Pre-charge voltage generation and power saving modes

摘要

A system includes a voltage generator to produce a pre-charge voltage signal for pre-charging one or more signals in a memory circuit. The one or more signals can be data bus lines used to access memory. The voltage generator can include an input indicating whether the memory circuit is set to a power-saving mode. According to one embodiment, the input adjusts a magnitude of the pre-charge voltage signal produced by the voltage generator. Such an embodiment is useful over conventional methods because adjusting the pre-charge voltage can result in power savings. As an example, when in the power-saving mode, the voltage generator circuit can adjust the pre-charge voltage to a value that reduces an amount of leakage current associated with a pre-charge voltage. Reducing the leakage with respect to the pre-charge voltage means that the saved power can be used for other useful purposes.

主权项

1. A system comprising:
a voltage generator circuit to generate a pre-charge voltage signal for pre-charging at least one signal in a memory circuit, the voltage generator circuit operable to: receive an input signal indicating an operational mode of the memory circuit; generate the pre-charge voltage signal with a first magnitude within a first voltage range when the received input signal indicates that the operational mode of the memory circuit is a power saving mode, the first magnitude being a magnitude that reduces a voltage difference between the pre-charge voltage and a voltage of the at least one signal.