Abstract: A write amplifier for driving a bit line connected to a selected phase change memory cell drives the bit line with a first current driving capability and then drives the bit line with a second current driving capability lower than the first current driving capability.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a memory cell, a first bit line coupled to the memory cell, a second bit line, a first sense amplifier circuit including first and second transistors, the first transistor including a gate coupled to the first bit line, and the first and second transistors are coupled in series between the second bit line and a first voltage line, a temperature detection circuit configured to detect a temperature of the semiconductor device, and a control circuit configured to receive an output of the temperature detection circuit and supply a control signal to a gate of the second transistor.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, first and second penetration electrodes each penetrating the semiconductor substrate, a multi-level wiring structure formed on the semiconductor substrate, the multi-level wiring structure including a lower-level wiring, an upper-level wiring and an interlayer insulating film between the lower-level wiring and the upper-level wiring, a first wiring pad formed as the lower-level wiring and electrically connected to the first penetration electrode, a second wiring pad formed as the upper-level wiring, a plurality of first through electrodes each formed in the interlayer insulating film to form an electrical connection between the first and second wiring pads, a third wiring pad formed as the lower-level wiring and electrically connected to the second penetration electrode, a fourth wiring pad formed as the upper-level wiring, and a plurality of second through electrodes each formed in the interlayer insulating film.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device, includes a clock terminal provided to receive a clock signal, a data terminal provided to transfer a data therethrough in synchronization with the clock signal, a strobe terminal provided to be related in the data terminal and to transfer a strobe signal therethrough, a command terminal provided to receive a command that communicates the data with an outside thereof, and an address terminal provided to be supplied an information specifying a length of a preamble of the strobe signal from an outside of the semiconductor memory device, prior to communicating the data.

Abstract: In a semiconductor device, there are provided first to third pairs of nMOS transistors between a GND and two sense nodes and first to third pairs of pMOS transistors between the two sense nodes and the power supply. A first internal clock signal and its inverted signal are supplied to gates of the first pair of nMOS transistors and the second pair of nMOS transistors, respectively. Complementary external clock signals are supplied to the gates of the third pairs of nMOS transistors and the third pairs of pMOS transistors. An inverted version of a second internal clock signal and the second internal clock signal are supplied to gates of the first and second pairs of pMOS transistors. The two sense nodes are connected to inputs of a differential amplifier. The output of the differential amplifier is latched by a latch circuit. Also provided an equalizing circuit precharging/equalizing the two sense nodes (FIG. 2).

Abstract: A semiconductor device that includes a semiconductor substrate. First and second mode registers are provided on the semiconductor substrate and store information, respectively. First and second circuits are provided on the semiconductor substrate. The first and second circuits have substantially the same configuration. The first and second circuits perform an operation in response to the information of the first and second mode registers, respectively.

Abstract: A semiconductor device of the invention includes a first wiring layer including a signal wiring line formed therein, and a second wiring layer stacked on the first wiring layer and including a power-supply plane and/or ground plane formed therein, the power-supply plane or the ground plane is not formed at least within a part of the region of the second wiring layer facing the signal wiring line of the first wiring layer.

Abstract: A sense operation with respect to simultaneously-accessed two memory cells is performed by time division by using two sense amplifiers, and thereafter restore operations are performed simultaneously. With this arrangement, it is not necessary to provide switches in the middle of global bit lines, and no problem occurs when performing the restore operation by time division. Further, because a parasitic CR model of a first sense amplifier and that of a second sense amplifier become mutually the same, high sensitivity can be maintained.

Abstract: A system, includes a controller comprising a plurality of first external terminals configured to supply a command and an address, and communicate a data, and communicate a strobe signal related to the data; and a semiconductor memory device including a plurality of second external terminals corresponding to the plurality of first external terminals, at least one of the plurality of first external terminals and at least one of the plurality of second external terminals each being capable of supplying an information specifying a length of a preamble of the strobe signal before the semiconductor memory device communicates the data between the controller and the semiconductor memory device, the semiconductor memory device further including a preamble register configured to be capable of storing the information.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes groove-like regions that are formed between two adjacent bit lines among a plurality of bit lines each having upper and side surfaces covered with a cap insulating film and a side-wall insulating film, respectively, a SiON film that contains more O (oxygen) than N (nitrogen) and continuously covers inner surfaces of the groove-like regions, and a silicon dioxide film formed by reforming polysilazane and filled in the groove-like regions with the SiON film interposed therebetween.

Abstract: A system, includes a controller including a plurality of first external terminals configured to supply a command, a clock signal and an address, and communicate a data, and communicate a strobe signal related to the data, and a semiconductor memory device including a plurality of second external terminals corresponding to the plurality of first external terminals, one of the plurality of first external terminals and one of the plurality of second external terminals transferring an information specifying a length of a preamble of the strobe signal before the semiconductor memory device communicates the data.

Abstract: A silicon substrate having a first silicon oxide film formed via thermal oxidation and a second silicon oxide film formed via chemical vapor deposition and the like is subjected to preprocessing prior to selective epitaxial growth, wherein both the first and second silicon oxide films are etched with the same etching rate so as to completely remove the first silicon oxide film. Thus, it is possible to precisely control the sizes of contact holes formed in the silicon substrate, thus preventing contact plugs from short-circuiting with silicon epitaxial layers.

Abstract: A photomask has a mask blank and a light shielding film formed on the mask blank. The light shielding film includes a plurality of opening traces extending in a first direction. An end of a first opening trace in the first direction and an end of a second opening trace in the first direction are in different positions in the first direction. The second opening trace adjoins the first opening trace.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a device that includes a plurality of first word lines each extending from an associated one of the first terminals in a second direction toward to the second terminals and terminating between the first and second terminals, the second direction being substantially perpendicular to the first direction, and a plurality of second word lines each extending from an associated one of the second terminals in a third direction toward to the first terminals and terminating near to an end of an associated one of the first word lines, the third direction being opposite to the second direction, each of the second word lines being substantially aligned with an associated one of the first word lines.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device, includes a data terminal provided to transfer a data therethrough, a strobe terminal provided to be related in the data terminal and to transfer a strobe signal therethrough a command terminal provided to receive a command that communicates the data with an outside thereof, and a preamble resister configured to be capable of specifying a length of a preamble of the strobe signal prior to the communicating.

Abstract: In a semiconductor device of a stacked structure type having a control chip and a plurality of controlled chips, wherein the control chip allocates different I/O sets to the respective controlled chips and processes the I/O sets within the same access cycle, the controlled chip close to the control chip and positioned to a lower position in the stacked structure has I/O penetrating through substrate vias connected to penetrating through interconnections. The penetrating through interconnections are extended to an upper one of the controlled chips that not use the penetrating through interconnections and, as a result, all of the penetrating through interconnections have the same lengths as each other.

Abstract: The core chips each include a timing control circuit that outputs a timing signal synchronized with the outputting of parallel data to the interface chip. The interface chip includes a data input circuit that captures parallel data in synchronization with the timing signal. With this arrangement, the timing to output the parallel data and the timing to capture the parallel data are both synchronized with the timing signal generated in the core chips. Therefore, even if there is a difference in operation speed between each core chip and the interface chip, the parallel data can be accurately captured on the interface chip side.

Abstract: To cancel a delay time that occurs in a delay circuit due to temperature and voltage changes. The delay circuit includes a plurality of first and second inverters that are each composed of an N-channel first transistor and a P-channel second transistor connected in series, and P-channel third transistors that are connected between a first power supply wiring and the input nodes of the second inverters. According to the present invention, the presence of the third transistors cancels characteristic variations of the second transistors included in the respective plurality of inverters even if there are changes in temperature, voltage, etc. Consequently, when temperature, voltage, or the like changes, variations in the amount of delay of the entire delay circuit can be regarded as resulting from characteristic variations of the first transistors.

Abstract: Each of the core chips includes a data output circuit that outputs read data to the interface chip in response to a read command, and an output timing adjustment circuit that equalizes the periods of time required between the reception of the read command and the outputting of the read data from the data output circuit among the core chips. With this arrangement, a sufficient latch margin for read data to be input can be secured on the interface chip side. Furthermore, as the output timing is adjusted on each core chip side, there is no need to prepare the same number of latch timing control circuits as the number of core chips on the interface chip side.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a device that includes a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of first electrodes formed over the semiconductor substrate and arranged in line in a first direction, a plurality of second electrodes formed over the semiconductor substrate and arranged in line in the first direction on a left side of an associated one of the first electrodes, and a plurality of third electrodes formed over the semiconductor substrate and arranged in line in the first direction on a right side of an associated one of the first electrodes. Each of the first electrodes is configured to be supplied with a corresponding electrical potential, whereas each of the second and third electrodes is in an electrical floating state serving as a dummy electrode.