Abstract: A semiconductor device whose characteristics are highly reliably regulated for circuits whose desired characteristics need to be realized without being affect by unevenness in device characteristics is to be provided. A replica MOS transistor for amperage measurement connected to an external measuring terminal is provided. A delay circuit and other circuits whose desired characteristics are to be realized have a constant current source MOS transistor formed in the same process as the replica MOS transistor, and a trimming voltage vtri is commonly applied to the respective gates of the constant current source MOS transistor and the replica MOS transistor. Trimming data determined on the basis of an amperage measured from the external measuring terminal are stored into a memory means such as an electrically rewritable non-volatile memory or the like. The trimming data determine the trimming voltage vtri.

Abstract: A semiconductor device whose characteristics are highly reliably regulated for circuits whose desired characteristics need to be realized without being affect by unevenness in device characteristics is to be provided. A replica MOS transistor for amperage measurement connected to an external measuring terminal is provided. A delay circuit and other circuits whose desired characteristics are to be realized have a constant current source MOS transistor formed in the same process as the replica MOS transistor, and a trimming voltage vtri is commonly applied to the respective gates of the constant current source MOS transistor and the replica MOS transistor. Trimming data determined on the basis of an amperage measured from the external measuring terminal are stored into a memory means such as an electrically rewritable non-volatile memory or the like. The trimming data determine the trimming voltage vtri.

Abstract: A semiconductor device whose characteristics are highly reliably regulated for circuits whose desired characteristics need to be realized without being affect by unevenness in device characteristics is to be provided. A replica MOS transistor for amperage measurement connected to an external measuring terminal is provided. A delay circuit and other circuits whose desired characteristics are to be realized have a constant current source MOS transistor formed in the same process as the replica MOS transistor, and a trimming voltage vtri is commonly applied to the respective gates of the constant current source MOS transistor and the replica MOS transistor. Trimming data determined on the basis of an amperage measured from the external measuring terminal are stored into a memory means such as an electrically rewritable non-volatile memory or the like. The trimming data determine the trimming voltage vtri.

Abstract: A field-effect semiconductor element implemented with a fewer number of elements and a reduced area and capable of storing data by itself without need for cooling at a cryogenic temperature, and a memory device employing the same. Gate-channel capacitance is set so small that whether or not a trap captures one electron or hole can definitely and distinctively be detected in terms of changes of a current of the semiconductor FET element. By detecting a change in a threshold voltage of the semiconductor element brought about by trapping of electron or hole in the trap, data storage can be realized at a room temperature.

Abstract: A field-effect semiconductor element implemented with a fewer number of elements and a reduced area and capable of storing data by itself without need for cooling at a cryogenic temperature, and a memory device employing the same. Gate-channel capacitance is set so small that whether or not a trap captures one electron or hole can definitely and distinctively be detected in terms of changes of a current of the semiconductor FET element. By detecting a change in a threshold voltage of the semiconductor element brought about by trapping of electron or hole in the trap, data storage can be realized at a room temperature.

Abstract: A system with a ferroelectric memory has a low probability of soft error thereby decreasing the possibility of serious damage to the system that might result from soft errors. The ferroelectric memory is provided with an overwrite-inhibited memory block 122 for storing this OS (Operating System) and applications, and an overwrite-free memory block 123 which is a work area. The overwrite-inhibited memory block 122 includes a parity bit storage 125. A process for checking and correcting error performed about one a day. A command for starting the error checking and correcting procedures is triggered by a switch such as power source switch. When an error occurs in the ferroelectric memory 120, it is possible to recover the function of the system.

Abstract: A field-effect semiconductor element implemented with a reduced number of elements and a reduced area and capable of storing data by itself without need for cooling at a cryogenic temperature, and a memory device employing the same. Gate-channel capacitance is set so small that whether or not a trap captures one electron or hole can definitely and distinctively be detected in terms of changes of a current of the semiconductor FET element. By detecting a change in a threshold voltage of the semiconductor element brought about by trapping of electron or hole in the trap, data storage can be realized at a room temperature. In accordance with one embodiment, a carrier confinement region, isolated from a channel and a gate of the semiconductor FET element, is provided to operate as a storage node for trapping the carrier or carriers.

Abstract: A system with a ferroelectric memory has a low probability of soft error thereby decreasing the possibility of serious damage to the system that might result from soft errors. The ferroelectric memory is provided with an overwrite-inhibited memory block 122 for storing the OS (Operating System) and applications, and an overwrite-free memory block 123 which is a work area. The overwrite-inhibited memory block 122 includes a parity bit storage 125. A process for checking and correcting error performed about once a day. A command for starting the error checking and correcting procedures is triggered by a switch such as power source switch. When an error occurs in the ferroelectric memory 120, it is possible to recover the function of the system.

Abstract: A field-effect semiconductor element implemented with a reduced number of elements and a reduced area and capable of storing data by itself without need for cooling at a cryogenic temperature, and a memory device employing the same. Gate-channel capacitance is set so small that whether or not a trap captures one electron or hole can definitely and distinctively be detected in terms of changes of a current of the semiconductor FET element. By detecting a change in a threshold voltage of the semiconductor element brought about by trapping of electron or hole in the trap, data storage can be realized at a room temperature. In accordance with one embodiment, a carrier confinement region, isolated from a channel and a gate of the semiconductor FET element, is provided to operate as a storage node for trapping the carrier or carriers.

Abstract: In an input circuit for semiconductor devices, such as an address buffer, an arrangement is provided which obviates the timing margin from capture of an input signal to its latching and outputting, thereby increasing the operation speed of the input circuit. The address buffer includes a differential amplifier Ai which receives an input signal Ai and outputs a pair of differential signals A-come-first-served latch circuit detects, latches and outputs one of the paired differential signals that has changed first. Activation/inactivation of the differential amplifier is done by turning on and off an N-channel MOS transistor through a Set signal. When activated, the differential amplifier generates a potential difference between the paired differential signals and, when inactivated, has its paired differential signals go low.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device capable of simultaneously providing volatile and non-volatile portions is disclosed having a plurality of memory mats, and a plurality of plate electrodes and a plurality of memory mats each provided in one-to-one correspondence with the memory maps. The memory mats each include a plurality of word lines, a plurality of bit lines and a plurality of memory cells provided at the intersections of the word lines and the bit lines. The memory cells each include an information storage capacitor having a ferroelectric film, and an address selection MOSFET. The information storage capacitor has a pair of electrodes, one of which is connected to the plate electrode that corresponds to the memory mat in which the information storage capacitor is included. A first voltage or a second voltage is selectively applied to each of the plate electrodes according to data held in the memory circuit corresponding to the plate electrode.

Abstract: A memory system is provided which is capable of eliminating deterioration in a processing rate due to possible signal delays between an input/output circuit and memory blocks. Complication of design is also reduced, especially when the scale and chip area of the memory system increase. A memory chip includes a plurality of memory array blocks each including an address buffer and an address counter, and operates on the basis of a local clock cycle. A control circuit is synchronous with a clock of an external device, and synchronous data-transfer circuitry includes a buffer which modulates the transfer rate of serial data which arrives from a memory array block at a local clock cycle so as to be synchronous with the clock of the control circuit. External clock signal lines are not distributed to the memory array blocks.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory which includes a plurality of memory cells each having first and second capacitors connected in series and a field-effect transistor whose source or drain is connected to a node between the first and second capacitors. The memory cells are arranged at intersections of bit lines and word lines thereby forming a matrix. The first capacitor of each memory cell is a ferroelectric capacitor using a ferroelectric material as an insulating film. A plate electrode of the first capacitor of each memory cell is held at a first potential when the memory is operated in a first mode and the plate electrode of the first capacitor is held at a second potential when the memory is operated in a second mode. The first potential is different from the second potential.

Abstract: A field-effect semiconductor element implemented with a fewer number of elements and a reduced area and capable of storing data by itself without need for cooling at a cryogenic temperature, and a memory device employing the same. Gate-channel capacitance is set so small that whether or not a trap captures one electron or hole can definitely and distinctively be detected in terms of changes of a current of the semiconductor FET element. By detecting a change in a threshold voltage of the semiconductor element brought about by trapping of electron or hole in the trap, data storage can be realized at a room temperature.

Abstract: A highly reliable and high speed ferroelectric memory having a high degree of integration. In a ferroelectric memory having a multiple of memory cells M1, each constituted by one transistor and one ferroelectric capacitor, in the normal operation, the ferroelectric memory is used as a volatile memory in which a voltage on a storage node ST1 stores information in a DRAM mode. Both the electric potential at the plate PL1 of the ferroelectric capacitor and a precharge electric potential on a data line DL1(j) are Vcc/2. When the a power supply voltage is turned on, a polarization state is detected as a ferroelectric memory of a plate electric potential of Vcc/2 and a precharge electric potential of Vss (or Vcc) and the read operation is performed a FERAM mode.

Abstract: A highly reliable and high speed ferroelectric memory having high degree of integration is provided. In a ferroelectric memory having a plurality of memory cells M1 each constituted by one transistor and one ferroelectric capacitor. In the normal operation, the ferroelectric memory is used as a volatile memory in which a voltage of a storage node ST1 is utilized as the stored information. Both an electric potential at a plate PL1 of the ferroelectric capacitor and a precharge electric potential on a data line DL1(j) are made Vcc/2.

Abstract: A CMOS circuit has a signal receiving unit, a signal processing unit and a driving circuit. The signal receiving unit converts a small amplitude signal from a bus into a large amplitude signal. The signal processing unit processes the large amplitude signal. The driving circuit converts the large amplitude signal processed into a small amplitude signal processed to output on the bus.