Intermediate Potential Generator Stably Providing an Internal Voltage Precisely Held at a Predeterminded Intermediate Potential Level With Reduced Current Consumption

1. A device for generating an intermediate potential between a first potential and a second potential, comprising: first reference potential generating means coupled between a node receiving said first potential and a node receiving said second potential, for generating a first reference potential higher than said intermediate potential, said first reference potential generating means including insulated gate type field effect transistors of a first conductivity type connected in series to each other, and formed to have substantially the same voltage-current characteristics; second reference potential generating means connected between the node receiving said first potential and the node receiving said second potential, for generating a second reference potential lower than said intermediate potential, said second reference potential generating means including insulated gate type field effect transistors of a second conductivity type formed to have substantially the same voltage-current characteristics, and connected in series to each other; a first output driving insulated gate type field effect transistor connected between the node receiving said first potential and an output node, for transmitting said first reference potential to said output node in a source follower manner in which a potential at a source of an insulated gate field effect transistor is represented by a function of a potential at a gate thereof; and a second output driving insulated gate type field effect transistor connected between said output node and the node receiving said second potential, for transmitting said second reference potential to said output node in the source follower manner, wherein in a triple-well structure having a first well region of the second conductivity type formed on a surface of a semiconductor substrate of the first conductivity type and a second well region of the first conductivity type formed on a surface of said first well region, one of said first and second field effect transistors is formed in said second well region.

2. A device for generating an intermediate potential between a first potential and a second potential, comprising: first reference potential generating means coupled between a node receiving said first potential and a node receiving said second potential, for generating a first reference potential higher than said intermediate potential, said first reference potential generating means including insulated gate type field effect transistors of a first conductivity type connected in series to each other, and formed to have substantially the same voltage-current characteristics; second reference potential generating means connected between the node receiving said first potential and the node receiving said second potential, for generating a second reference potential lower than said intermediate potential, said second reference potential generating means including insulated gate type field effect transistors of a second conductivity type formed to have substantially the same voltage-current characteristics, and connected in series to each other; a first output driving insulated gate type field effect transistor connected between the node receiving said first potential and an output node, for transmitting said first reference potential to said output node in a source follower manner in which a potential at a source of an insulated gate field effect transistor is represented by a function of a potential at a gate thereof; and a second output driving insulated gate type field effect transistor connected between said output node and the node receiving said second potential, for transmitting said second reference potential to said output node in the source follower manner, wherein said first reference potential generating means includes a p-channel insulated gate type field effect transistor having one conduction terminal and a backgate connected to the node receiving said first potential, other conduction terminal connected to a first node providing said first reference potential, and a gate connected to a second node, an n-channel insulated gate type field effect transistor having one conduction terminal and a gate connected to said first node, and other conduction terminal connected to said second node, and having a threshold voltage larger than the threshold voltage of said first output driving field effect transistor, another p-channel insulated gate type field effect transistor having one conduction terminal and a backgate connected to said second node, a gate connected to receive said second potential, and other conduction terminal connected to a third node, and another n-channel insulated gate type field effect transistor having one conduction terminal and a gate connected to said third node, and a backgate and other conduction terminal connected to receive said second potential.

3. A device for generating an intermediate potential between a first potential and a second potential, comprising: first reference potential generating means coupled between a node receiving said first potential and a node receiving said second potential, for generating a first reference potential higher than said intermediate potential, said first reference potential generating means including insulated gate type field effect transistors of a first conductivity type connected in series to each other, and formed to have substantially the same voltage-current characteristics; second reference potential generating means connected between the node receiving said first potential and the node receiving said second potential, for generating a second reference potential lower than said intermediate potential, said second reference potential generating means including insulated gate type field effect transistors of a second conductivity type formed to have substantially the same voltage-current characteristics, and connected in series to each other; a first output driving insulated gate type field effect transistor connected between the node receiving said first potential and an output node, for transmitting said first reference potential to said output node in a source follower manner in which a potential at a source of an insulated gate field effect transistor is represented by a function of a potential at a gate thereof; and a second output driving insulated gate type field effect transistor connected between said output node and the node receiving said second potential, for transmitting said second reference potential to said output node in the source follower manner, wherein said first reference potential generating means is implemented on a substrate of triple-well structure.

4. A device for generating an intermediate potential between a first potential and a second potential, comprising: first reference potential generating means coupled between a node receiving said first potential and a node receiving said second potential, for generating a first reference potential higher than said intermediate potential, said first reference potential generating means including insulated gate type field effect transistors of a first conductivity type connected in series to each other, and formed to have substantially the same voltage-current characteristics; second reference potential generating means connected between the node receiving said first potential and the node receiving said second potential, for generating a second reference potential lower than said intermediate potential, said second reference potential generating means including insulated gate type field effect transistors of a second conductivity type formed to have substantially the same voltage-current characteristics, and connected in series to each other; a first output driving insulated gate type field effect transistor connected between the node receiving said first potential and an output node, for transmitting said first reference potential to said output node in a source follower manner in which a potential at a source of an insulated gate field effect transistor is represented by a function of a potential at a gate thereof; and a second output driving insulated gate type field effect transistor connected between said output node and the node receiving said second potential, for transmitting said second reference potential to said output node in the source follower manner, wherein said second reference potential generating means includes a first insulated gate type field effect transistor of the first conductivity type having a backgate and one conduction terminal connected to receive said first potential, and a gate and other conduction terminal connected to each other, a second insulated gate type field effect transistor of the second conductivity type connected between said first insulated gate type field effect transistor and an intermediate potential node, and having a backgate and one conduction terminal connected to each other, and a gate connected to a node different from the gate of said first insulated gate type field effect transistor, said second insulated gate type field effect transistor functioning as a first resistor, a third insulated gate type field effect transistor of the first conductivity type having a backgate and one conduction terminal connected to said intermediate potential node, and a gate and other conduction terminal connected to a gate of said second output driving field effect transistor, and having a threshold voltage smaller than the threshold voltage of said second output drive field effect transistor, and a fourth insulated gate type field effect transistor of the second conductivity type connected between the gate of said second output driving field effect transistor and the node receiving the second potential, and having a backgate and one conduction terminal connected to each other, and a gate connected to a node different from the gate of said third insulated gate type field effect transistor, said fourth insulated gate type field effect transistor functioning as a second resistor with a resistance value of said first resistor being the same as a resistance value of said second resistor.

5. A device for generating an intermediate potential between a first potential and a second potential, comprising: first reference potential generating means coupled between a node receiving said first potential and a node receiving said second potential, for generating a first reference potential higher than said intermediate potential, said first reference potential generating means including insulated gate type field effect transistors of a first conductivity type connected in series to each other, and formed to have substantially the same voltage-current characteristics; second reference potential generating means connected between the node receiving said first potential and the node receiving said second potential, for generating a second reference potential lower than said intermediate potential, said second reference potential generating means including insulated gate type field effect transistors of a second conductivity type formed to have substantially the same voltage-current characteristics, and connected in series to each other; a first output driving insulated gate type field effect transistor connected between the node receiving said first potential and an output node, for transmitting said first reference potential to said output node in a source follower manner in which a potential at a source of an insulated gate field effect transistor is represented by a function of a potential at a gate thereof; and a second output driving insulated gate type field effect transistor connected between said output node and the node receiving said second potential, for transmitting said second reference potential to said output node in the source follower manner, wherein said second reference potential generating means includes a first p-channel insulated gate type field effect transistor having a backgate and one conduction terminal connected to receive said first potential, and a gate and other conduction terminal connected to each other, a first n-channel insulated gate type field effect transistor having one conduction terminal connected to the other conduction terminal of said first p-channel insulated gate type field effect transistor, another conduction terminal connected to an intermediate potential node, and a gate connected to receive said first potential, a second p-channel insulated gate type field effect transistor having a backgate and one conduction terminal connected to said intermediate potential node, a gate and other conduction terminal connected to an internal node generating said second reference potential, and a second n-channel insulated gate type field effect transistor having one conduction terminal connected to said internal node, a backgate and other conduction terminal connected to receive said second potential, and a gate connected to said intermediate potential node.

6. A device for generating an intermediate potential between a first potential and a second potential, comprising: first reference potential generating means coupled between a node receiving said first potential and a node receiving said second potential, for generating a first reference potential higher than said intermediate potential, said first reference potential generating means including insulated gate type field effect transistors of a first conductivity type connected in series to each other, and formed to have substantially the same voltage-current characteristics; second reference potential generating means connected between the node receiving said first potential and the node receiving said second potential, for generating a second reference potential lower than said intermediate potential, said second reference potential generating means including insulated gate type field effect transistors of a second conductivity type formed to have substantially the same voltage-current characteristics, and connected in series to each other; a first output driving insulated gate type field effect transistor connected between the node receiving said first potential and an output node, for transmitting said first reference potential to said output node in a source follower manner in which a potential at a source of an insulated gate field effect transistor is represented by a function of a potential at a gate thereof; a second output driving insulated gate type field effect transistor connected between said output node and the node receiving said second potential, for transmitting said second reference potential to said output node in the source follower manner; and auxiliary drive means operatively coupled to said output node and responsive to the active level of a driving capability switching signal for providing increased current driving capability for driving said output node to said intermediate potential by a drive stage including said first and second output driving insulated gate type field effect transistors.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein said auxiliary drive means includes a first switching transistor for transmitting said first potential to a drain of said first output driving insulated gate type field effect transistor in response to said driving capability switching signal being inactive, a current source transistor for supplying a current from the node receiving said first potential to said first output driving insulated gate type field effect transistor in response to said driving capability switching signal being inactive, and a charge supply element for supplying electric charges from a source of said first potential to said output node according to the current supplied by said current source transistor.

8. The device according to claim 6, wherein said auxiliary drive means includes a first insulated gate type field effect transistor connected between said first output driving insulated gate type field effect transistor and the node receiving said first potential, and being conductive in response to said driving capability switching signal being inactive at a first logic level, a second insulated gate type field effect transistor diode-connected between the node receiving said first potential and said first output driving insulated gate type field effect transistor in parallel with said first insulated gate type field effect transistor, and a third insulated gate type field effect transistor connected between the node receiving said first potential and said output node, and connected to said second insulated gate type field effect transistor in a current-mirror manner.

9. The device according to claim 6, wherein said auxiliary drive means includes a first switching transistor for transmitting said second potential to a drain of said second output driving insulated gate type field effect transistor in response to said driving capability switching signal being inactive at a first logic level, a current source transistor connected between the drain of said second output driving insulated gate type field effect transistor and the node receiving said second potential, for forming a current path to the node receiving said second potential from said second output driving insulated gate type field effect transistor in response to said driving capability switching signal being at a second logic level, and a current drive element for causing a current flow from said output node to the node receiving said second potential according to the current flowing through said current source transistor.

10. The device according to claim 6, wherein said auxiliary drive means includes a first insulated gate type field effect transistor connected between a drain of said second output driving insulated gate type field effect transistor and the node receiving said second potential, and being conductive in response to said driving capability switching signal being inactive, a second insulated gate type field effect transistor diode-connected and coupled between said second output driving insulated gate type field effect transistor and the node receiving said second potential in parallel with said first insulated gate type field effect transistor, and a third insulated gate type field effect transistor connected between said output node and the node receiving said second potential, so as to constitute a current-mirror circuit with said second insulated gate type field effect transistor.

11. The device according to claim 6, wherein said auxiliary drive means includes a p-channel insulated gate type field effect transistor having a threshold voltage smaller than the threshold voltage of said second output driving field effect transistor, and having a gate connected to receive said second reference potential, a conduction terminal connected to said output node, and other conduction terminal, a diode-connected insulated gate type field effect transistor connected between said other conduction terminal of said p-channel insulated gate type field effect transistor and the node receiving said second potential, and another insulated gate type field effect transistor connected between said output node and the node receiving said second potential, in a current-mirror manner with said diode-connected insulated gate type field effect transistor.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein said p-channel insulated gate type field effect transistor has a backgate connected to receive said first potential.

13. The device according to claim 6, wherein said device is used in a dynamic type semiconductor memory device including a plurality of dynamic type memory cells arranged in rows and columns, a plurality of bit line pairs each connected to one column of the memory cells, and an internal data bus line to be connected to a selected bit line pair, and means coupled to receive an operation mode signal designating an operation mode of said dynamic type semiconductor memory device and responsive to said operation mode signal designating a standby mode of said dynamic type semiconductor memory device for transferring the intermediate potential received from said device onto each bit line of said bit line pairs and the internal data bus line for precharging thereof.

14. The device according to claim 6, wherein said device is used in a dynamic type semiconductor memory device including dynamic type memory cells each including a memory cell capacitor storing information and an access transistor for accessing said memory cell capacitor, said memory cell capacitor including a storage node connected to said access transistor, and a cell plate, and said intermediate potential is transmitted to said cell plate of said memory cell capacitor.

15. The device according to claim 6, wherein said device is used in a semiconductor memory device including means coupled to receive a power supply potential, for detecting application of the power supply to the semiconductor memory device in response to rise of the power supply potential to bring said driving capability switching signal into the active state for a prescribed period immediately after the application of the power supply to said semiconductor memory device, to activate said auxiliary drive means.

16. The device according to claim 6, wherein said device is used in a semiconductor memory device, and said driving capability switching signal is brought into the active state for a prescribed period, in response to transition of a memory access start instructing signal applied to said semiconductor memory device from activation to inactivation, to enable said auxiliary drive means.

17. A device for generating an intermediate potential between a first potential and a second potential, comprising: first reference potential generating means coupled between a node receiving said first potential and a node receiving said second potential, for generating a first reference potential higher than said intermediate potential, said first reference potential generating means including insulated gate type field effect transistors of a first conductivity type connected in series to each other, and formed to have substantially the same voltage-current characteristics; second reference potential generating means connected between the node receiving said first potential and the node receiving said second potential, for generating a second reference potential lower than said intermediate potential, said second reference potential generating means including insulated gate type field effect transistors of a second conductivity type formed to have substantially the same voltage-current characteristics, and connected in series to each other; a first output driving insulated gate type field effect transistor connected between the node receiving said first potential and an output node, for transmitting said first reference potential to said output node in a source follower manner in which a potential at a source of an insulated gate field effect transistor is represented by a function of a potential at a gate thereof; a second output driving insulated gate type field effect transistor connected between said output node and the node receiving said second potential, for transmitting said second reference potential to said output node in the source follower manner; a first charge-supplying insulated gate type field effect transistor having a threshold voltage higher than the threshold voltage of said first output driving insulated gate type field effect transistor, for supplying electric charges to said output node according to the difference between said first reference potential and a potential of said output node; a current-supplying insulated gate type field effect transistor for supplying a current from the node receiving said first potential to said first output driving insulated gate type field effect transistor; and a second charge-supplying insulated gate type field effect transistor for supplying electric charges to said output node according to the current flowing through said current-supplying insulated gate type effect transistor.

18. A device for generating an intermediate potential between a first potential and a second potential, comprising: first reference potential generating means coupled between a node receiving said first potential and a node receiving said second potential, for generating a first reference potential higher than said intermediate potential, said first reference potential generating means including insulated gate type field effect transistors of a first conductivity type connected in series to each other, and formed to have substantially the same voltage-current characteristics; second reference potential generating means connected between the node receiving said first potential and the node receiving said second potential, for generating a second reference potential lower than said intermediate potential, said second reference potential generating means including insulated gate type field effect transistors of a second conductivity type formed to have substantially the same voltage-current characteristics, and connected in series to each other; a first output driving insulated gate type field effect transistor connected between the node receiving said first potential and an output node, for transmitting said first reference potential to said output node in a source follower manner in which a potential at a source of an insulated gate field effect transistor is represented by a function of a potential at a gate thereof; a second output driving insulated gate type field effect transistor connected between said output node and the node receiving said second potential, for transmitting said second reference potential to said output node in the source follower manner; a first n-channel insulated gate type field effect transistor having a gate receiving said first reference potential, one conduction terminal connected to said output node, other conduction terminal, and a backgate connected to receive second potential; a diode-connected insulated gate type field effect transistor connected between the node receiving said first potential and said other conduction terminal of said first n-channel insulated gate type field effect transistor; and another insulated gate type field effect transistor connected to said diode-connected insulated gate type field effect transistor in a current-mirror manner, for supplying electric charges to said output node.

19. A device for generating an intermediate potential between a first potential and a second potential, comprising: first reference potential generating means coupled between a node receiving said first potential and a node receiving said second potential, for generating a first reference potential higher than said intermediate potential, said first reference potential generating means including insulated gate type field effect transistors of a first conductivity type connected in series to each other, and formed to have substantially the same voltage-current characteristics; second reference potential generating means connected between the node receiving said first potential and the node receiving said second potential, for generating a second reference potential lower than said intermediate potential, said second reference potential generating means including insulated gate type field effect transistors of a second conductivity type formed to have substantially the same voltage-current characteristics, and connected in series to each other; a first output driving insulated gate type field effect transistor connected between the node receiving said first potential and an output node, for transmitting said first reference potential to said output node in a source follower manner in which a potential at a source of an insulated gate field effect transistor is represented by a function of a potential at a gate thereof; a second output driving insulated gate type field effect transistor connected between said output node and the node receiving said second potential, for transmitting said second reference potential to said output node in the source follower manner; and auxiliary drive means operatively coupled to said output node and responsive to the active level of a driving capability switching signal for providing increased current driving capability for driving said output node to said intermediate potential by a drive stage including said first and second output driving insulated gate type field effect transistors, wherein, said auxiliary drive means includes a potential detecting insulated gate type field effect transistor being conductive when the difference between said second reference potential and a potential of said output node is not less than a prescribed value, a current source element for causing a current flow from said output node through said potential detecting transistor to the second potential node in response to said potential detecting insulated gate type field effect transistor being conductive, and a current extraction element for causing a current flow from said output node to the second potential according to the current flowing through said current source element.

20. A device comprising: reference potential generating means for generating a first reference potential and a second reference potential which is lower than said first reference potential; driving means, coupled to receive said first and second reference potentials, for driving an output node to an intermediate potential between said first and second reference potentials in accordance with the received first and second reference potentials; and auxiliary driving means responsive to a driving capability switching signal for enhancing a current driving capability of said driving means, said auxiliary driving means being coupled between a power supply source and said driving means for causing an increased current flow through said driving means in response to said driving capability switching signal being active to designate an enhancement of the current driving capability.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein said driving means comprises a first output driving transistor for driving said output node in accordance with said first reference potential, and a second output driving transistor for driving said output node in accordance with said second reference potential, and wherein said auxiliary driving means includes a first switching transistor coupled to a first line which supplies a first potential higher than said first reference potential, and said first switching transistor serving as a current source to said first output driving transistor in response to said driving capability switching signal being inactive, a current source transistor for supplying a current from said first line to said first output driving transistor in response to said driving capability switching signal being active, and a charge supply element for supplying a current to said output node from said first line in accordance with said current from said current source transistor.

22. The device of claim 20, wherein said driving means comprises a first output drive insulated gate type field effect transistor having a gate to receive said first reference potential and a conduction electrode coupled to said output node, and a second output drive insulated gate type field effect transistor having a gate to receive said second reference potential and a conduction electrode coupled to said output node, and wherein said auxiliary driving means comprises a first insulated gate type field effect transistor connected between said first output drive insulated gate type field effect transistor and a first line, which supplies a first potential higher than said first reference potential, and said first insulated gate type field effect transistor being conductive when said driving capability switching signal is at a first logic level, a second insulated gate type field effect transistor diode-connected in parallel with said first insulated gate type field effect transistor between the first line supplying said first potential and said first output driving insulated gate type field effect transistor, and a third insulated gate type field effect transistor connected between said first line and said output node, and connected to said second insulated gate type field effect transistor in a current-mirror manner.

23. The device of claim 20, wherein said driving means comprises a first output driving field effect transistor having a gate coupled to receive said first reference potential and a conduction electrode coupled to said output node, and a second output driving field effect transistor having a gate receiving said second reference potential and a conduction electrode coupled to said output node, and wherein said auxiliary drive means includes a first switching transistor supplying a second potential lower than said second reference potential to another conduction electrode of said second output driving field effect transistor when said driving capability switching signal is at a first logic level, a current source transistor connected between another conduction electrode of said second output driving field effect transistor and a first line which supplies said second potential, and said current source transistor forming a current path to the first line from said second output driving field effect transistor when said driving capability switching signal is at a second logic level, and a current drive element for causing a current to flow from said output node to the first line according to the current flowing through said current source transistor.

24. The device of claim 20, wherein said driving means comprises a first output driving field effect transistor having a gate to receive said first reference potential and a conduction electrode coupled to said output node, and a second output driving field effect transistor having a gate to receive said second reference potential and a conduction electrode coupled to said output node, and wherein said auxiliary driving means includes a first insulated gate type field effect transistor connected between another conduction electrode of said second output driving field effect transistor and a line which supplies a first potential lower than said second reference potential, and said first insulated gate type field effect transistor being conductive in response to said driving capability switching signal being inactive, a second insulated gate type field effect transistor diode-connected and coupled between said second output driving field effect transistor and the line which supplies said first potential in parallel with said first insulated gate type field effect transistor, and a third insulated gate type field effect transistor connected between said output node and the line which supplies said first potential, so as to constitute a current-mirror circuit with said second insulated gate type field effect transistor.

25. The device according to claim 20, wherein said device is used in a semiconductor memory device, and said driving capability switching signal is brought into the active state for a prescribed period immediately after application of power supply to said semiconductor memory device, to activate said auxiliary drive means.

26. The device according to claim 20, wherein said device is used in a semiconductor memory device, and said driving capability switching signal is brought into the active state for a prescribed period, in response to transition of a memory access start instructing signal applied to said semiconductor memory device from activation to inactivation, to enable said auxiliary drive means.

27. A device comprising: reference potential generating means for generating a first reference potential and a second reference potential which is lower than said first reference potential; driving means, coupled to receive said first and second reference potentials, and coupled between a power supply source and an output node for driving the output node to an intermediate potential between said first and second reference potentials in accordance with the received first and second reference potentials; and auxiliary driving means coupled between said power supply source and said output node in parallel with said driving means, for driving said output node to said intermediate potential when an absolute value of the difference between a potential appearing on said output node and said intermediate potential is larger than a prescribed value, to compensate for a current driving capability of said driving means.

28. A device for generating an intermediate potential between a first potential and a second potential, comprising: a first reference potential generating means coupled between a node receiving said first potential and a node receiving said second potential for generating a first reference potential higher than said intermediate potential; a second reference potential generating means coupled between the node receiving said first potential and the node receiving said second potential for generating a second reference potential lower than said intermediate potential; a first output driving insulated gate type FET coupled between the node receiving the first potential and an output node, for transmitting said first reference potential to said output node in a source follower manner in which a potential at a source of an insulated gate field effect transistor is represented by a function of a potential at a gate thereof; and a second output driving insulated gate type FET coupled between the output node and the node receiving the second potential, for transmitting said second reference potential to said output node, said first reference potential generating means including a first resistance load coupled between the node receiving said first potential and the gate of the first output driving FET, a first FET of an n-channel type coupled between a first intermediate potential node and the gate of said first output driving FET, and having one conduction terminal and a gate coupled to the gate of the first output driving FET, and other conduction terminal and a backgate coupled to said first intermediate potential node, a second resistance load coupled between said intermediate potential node and an internal node, and a second FET of the n-channel type having one conduction terminal and a gate coupled to said internal node, and a backgate and other conduction terminal coupled to the node receiving said second potential, said second reference potential generating means including a third FET of a p-channel type having a backgate and one conduction terminal coupled to receive said first potential, and a gate and other conduction terminal coupled to a second internal node, a third resistance load coupled between said second internal node and a second intermediate potential node, a fourth FET of the p-channel type having a backgate and one conduction terminal coupled to said second intermediate potential node, and a gate and other conduction terminal coupled to a gate of said second output driving field effect transistor, and a fourth resistance load coupled between the gate of said second output driving field effect transistor and the node receiving the second potential, wherein said first and second resistance loads have a first resistance, and the third and fourth resistance loads have a second resistance.