Patent ID: 8045402

Claim:
A data store comprising: an input for receiving a data value; at least one storage cell comprising: a feedback loop for storing said data value; an output for outputting said stored data value; said feedback loop receiving a higher voltage and a lower voltage as power supply, said data store further comprising: a voltage supply for powering said data store, said voltage supply outputting a high voltage level and a low voltage level; write assist circuitry arranged between said voltage supply and said at least one storage cell, said write assist circuitry being responsive to a pulse signal to provide a discharge path between said high voltage level and a lower voltage level and thereby generate a reduced internal voltage level from said high voltage level for a period dependent on a width of said pulse signal, said reduced internal voltage level being lower than said high voltage level, such that when powered said feedback loop receives said reduced internal voltage level as said higher voltage for said period determined by said pulse width and said high voltage level at other times; and pulse signal generation circuitry for generating said pulse signal in response to a write request sent to said at least one storage cell.