Patents by Inventor Kengo Aritomi

Kengo Aritomi has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8446765
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having first and second edge lines, address pads along the first edge line, and memory mats, each including normal memory blocks and a spare memory block. Each normal memory block has nonvolatile memory cells and is a unit of batch erase. The memory mats are arranged in a U-shaped area having a hollow portion facing the second edge line. The device includes column decoders arranged correspondingly to the memory mats, an analog/logic circuit arranged in the hollow portion, and a power supply pad arranged between the analog/logic circuit and the second edge line. The analog/logic circuit includes a charge pump circuit. The device further includes a first power supply interconnection supplying power supply voltage to the charge pump circuit from the power supply pad, and a second power supply interconnection supplying power supply voltage to the column decoder from the power supply pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Taku Ogura, Tadaaki Yamauchi, Hidenori Mitani, Takashi Kubo, Kengo Aritomi
  • Publication number: 20120230107
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having first and second edge lines, address pads along the first edge line, and memory mats, each including normal memory blocks and a spare memory block. Each normal memory block has nonvolatile memory cells and is a unit of batch erase. The memory mats are arranged in a U-shaped area having a hollow portion facing the second edge line. The device includes column decoders arranged correspondingly to the memory mats, an analog/logic circuit arranged in the hollow portion, and a power supply pad arranged between the analog/logic circuit and the second edge line. The analog/logic circuit includes a charge pump circuit. The device further includes a first power supply interconnection supplying power supply voltage to the charge pump circuit from the power supply pad, and a second power supply interconnection supplying power supply voltage to the column decoder from the power supply pad.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Taku Ogura, Tadaaki Yamauchi, Hidenori Mitani, Takashi Kubo, Kengo Aritomi
  • Patent number: 8208303
    Abstract: A memory apparatus includes a control circuit, a plurality of memory arrays, each of which contains a plurality of memory cells, and a current detecting circuit. The current detecting circuit measures a quantity of a current of a first memory array. A redundancy information is changed when the quantity of the current of the first memory array is over a first current quantity detected by the current detecting circuit. The control circuit controls an access to the memory arrays, and changes the access to the first memory array to a second memory array in accordance with the redundancy information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Taku Ogura, Tadaaki Yamauchi, Hidenori Mitani, Takashi Kubo, Kengo Aritomi
  • Publication number: 20110261617
    Abstract: A memory array including memory mats is arranged in a U shape when seen in two dimensions, and a logic circuit and an analog circuit are arranged in a region unoccupied by the memory array. This facilitates transmission of power supply voltage and signals between the peripheral circuit including the analog and logic circuits and the pad band including power supply and data pads. The analog circuit is positioned close to the power supply pad, so that voltage drop due to the resistance of power supply interconnection is restricted. It is also possible to separate a charge pumping power supply interconnection and a peripheral circuit power supply interconnection in the vicinity of the power supply pad.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Taku OGURA, Tadaaki Yamauchi, Hidenori Mitani, Takashi Kubo, Kengo Aritomi
  • Patent number: 8000159
    Abstract: A memory array including memory mats is arranged in a U shape when seen in two dimensions, and a logic circuit and an analog circuit are arranged in a region unoccupied by the memory array. This facilitates transmission of power supply voltage and signals between the peripheral circuit including the analog and logic circuits and the pad band including power supply and data pads. The analog circuit is positioned close to the power supply pad, so that voltage drop due to the resistance of power supply interconnection is restricted. It is also possible to separate a charge pumping power supply interconnection and a peripheral circuit power supply interconnection in the vicinity of the power supply pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Taku Ogura, Tadaaki Yamauchi, Hidenori Mitani, Takashi Kubo, Kengo Aritomi
  • Publication number: 20110002170
    Abstract: A memory array including memory mats is arranged in a U shape when seen in two dimensions, and a logic circuit and an analog circuit are arranged in a region unoccupied by the memory array. This facilitates transmission of power supply voltage and signals between the peripheral circuit including the analog and logic circuits and the pad band including power supply and data pads. The analog circuit is positioned close to the power supply pad, so that voltage drop due to the resistance of power supply interconnection is restricted. It is also possible to separate a charge pumping power supply interconnection and a peripheral circuit power supply interconnection in the vicinity of the power supply pad.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: RENESAS TECHNOLOGY CORP.
    Inventors: Taku OGURA, Tadaaki Yamauchi, Hidenori Mitani, Takashi Kubo, Kengo Aritomi
  • Patent number: 7782672
    Abstract: A memory array including memory mats is arranged in a U shape when seen in two dimensions, and a logic circuit and an analog circuit are arranged in a region unoccupied by the memory array. This facilitates transmission of power supply voltage and signals between the peripheral circuit including the analog and logic circuits and the pad band including power supply and data pads. The analog circuit is positioned close to the power supply pad, so that voltage drop due to the resistance of power supply interconnection is restricted. It is also possible to separate a charge pumping power supply interconnection and a peripheral circuit power supply interconnection in the vicinity of the power supply pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Taku Ogura, Tadaaki Yamauchi, Hidenori Mitani, Takashi Kubo, Kengo Aritomi
  • Publication number: 20090052249
    Abstract: A memory array including memory mats is arranged in a U shape when seen in two dimensions, and a logic circuit and an analog circuit are arranged in a region unoccupied by the memory array. This facilitates transmission of power supply voltage and signals between the peripheral circuit including the analog and logic circuits and the pad band including power supply and data pads. The analog circuit is positioned close to the power supply pad, so that voltage drop due to the resistance of power supply interconnection is restricted. It is also possible to separate a charge pumping power supply interconnection and a peripheral circuit power supply interconnection in the vicinity of the power supply pad.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Applicant: RENESAS TECHNOLOGY CORP.
    Inventors: Taku Ogura, Tadaaki Yamauchi, Hidenori Mitani, Takashi Kubo, Kengo Aritomi
  • Patent number: 7447087
    Abstract: A memory array including memory mats is arranged in a U shape when seen in two dimensions, and a logic circuit and an analog circuit are arranged in a region unoccupied by the memory array. This facilitates transmission of power supply voltage and signals between the peripheral circuit including the analog and logic circuits and the pad band including power supply and data pads. The analog circuit is positioned close to the power supply pad, so that voltage drop due to the resistance of power supply interconnection is restricted. It is also possible to separate a charge pumping power supply interconnection and a peripheral circuit power supply interconnection in the vicinity of the power supply pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Taku Ogura, Tadaaki Yamauchi, Hidenori Mitani, Takashi Kubo, Kengo Aritomi
  • Publication number: 20070297251
    Abstract: A memory array including memory mats is arranged in a U shape when seen in two dimensions, and a logic circuit and an analog circuit are arranged in a region unoccupied by the memory array. This facilitates transmission of power supply voltage and signals between the peripheral circuit including the analog and logic circuits and the pad band including power supply and data pads. The analog circuit is positioned close to the power supply pad, so that voltage drop due to the resistance of power supply interconnection is restricted. It is also possible to separate a charge pumping power supply interconnection and a peripheral circuit power supply interconnection in the vicinity of the power supply pad.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Publication date: December 27, 2007
    Applicant: RENESAS TECHNOLOGY CORP.
    Inventors: Taku Ogura, Tadaaki Yamauchi, Hidenori Mitani, Takashi Kubo, Kengo Aritomi
  • Patent number: 7248513
    Abstract: A memory array including memory mats is arranged in a U shape when seen in two dimensions, and a logic circuit and an analog circuit are arranged in a region unoccupied by the memory array. This facilitates transmission of power supply voltage and signals between the peripheral circuit including the analog and logic circuits and the pad band including power supply and data pads. The analog circuit is positioned close to the power supply pad, so that voltage drop due to the resistance of power supply interconnection is restricted. It is also possible to separate a charge pumping power supply interconnection and a peripheral circuit power supply interconnection in the vicinity of the power supply pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Taku Ogura, Tadaaki Yamauchi, Hidenori Mitani, Takashi Kubo, Kengo Aritomi
  • Publication number: 20050057963
    Abstract: A memory array including memory mats is arranged in a U shape when seen in two dimensions, and a logic circuit and an analog circuit are arranged in a region unoccupied by the memory array. This facilitates transmission of power supply voltage and signals between the peripheral circuit including the analog and logic circuits and the pad band including power supply and data pads. The analog circuit is positioned close to the power supply pad, so that voltage drop due to the resistance of power supply interconnection is restricted. It is also possible to separate a charge pumping power supply interconnection and a peripheral circuit power supply interconnection in the vicinity of the power supply pad.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2004
    Publication date: March 17, 2005
    Inventors: Taku Ogura, Tadaaki Yamauchi, Hidenori Mitani, Takashi Kubo, Kengo Aritomi
  • Publication number: 20040196719
    Abstract: In a semiconductor memory device, there are provided refresh timers issuing refresh requests at different periods, and refresh address generation circuits generating refresh addresses in accordance with the respective refresh requests. In a row select circuit, it is set for each row according to which, of the refresh addresses different from each other in issuance period, a corresponding word line is to be selected. Each word line can be refreshed in a different refresh cycle, and only a word line of pause refresh failure is refreshed in a shorter cycle while the other word lines are refreshed in a longer cycle. Current dissipation can be reduced in a self-refresh mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Applicant: RENESAS TECHNOLOGY CORP.
    Inventors: Kengo Aritomi, Yoshinori Inoue
  • Patent number: 6597624
    Abstract: In generating sub decode signals for specifying a sub word line in a hierarchical word line structure, a first sub decode signal transmitted to a selected sub word line is generated from a sub decode first signal, and a second sub decode signal for holding a non-selected sub word line at a non-selected state is generated by a gate circuit receiving the first sub decode signal and the signal generated on the basis of the sub decode first signal. When the first sub decode signal is selected, the logic level of the second sub decode signal can be changed at high speed. Consequently, a period in which a path through which a through-current flows in a sub word driver can be made sufficiently short and accordingly, the current consumption can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kengo Aritomi
  • Patent number: 6504744
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of array blocks including word lines, memory cells, bit lines, dummy word lines and transistors. In a test mode, rather than a word line a dummy word line is selected. Selectively turning on either one of the transistors allows a bit line connected thereto to be driven to a ground potential. Thus, a channel leak can be detected. In a mode other than the test mode, a defective word line is substituted by a spare word line included in a spare block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kengo Aritomi, Mikio Asakura
  • Publication number: 20020186611
    Abstract: In generating sub decode signals for specifying a sub word line in a hierarchical word line structure, a first sub decode signal transmitted to a selected sub word line is generated from a sub decode first signal, and a second sub decode signal for holding a non-selected sub word line at a non-selected state is generated by a gate circuit receiving the first sub decode signal and the signal generated on the basis of the sub decode first signal. When the first sub decode signal is selected, the logic level of the second sub decode signal can be changed at high speed. Consequently, a period in which a path through which a through-current flows in a sub word driver can be made sufficiently short and accordingly, the current consumption can be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2002
    Publication date: December 12, 2002
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kengo Aritomi
  • Patent number: 6477105
    Abstract: Complementary sub-decode signals to be provided to a sub-word line driver are separately generated through different circuits using individual power-supply voltages. Thus, the generation of a through current in the sub-word line driver is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kengo Aritomi, Mikio Asakura, Takashi Ito, Kiyohiro Furutani
  • Publication number: 20020097630
    Abstract: Complementary sub-decode signals to be provided to a sub-word line driver are separately generated through different circuits using individual power-supply voltages. Thus, the generation of a through current in the sub-word line driver is prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2002
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kengo Aritomi, Mikio Asakura, Takashi Ito, Kiyohiro Furutani
  • Patent number: 6407942
    Abstract: Complementary sub-decode signals to be provided to a sub-word line driver are separately generated through different circuits using individual power-supply voltages. Thus, the generation of a through current in the sub-word line driver is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kengo Aritomi, Mikio Asakura, Takashi Ito, Kiyohiro Furutani
  • Patent number: 6344763
    Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit device includes a plurality of data input/output terminals to transmit send/receive a plurality of input/output data signals to/from an external source, a mode set circuit to set an operation mode of the semiconductor integrated circuit device and generating a plurality of capacitance set signals according to a combination of externally applied control signals, and a plurality of variable capacitance circuits respectively provided between a predetermined reference potential and a plurality of data input/output terminals, capable of changing independently the capacitance according to a capacitance set signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kengo Aritomi, Takayuki Miyamoto