a pull-up circuit that is a modification of the pull-up circuit of  FIG. 9 . The difference between the pull-up circuit of  FIG. 12  and the pull-up circuit of  FIG. 9  lies in that a voltage lowering MOSFET  43  for lowering the voltage Vcc is inserted in the series. In addition, the first MOSFET  13  is moved to the side of input terminal IN (although there is no technical meaning). 
         [0085]    Now, consideration is provided to mount the pull-up circuit of  FIG. 12  on an actual semiconductor circuit. 
         [0086]      FIG. 13  is a planar perspective view of main parts when the pull-up circuit of  FIG. 12  is mounted on a substrate of an actual semiconductor circuit.  FIG. 13  represents a pull-up circuit formed on a substrate by repeatedly etching, forming an insulating film, etching, and so on. In practice, the insulating film layer or the like are expressed as transparent. 
         [0087]    As can be seen in  FIG. 13 , MOSFETs  43 ,  42 ,  41 ,  12  and  13  are serially arranged on an Nwell in this order in an actual implementation. 
         [0088]    The NOR gate  31  is disposed in a straddling manner over the Nwell and a Pwell. By further disposing the input voltage-adjusting MOSFET  21  on the Pwell, the circuit of  FIG. 12  can be formed. 
         [0089]    Although the invention made by the inventors has been specifically described based on the embodiments, it is needless to say that the invention is not limited to the embodiments and various modifications are possible without deviating from the scope thereof.