Patents Examined by Ahn Phung
  • Patent number: 8064241
    Abstract: A voltage detection circuit outputs a detection signal when an amount of charges read to one of a pair of bit lines reaches a predetermined amount. A mask circuit of a timing generator masks an output of a sense amplifier activation signal until the detection signal is output. A sense amplifier determines logics of data read to the bit lines from memory cells in synchronization with the sense amplifier activation signal. An operation of the sense amplifier is started after predetermined amounts of charges are read from the memory cells to the bit lines, that is, after the detection signal is output. Accordingly, even when a timing to output a timing signal becomes early due to a variance of manufacturing conditions of a semiconductor memory, data read from the memory cells can be latched correctly in the sense amplifier. As a result, malfunctions of the semiconductor memory can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited
    Inventors: Keizo Morita, Kenichi Nakabayashi
  • Patent number: 7957212
    Abstract: A unit memory cell for use in a pseudo static random access memory (SRAM) includes a cell capacitor; a normal accessing transistor whose gate, drain and source are respectively connected to a normal accessing word line, a normal accessing bit line and a storage node of the cell capacitor; and a refresh accessing transistor whose gate, drain and source are respectively connected to a refresh accessing word line, a refresh accessing bit line and the storage node of the cell capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Hee-Bok Kang, Jin-Hong Ahn
  • Patent number: 7773447
    Abstract: A memory circuit of the invention comprises N look-up tables for implementing a desired logic function of L inputs/M outputs by partitioning a memory cell array including a plurality of memory cells into portions each corresponding to at least a predetermined number of input/output paths; a decode circuit for selecting one of the N look-up tables by decoding a look-up table select signal and for selecting M memory cells to be accessed included in the selected look-up table by decoding an L-bit logic input signal of the logic function; and a select connect circuit for selectively connecting the input/output paths of the M memory cells to be accessed with an input/output bus for transmitting an M-bit logic output signal of the logic function in response to a decoded result of the decode circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Elpida Memory, Inc.
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Kajigaya
  • Patent number: 7612368
    Abstract: An organic electronic device includes a pixel. In one embodiment, the organic electronic device is a bottom emission electronic device. The pixel has an aperture ratio of at least 40%. In another embodiment, the pixel has a first side and a second side opposite the first side. From a plan view, the data line and the first power supply line have lengths that extend along the length of the pixel and lie closer to the first side compared to the second side. In still another embodiment, an organic electronic device includes a substrate, a data line, and a power supply line. The pixel includes a select transistor and a driving transistor. Within the first pixel, each of the data line and the first power supply line lies closer to the substrate compared to the select transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventor: Gang Yu
  • Patent number: 7593281
    Abstract: A voltage down converter (VDC) applicable to high-speed memory devices. The VDC includes a steady driver and active driver along with at least one additional transistor. The steady driver and active driver are coupled by a transistor switch during device start-up to provide fast ramp-up to operating voltage and current. After start-up, the steady driver and active drive function to maintain a steady operating voltage and current. An additional transistor is digitally controlled to drive up operating voltage and current upon issuance of an active command representing read, write, and/or refresh of memory. In this manner, the additional transistor provides fast compensation for fluctuations in operating voltage and current brought on by activity in the memory array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: MOSAID Technologies Incorporated
    Inventors: Hong Beom Pyeon, Bruce Millar
  • Patent number: 7515492
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device having a bit line sense amplifier supporting an over driving operation includes a voltage divider; a plurality of signal converters; a delay unit; and a drive control signal generator. The voltage divider divides an external voltage to generate a plurality of different voltage levels. The signal converters convert each of the plurality of voltage levels into a corresponding digital signal. The delay unit delays an active signal provided from outside by a delay amount for defining an over driving interval in response to the plurality of digital signals. The drive control signal generator generates a drive control signal for a bit line sense amplifier driver in response to a delayed active signal from the delay unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Ju-Young Seo
  • Patent number: 7382656
    Abstract: A page mode program sequence is described that includes first and second bias applying cycles. In the first cycle, a program bias is applied to a first part of a page of memory cells, while a program verify bias is applied to, and data is sensed from, a second part of the page. In this manner, a first part of the page is programmed, while a second part of the page is verified. This operation is followed by a second bias applying cycle, in which a program bias is applied to the second part of the page, while a program verify bias is applied to, and data is sensed from, the first part of the page.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wen Chiao Ho, Yi Chun Shih, Chin Hung Chang, Chun Hsiung Hung
  • Patent number: 7379335
    Abstract: A non-volatile semiconductor memory device comprise a memory cell array having a plurality of memory cell units each having a plurality of electrically-programmable memory cell connected in series, a plurality of word lines each connected to each of control gates of said plurality of memory cells, said plurality of word lines including a selected word line connected to a control gate of selected one of said memory cells for programming, and a plurality of unselected word lines different from said selected word line, a bit line connected to one end of said memory cell unit, and a source line connected to another end of the memory cell unit, wherein, when data is programmed into the selected memory cells, a first potential is supplied to said selected word line, and a first unselected word line adjacent, toward a source line side, to said selected word line is set to floating state, and thereafter, a second potential which is higher than said first potential is supplied to said selected word line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Takuya Futatsuyama
  • Patent number: 7355913
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a first first-type well including a first cell array for storing a data to apply the data to one of a first bit line and a first bit line bar, and a first precharge MOS transistor having a second-type channel for equalizing voltage levels of the first bit line and the first bit line bar; a first second-type well including a first sense amplifying MOS transistor having a first-type channel for sensing and amplifying the signal difference between the first bit line and the first bit line bar, and a first connection MOS transistor; and a second first-type well including a second sense amplifying MOS transistor having a second-type channel for sensing and amplifying the signal difference between the first bit line and the first bit line bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Hee-Bok Kang, Jin-Hong Ahn
  • Patent number: 7161863
    Abstract: A DRAM including an array of storage elements arranged in lines and columns, and for each column: write means adapted to biasing at least a selected one of the elements to a charge level chosen from among a first predetermined high level and a second predetermined low level, combined with read circuitry adapted to determining whether the stored charge level is greater or smaller than a predetermined charge level; and isolation circuitry adapted to isolating the array from the read and/or write means, each column further including refreshment means, distinct from the read and write circuit, for increasing, beyond the first and second predetermined levels, the charge stored in a storage element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.A.
    Inventors: Richard Ferrant, François Jacquet
  • Patent number: 7012835
    Abstract: In order to maintain the integrity of data stored in a flash memory that are susceptible to being disturbed by operations in adjacent regions of the memory, disturb events cause the data to be read, corrected and re-written before becoming so corrupted that valid data cannot be recovered. The sometimes conflicting needs to maintain data integrity and system performance are balanced by deferring execution of some of the corrective action when the memory system has other high priority operations to perform. In a memory system utilizing very large units of erase, the corrective process is executed in a manner that is consistent with efficiently rewriting an amount of data much less than the capacity of a unit of erase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: SanDisk Corporation
    Inventors: Carlos J. Gonzalez, Kevin M. Conley
  • Patent number: 6922370
    Abstract: An SRAM device and a method of powering-down an SRAM device. In one embodiment, the SRAM device includes (1) an SRAM array coupled to an SRAM array low voltage source that provides a low SRAM array supply voltage VSB to the SRAM device and (2) main column peripheral circuitry having main pre-charge circuitry free of an SRAM header, coupled to the SRAM array by bit lines and coupled to a sleep mode controller through an associated main column peripheral driving circuitry that is configured to isolate the bit lines from a power supply during a sleep mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Xiaowei Deng, Hugh Mair, Theodore W. Houston, Luan Dang
  • Patent number: 6560144
    Abstract: A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a row decoder circuit having first and second N-channel MOS transistors and first and second P-channel MOS transistors which correspond to each of word lines. One end of a source-to-drain current path of the first N-channel MOS transistor is connected to the word line, and the other end thereof is connected to a corresponding one of output terminals of a predecoder circuit. One end of a source-to-drain current path of the second N-channel MOS transistor is connected to the word line, and the other end thereof is supplied with a voltage of OV or more in a data erase mode and is supplied with a low logical level signal in modes other than the data erase mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Shigeru Atsumi, Hironori Banba
  • Patent number: 6137735
    Abstract: The invention discloses a synchronous DRAM having memory elements arranged in rows and columns, the memory elements being accessible by decoding a memory address applied thereto, normal column drivers for activating appropriate memory elements in response to decoded column addresses signals; redundant column drivers distributed throughout memory banks and flexibly selectable to replace faulty columns within multiple blocks within a bank; and switch means for selectively activating the redundant column and preventing the activation of a defective normal column, whereby the column redundancy method and apparatus minimizes the timing difference between a normal and redundant column paths and which minimizes the number of fuses required to be blown in repairing faulty columns addresses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignees: Mosaid Technologies Incorporated, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fangxing Wei, Hirohito Kikukawa, Cynthia Mar
  • Patent number: 6055189
    Abstract: After specific data are stored at individual page latches 80.sub.1 to 80.sub.m, the latch data stored at the page laches 80.sub.1 to 80.sub.m are written into one-word memory cells 10.sub.1j to 10.sub.mj.When the data writing is completed, the individual sets of latch data stored at the page latches 80.sub.1 to 80.sub.m are output to bit lines BL.sub.1 to BL.sub.m, to be compared against the memory data stored in the individual memory cells 10.sub.1j to 10.sub.mj.These comparison results are re-stored at the individual page latches 80.sub.1 to 80.sub.m. At this point, if the memory data stored in the memory cells 10.sub.1j to 10.sub.mj have been written correctly, L level data are written at the corresponding page latches 80.sub.i, whereas if they have not been written correctly, H level data are written at the page latches 80.sub.i.The data that have been re-stored at the individual page latches 80.sub.i are output to a data verification line DL to which a verification unit 100 is connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Junichi Ogane