Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a cell array including one or more bank groups, where each of the one or more bank groups includes a plurality of banks and each of the plurality of banks includes a plurality of spin transfer torque magneto resistive random access memory (STT-MRAM) cells. The semiconductor memory device further includes a source voltage generating unit for applying a voltage to a source line connected to the each of the plurality of STT-MRAM cells, and a command decoder for decoding a command from an external source in order to perform read and write operations on the plurality of STT-MRAM cells. The command includes a combination of at least one signal of a row address strobe (RAS), a column address strobe (CAS), a chip selecting signal (CS), a write enable signal (WE), and a clock enable signal (CKE).

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array, a mode register set and a test circuit. The memory cell array includes a plurality of wordlines, a plurality of bitlines, and a plurality of spin-transfer torque magneto-resistive random access memory (STT-MRAM) cells, and each STT-MRAM cell disposed in a cross area of each wordline and bitline, and the STT-MRAM cell includes a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) element and a cell transistor. A gate of the cell transistor is coupled to a wordline, a first electrode of the cell transistor is coupled to a bitline via the MTJ element, and a second electrode of the cell transistor is coupled to a source line. The mode register set is configured to set a test mode, and the test circuit is configured to perform a test operation by using the mode register set.

Abstract: A non-volatile memory device including a cell array, which includes a plurality of memory cells, and a sense amplification circuit. The sense amplification circuit is configured to receive a data voltage of a memory cell, a first reference voltage and a second reference voltage during a data read operation of the memory cell, generate differential output signals based on a voltage level difference between the data voltage and the first and second reference voltages, and output the differential output signals as data read from the memory cell.

Abstract: Provided is a stacked magnetic random access memory (MRAM) in which memory cell arrays having various characteristics or functions are included in memory cell layers. The stacked MRAM device includes a semiconductor substrate and at least one memory cell layers. The semiconductor substrate includes a first memory cell array. Each of the memory cell layers includes a memory cell array having a different function from the first memory cell array and is stacked on the first memory cell array. As a result, the stacked MRAM device has high density, high performance, and high reliability.

Abstract: A resistive memory device includes a memory cell array, a memory interface and a read sensing circuit. The memory cell array includes a plurality of resistive memory cells coupled to a plurality of wordlines and a plurality of bitlines. The memory interface is configured to communicate with a memory controller. The read sensing circuit is coupled to the bitlines and includes at least one sensing node. The read sensing circuit performs a precharge operation to precharge the at least one sensing node between a first time point of receiving an active command through the memory interface and a second time point of receiving a read command through the memory interface, and senses data stored in the resistive memory cells to provide read data.

Abstract: A resistive memory device and a system and method for testing the resistive memory device are provided. The resistive memory device includes a plurality of bit lines comprising at least one dummy bit line to which a plurality of resistive memory cells are connected, a conducting wire connected to the dummy bit line, a first switching element positioned between the dummy bit line and an external device outside the resistive memory device, and a second switching element positioned between the conducting wire and the external device. Accordingly, the operational reliability of the resistive memory device may be increased.

Abstract: A nonvolatile memory device comprises a nonvolatile cell array comprising a memory cell and a reference cell, a clamping circuit electrically connected to the memory cell and configured to clamp a voltage applied to a data sensing line during a read operation, and a clamping voltage generation unit configured to generate a clamping voltage responsive to a first voltage having a level based on the reference cell, and to feed back the clamping voltage to the clamping circuit.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array, a mode register set and a test circuit. The memory cell array includes a plurality of wordlines, a plurality of bitlines, and a plurality of spin-transfer torque magneto-resistive random access memory (STT-MRAM) cells, and each STT-MRAM cell disposed in a cross area of each wordline and bitline, and the STT-MRAM cell includes a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) element and a cell transistor. The MTJ element includes a free layer, a barrier layer and a pinned layer. A gate of the cell transistor is coupled to a wordline, a first electrode of the cell transistor is coupled to a bitline via the MTJ element, and a second electrode of the cell transistor is coupled to a source line. The mode register set is configured to set a test mode, and the test circuit is configured to perform a test operation by using the mode register set.

Abstract: A memory device includes a memory cell array including a plurality of memory cells, each including a bidirectional variable resistance element and an input/output circuit configured to determine a polarity for a read voltage to be applied to a selected memory cell among the plurality of memory cells and to apply the read voltage with the determined polarity to the selected memory cell. The input/output circuit may include a polarity determination circuit configured to determine the polarity responsive to a determination mode signal and a driver circuit configured to apply the read voltage with the determined polarity to the selected memory cell.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a cell array including one or more bank groups, where each of the one or more bank groups includes a plurality of banks and each of the plurality of banks includes a plurality of spin transfer torque magneto resistive random access memory (STT-MRAM) cells. The semiconductor memory device further includes a source voltage generating unit for applying a voltage to a source line connected to the each of the plurality of STT-MRAM cells, and a command decoder for decoding a command from an external source in order to perform read and write operations on the plurality of STT-MRAM cells.

Abstract: A magnetic random access memory (MRAM), and a memory module, memory system including the same, and method for controlling the same are disclosed. The MRAM includes magnetic memory cells configured to change between at least two states according to a magnetization direction, and a mode register supporting a plurality of operational modes.

Abstract: A nonvolatile memory device comprises a nonvolatile cell array comprising a memory cell and a reference cell, a clamping circuit electrically connected to the memory cell and configured to clamp a voltage applied to a data sensing line during a read operation, and a clamping voltage generation unit configured to generate a clamping voltage responsive to a first voltage having a level based on the reference cell, and to feed back the clamping voltage to the clamping circuit.

Abstract: A resistive memory device and a system and method for testing the resistive memory device are provided. The resistive memory device includes a plurality of bit lines comprising at least one dummy bit line to which a plurality of resistive memory cells are connected, a conducting wire connected to the dummy bit line, a first switching element positioned between the dummy bit line and an external device outside the resistive memory device, and a second switching element positioned between the conducting wire and the external device. Accordingly, the operational reliability of the resistive memory device may be increased.

Abstract: A non-volatile memory device including a cell array, which includes a plurality of memory cells, and a sense amplification circuit. The sense amplification circuit is configured to receive a data voltage of a memory cell, a first reference voltage and a second reference voltage during a data read operation of the memory cell, generate differential output signals based on a voltage level difference between the data voltage and the first and second reference voltages, and output the differential output signals as data read from the memory cell.

Abstract: Provided is a stacked magnetic random access memory (MRAM) in which memory cell arrays having various characteristics or functions are included in memory cell layers. The stacked MRAM device includes a semiconductor substrate and at least one memory cell layers. The semiconductor substrate includes a first memory cell array. Each of the memory cell layers includes a memory cell array having a different function from the first memory cell array and is stacked on the first memory cell array. As a result, the stacked MRAM device has high density, high performance, and high reliability.

Abstract: A method of biasing a memory cell array during a data writing operation and a semiconductor memory device, in which the semiconductor memory device includes: a memory cell array including a plurality of memory cells in which a first terminal of a memory cell is connected to a corresponding first line of a plurality of first lines and a second terminal of the memory cell is connected to a corresponding second line of a plurality of second lines; a bias circuit for biasing a selected second line of the second lines to a reference voltage and a non-selected second line to a first voltage; and a local word line address decoder applying the reference voltage or a pumping voltage corresponding to the first voltage to the bias circuit.

Abstract: A memory device includes a memory cell array including a plurality of memory cells, each including a bidirectional variable resistance element and an input/output circuit configured to determine a polarity for a read voltage to be applied to a selected memory cell among the plurality of memory cells and to apply the read voltage with the determined polarity to the selected memory cell. The input/output circuit may include a polarity determination circuit configured to determine the polarity responsive to a determination mode signal and a driver circuit configured to apply the read voltage with the determined polarity to the selected memory cell.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a multi-layer semiconductor memory device and a related error checking and correction (ECC) method. The multi-layer semiconductor memory device includes first and second memory cell array layers, wherein the first memory cell array layer stores first payload data. The multi-layer semiconductor memory device also includes an ECC engine selectively connected to the second memory cell array layer and configured to receive the first payload data, generate first parity data corresponding to the first payload data, and store the first parity data exclusively in the second memory cell array layer.

Abstract: A variable resistance memory device includes a substrate, a plurality of active lines formed on the substrate, are uniformly separated, and extend in a first direction, a plurality of switching devices formed on the active lines and are separated from one another, a plurality of variable resistance devices respectively formed on and connected to the switching devices, a plurality of local bit lines formed on the variable resistance devices, are uniformly separated, extend in a second direction, and are connected to the variable resistance devices, a plurality of local word lines formed on the local bit lines, are uniformly separated, and extend in the first direction, a plurality of global bit lines formed on the local word lines, are uniformly separated, and extend in the second direction, and a plurality of global word lines formed on the global bit lines, are uniformly separated, and extend in the first direction.

Abstract: A line layout structure and method in a semiconductor memory device having a hierarchical structure are provided. In a semiconductor memory device having a global word line and a local word line, and a global bit line and a local bit line, and individually disposing all of the global word line, the local word line, the global bit line and the local bit line at conductive layers among at least three layers; at least two of the global word line, the local word line, the global bit line and the local bit line are together disposed in parallel on one conductive layer. Signal lines constituting a semiconductor memory device are disposed in a hierarchical structure, whereby a semiconductor memory device advantageously having high integration, high speed and high performance may be obtained.