Abstract: The disclosure provides a semiconductor device and a reading method capable of achieving high-speed reading performance. A NAND flash memory according to the disclosure includes: a bit line selection circuit for selecting an even-numbered bit line or an odd-numbered bit line, and a page buffer/reading circuit connected to the bit line selection circuit. A reading method of a flash memory includes: precharging the selected bit line with a virtual power supply (VIRPWR) connected to the bit line selection circuit (step #1); and initializing a latch circuit (L1) through a voltage supply node V1 in parallel with the precharging of the selected bit line (step #1_2); and initializing the page buffer/reading circuit 170 through the voltage supply node V1 (step #1_3).

Abstract: A semiconductor apparatus implementing a high speed data output and compensating a resetting of a latch circuit is provided. A readout method of a NAND type flash memory includes: a pre-charging step performing a pre-charging on a bit line and a NAND string connected to the bit line through a sense node (SNS); a resetting step performing a resetting on the latch circuit after the pre-charging; and a discharging step performing a discharging on the NAND string after the resetting.

Abstract: The invention provides a semiconductor device and a continuous reading method for suppressing fluctuations of a precharging voltage caused by an increase in a precharging time. The continuous reading method of a NAND flash memory of the invention includes the following steps: a first voltage (VCLMP1+Vth) is applied to a gate of a transistor (BLCLAMP) connected to a bit line and a voltage is supplied to the bit line via the transistor (BLCLAMP) to start precharging of the bit line; and a second voltage (VCLMP1+Vth??) lower than the first voltage is applied to the gate of the transistor (BLCLAMP) when the precharging time caused by the application of the first voltage has elapsed for a certain period of time.

Abstract: A continuous readout method of a flash memory is provided. Selected bit lines (BL0, BL4, BL8, and BL12) are masked by three non-selected bit lines when data of a cache memory (C0) of a selected page of a memory cell array is read. Selected bit lines (BL2, BL6, BL10, and BL14) are masked by three non-selected bit lines when data of a cache memory (C1) of the same selected page is read. In this way, each of first page data and second page data read from a plurality of selected pages is continuously outputted.

Abstract: A semiconductor device capable of performing high-speed read or high-reliability read is provided. A reading method of a NAND flash memory includes: pre-charging a sensing node through a voltage-supply node; discharging the sensing node to the voltage-supply node for a prescribed operation; recharging the sensing node by the voltage-supply node after the prescribed operation; and discharging a NAND string and sensing a memory cell.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a semiconductor device and a reading method capable of achieving high-speed reading performance. A NAND flash memory according to the disclosure includes: a bit line selection circuit for selecting an even-numbered bit line or an odd-numbered bit line, and a page buffer/reading circuit connected to the bit line selection circuit. A reading method of a flash memory includes: precharging the selected bit line with a virtual power supply (VIRPWR) connected to the bit line selection circuit (step #1); and initializing a latch circuit (L1) through a voltage supply node V1 in parallel with the precharging of the selected bit line (step #1_2); and initializing the page buffer/reading circuit 170 through the voltage supply node V1 (step #1_3).

Abstract: The invention provides a semiconductor device and a continuous reading method for suppressing fluctuations of a precharging voltage caused by an increase in a precharging time. The continuous reading method of a NAND flash memory of the invention includes the following steps: a first voltage (VCLMP1+Vth) is applied to a gate of a transistor (BLCLAMP) connected to a bit line and a voltage is supplied to the bit line via the transistor (BLCLAMP) to start precharging of the bit line; and a second voltage (VCLMP1+Vth??) lower than the first voltage is applied to the gate of the transistor (BLCLAMP) when the precharging time caused by the application of the first voltage has elapsed for a certain period of time.

Abstract: A continuous reading method of a flash memory is provided, including: after outputting data held in a cache memory (C0) of a latch (L1) of a page buffer/sensing circuit, data of the cache memory (C0) of a next page is read from a memory cell array, and the read data of the cache memory (C0) is held in the latch (L1). After outputting data held in the cache memory (C1) of the latch (L1), data of the same next page of the cache memory (C1) is read from the memory cell array, and the read data of the cache memory (C1) is held in the latch (L1).

Abstract: A semiconductor storing apparatus capable of suppressing a peak current in a pre-charge operation and shortening a sense time is provided. A pre-charge method of a bit line of an NAND type flash memory includes: turning on a transistor (BLPRE) and supplying a pre-charge voltage to a sense node (SNS) at time (t1); turning on a transistor (BLCLAMP) connected to the sense node (SNS) and used for generating a clamp voltage and turning on a transistor (BLCN) connected to a node (BLS) at time (t2), turning on a transistor (BLSe/BLSo) connected between the node (BLS) and a bit line (GBLe/GBLo) at time (t3), and performing the pre-charge operation on the bit line.

Abstract: A semiconductor device capable of performing high-speed read or high-reliability read is provided. A reading method of a NAND flash memory includes: pre-charging a sensing node through a voltage-supply node; discharging the sensing node to the voltage-supply node for a prescribed operation; recharging the sensing node by the voltage-supply node after the prescribed operation; and discharging a NAND string and sensing a memory cell.

Abstract: A flash memory having high reliability and a method for controlling the flash memory is provided for seeking stability of memory cell threshold voltage distribution. A NAND string of the flash memory has: a source-line-side select transistor; a source-line-side dummy cell; a plurality of memory cells; a bit-line-side dummy cell; and a bit-line-side select transistor. A method for controlling the flash memory includes the following step: after erasing a selected block, programming the dummy cell of the selected block into a programmed state by applying a programming voltage to a dummy word line which is connected to the dummy cell.

Abstract: A voltage generating circuit, a semiconductor storage device, and a bit line charging method thereof are provided. The voltage generating circuit includes: an INTVDD generating circuit for generating an internal power supply voltage INTVDD from an external power supply voltage EXVDD; a VDD_V1 generating circuit for generating an internal power supply voltage VDD_V1 from the external power supply voltage EXVDD; and a V1_driving circuit generating a charging voltage for charging the bit line at an output node by using the internal power supply voltage VDD_V1. The V1_driving circuit may generate voltages V1 having different driving capability. The V1_driving circuit charges the bit line with the voltage V1 having a weak driving capability during a first charging period of the bit line and charges the bit line with the voltage V1 having a strong driving capability during a second charging period.

Abstract: A semiconductor apparatus implementing a high speed data output and compensating a resetting of a latch circuit is provided. A readout method of a NAND type flash memory includes: a pre-charging step performing a pre-charging on a bit line and a NAND string connected to the bit line through a sense node (SNS); a resetting step performing a resetting on the latch circuit after the pre-charging; and a discharging step performing a discharging on the NAND string after the resetting.

Abstract: A semiconductor storing apparatus capable of suppressing a peak current in a pre-charge operation and shortening a sense time is provided. A pre-charge method of a bit line of an NAND type flash memory includes: turning on a transistor (BLPRE) and supplying a pre-charge voltage to a sense node (SNS) at time (t1); turning on a transistor (BLCLAMP) connected to the sense node (SNS) and used for generating a clamp voltage and turning on a transistor (BLCN) connected to a node (BLS) at time (t2), turning on a transistor (BLSe/BLSo) connected between the node (BLS) and a bit line (GBLe/GBLo) at time (t3), and performing the pre-charge operation on the bit line.

Abstract: A program method capable of reducing a peak current of a program operation is provided. The program method of a flash memory includes following steps: charging selective bit lines and non-selective bit lines by using a virtual voltage with weak driving ability during the time from t0 to t1 and a virtual voltage with strong driving ability during the time from t1 to t2, switching at least the non-selective bit lines to use the virtual voltage with weak driving ability for charging during at least the time from t2 to t3 when starting to discharge the selective bit lines connected to selective storage cells to a GND voltage level at time t2, and then applying program voltages to selective word lines.

Abstract: A flash memory of the invention has a plurality of planes, a controller, a switch unit, and a driving control circuit. The controller is configured to select at least one of the planes. The switch unit is configured to electrically connect bit lines of the unselected plane to a reference voltage. The driving control circuit is configured to commonly provide a gate select signal to select transistors of the selected planes and the unselected planes after the bit lines of the unselected plane is electrically connected to the reference voltage. A flash memory that can reliably seek stability of threshold distribution of memory is provided.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device for reducing the peak current during the read operation is provided. A flash memory of the disclosure includes a memory cell array; a plurality of charge pump circuits; and a controller controlling a timing of activating the charge pump circuits when a selected page of the memory cell array is read so that the charge pump circuits are not activated at the same timing.

Abstract: The present invention utilizes a new method to provide a semiconductor device having a function of generating inherent data. The NAND-type flash memory of the present invention has a memory cell array, a page buffer/sense circuit, and a differential sense amplifier that detects the potential difference of a bit line pair of a dummy array when the dummy array of the memory cell array is read out, wherein the NAND-type flash memory outputs the inherent data of the semiconductor device according to the detection result of the differential sense amplifier.

Abstract: A continuous readout method of a flash memory is provided. Selected bit lines (BL0, BL4, BL8, and BL12) are masked by three non-selected bit lines when data of a cache memory (C0) of a selected page of a memory cell array is read. Selected bit lines (BL2, BL6, BL10, and BL14) are masked by three non-selected bit lines when data of a cache memory (C1) of the same selected page is read. In this way, each of first page data and second page data read from a plurality of selected pages is continuously outputted.

Abstract: A continuous reading method of a flash memory is provided, including: after outputting data held in a cache memory (C0) of a latch (L1) of a page buffer/sensing circuit, data of the cache memory (C0) of a next page is read from a memory cell array, and the read data of the cache memory (C0) is held in the latch (L1). After outputting data held in the cache memory (C1) of the latch (L1), data of the same next page of the cache memory (C1) is read from the memory cell array, and the read data of the cache memory (C1) is held in the latch (L1).