Patents by Inventor Kenji Numata

Kenji Numata 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: 5698876
    Abstract: A semiconductor device of a memory-macro type can be designed within a short time to have a desired storage capacity, which does not occupy a large area, so as to reduce the chip cost. The semiconductor device includes a memory macro having sub-memory macros, each sub-memory macro having a DRAM memory-cell array, and a row decoder and a column decoder for selecting any desired memory-cell from the memory cell of the array. The memory macro also includes a control-section macro having a DC potential generating circuit for generating various DC potentials required to drive the sub-memory macros. At least one of the sub-memory macros is combined with the control-section macro to form the memory macro as a one-chip memory capable of storing an integral multiple of N bits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Tomoaki Yabe, Shinji Miyano, Katsuhiko Sato, Kenji Numata
  • Patent number: 5659507
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array, row decoder, bit line pairs, sense amplifier, sense amplifier control circuit, data latch, transfer gate, transfer gate control circuit, and write circuit. The memory cell array has dynamic memory cells arranged in an array form. The row decoder decodes a row address signal to select a desired one of rows of the memory cell array. Each of the bit line pairs is connected to those of the memory cells which are arranged on a corresponding one of columns of the memory cell array. The sense amplifier amplifies data read out on the paired bit lines and positively feeding data back to the paired bit lines to hold the data. The sense amplifier control circuit controls the operation of the sense amplifier. The data latch latches readout data and write data. The transfer gate transfers data between the data latch and the sense amplifier. The transfer gate control circuit controls the transfer gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Tomoaki Yabe, Kenji Numata, Katsuhiko Sato, Ryo Haga, Shinji Miyano, Tohru Furuyama
  • Patent number: 5640351
    Abstract: According to the present invention, a data bus common to a plurality of memory cell arrays is formed by selecting a column so as to prevent a data collision from occurring. Specifically, two memory cell arrays have each of data buses in common. A column decoder is supplied with a control signal to control a column selection logic circuit. The column selection logic circuit is so controlled that the data read out to the data buses in response to the control signal is prevented from colliding with each other during the simultaneous access to the two cell arrays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1997
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Tomoaki Yabe, Shinji Miyano, Katsuhiko Sato, Kenji Numata
  • Patent number: 5633827
    Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit device capable of changing the product specification. The semiconductor integrated circuit device comprises an integrated circuit section containing a first circuit section having a first function and a second circuit section having a second function, and active signal generator means for producing an active signal for activating the first circuit section or the second circuit section. To change the product specification, the integrated circuit device further comprises receiving means for taking in a decision signal for determining the product specification, switching signal generator means, connected to the receiving means, for producing a switching signal for changing the product specification based on the decision signal, and switching means which receives the active signal and the switching signal, and which, based on the switching signal, changes the supply of the active signal to either the first circuit section or to the second circuit section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kenji Numata, Masaki Ogihara
  • Patent number: 5608674
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device comprises a memory cell array including a plurality of memory cells, each having a data storage capacitor and a MOS transistor, arranged in rows and columns, a plurality of word lines connected to the memory cells in a direction of the rows, a row decoder for decoding a row address signal synchronized with a /RAS signal for selecting one of the word lines corresponding to an arbitrary one of the rows, a plurality of sense amplifiers, provided to have the same number as the number of the columns, for sensing data read out from the memory cells, a plurality of transfer gates connected to the sense amplifiers, a plurality of data latch circuits connected to the transfer gates, to latch the data sensed by the sense amplifiers through the transfer gates, a plurality of column selection gates connected to the data latch circuits for selecting at least one of the data latch circuits, a column decoder for decoding a column address signal for selecting an arbitrary one of the columns to s
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Tomoaki Yabe, Kenji Numata
  • Patent number: 5594265
    Abstract: According to the invention, a well region is formed on a semiconductor substrate. An n.sup.+ -type first semiconductor region is formed in the well region, and an input pad for receiving an external signal is connected near the first semiconductor region. This input pad is connected to an input circuit of an integrated circuit constituted by an inverter circuit and to an external terminal for receiving an external signal. N.sup.+ -type second semiconductor regions are formed in the well region located on both sides of the first semiconductor region. A ground potential Vss is applied to these second semiconductor regions. A p.sup.+ -type third semiconductor region is formed around these second semiconductor regions in the well region. The ground potential is applied to the third semiconductor region. Therefore, a parallel circuit formed by a parasitic transistor and a parasitic diode is formed between the input pad and the ground potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Mitsuru Shimizu, Syuso Fujii, Kenji Numata, Masaharu Wada
  • Patent number: 5559748
    Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit capable of changing a product specification comprises a first circuit section having a first function, a second circuit section having a second function, and active signal generator means for producing an active signal for activating either the first circuit section or the second circuit section. To change the product specification, the integrated circuit further comprises means for receiving a decision signal, switching signal generator means, connected to said receiving means, for producing a switching signal for changing the product specification according to the decision signal, and switching means for receiving the active signal and the switching signal and for supplying the active signal to either the first circuit section or the second circuit section according to the switching signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kenji Numata, Masaki Ogihara
  • Patent number: 5555523
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device comprises a plurality of memory cells including at least a first memory cell and a second memory cell, a first bit line connected to the first memory cell, a second bit line connected to the second memory cell and paired with the first bit line, an equalizer connected between the first and second bit lines, an amplifier connected between the first and second bit lines, a first driving signal line connected to the amplifier and drives the amplifier, a second driving signal line connected to the amplifier and paired with the first driving signal line, a driver for driving the amplifier and connected to the first and second driving signal lines and containing a precharger for presetting the potentials of the first and second driving signal lines to a predetermined precharge potential and a driving signal supply circuit for supplying a driving signal to the first and second driving signal lines, and a control circuit for controlling the equalizer and the driver, wherein the control c
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Ryo Haga, Tomoaki Yabe, Shinji Miyano, Kenji Numata
  • Patent number: 5532963
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory comprises a dynamic type memory cell array arranged to form a matrix and provided with word lines commonly connected to memory cells of respective columns and bit lines commonly connected to memory cells of respective rows, a dummy cell section having a first set of dummy word lines connected to respective complimentary bit line pairs of said memory cell array by way of respective first capacitances and a second set of dummy word lines connected to respective complementary bit line pairs of said memory cell array by way of respective second capacitances, a dummy word line potential control circuit capable of optionally controlling the mode of driving selected dummy word lines when said word lines of said memory cell array are activated and sense amplifiers connected to the respective complementary bit line pairs of said memory cell array for reading data from selected memory cells of the memory cell array onto the related bit line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1996
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Natsuki Kushiyama, Tohru Furuyama, Kenji Numata
  • Patent number: 5377152
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory comprises a dynamic type memory cell array arranged to form a matrix and provided with word lines commonly connected to memory cells of respective columns and bit lines commonly connected to memory cells of respective rows, a dummy cell section having a first set of dummy word lines connected to respective complimentary bit line pairs of said memory cell array by way of respective first capacitances and a second set of dummy word lines connected to respective complementary bit line pairs of said memory cell array by way of respective second capacitances, a dummy word line potential control circuit capable of optionally controlling the mode of driving selected dummy word lines when said word lines of said memory cell array are activated and sense amplifiers connected to the respective complementary bit line pairs of said memory cell array for reading data from selected memory cells of the memory cell array onto the related bit line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1994
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Natsuki Kushiyama, Tohru Furuyama, Kenji Numata