Patents by Inventor Masahiro Kamoshida
Masahiro Kamoshida 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).
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Publication number: 20150260779Abstract: The semiconductor device according to the present embodiment comprises a plurality of monitor units monitoring characteristics of an element. Each of the monitor units comprises the element, a control/monitor node, a switch, and a selection controller. The control/monitor node transmits a control signal for controlling the monitor units, and transmits a characteristic signal for indicating electrical characteristics of the element. The switch is connected between the element and a control/monitor node. The selection controller selectively controls the switch upon reception of the control signal. A wire of the control/monitor node of the plurality of monitor units is commonalized.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2014Publication date: September 17, 2015Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBAInventor: Masahiro KAMOSHIDA
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Patent number: 8644069Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided a semiconductor memory device including a memory cell array, a plurality of signal lines, and a plurality of signal-line-lead-out portions. In the memory cell array, a plurality of memory cells are arranged. The plurality of signal lines connected to the plurality of memory cells. The plurality of signal-line-lead-out portions are arranged in a periphery of the memory cell array and are connected to the plurality of signal lines. Each of the plurality of signal-line-lead-out portions includes a plug as an electrode whose upper surface and side surface are covered with a passivation film.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2012Date of Patent: February 4, 2014Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventor: Masahiro Kamoshida
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Patent number: 8451648Abstract: According to one embodiment, a resistance-change memory includes a memory element in which its variable resistance state corresponds to data to be stored therein, a pulse generation circuit which generates a first pulse, a second pulse, a third pulse, and a fourth pulse, the first pulse having a first amplitude which changes the resistance state of the memory element from a high- to a low-resistance state, the third pulse having a third amplitude smaller than the first amplitude to read data in the memory element, the fourth pulse having a fourth amplitude between the first amplitude and the third amplitude, and a control circuit which controls the operations of the memory element and the pulse generation circuit. The control circuit supplies the fourth pulse to the memory element after supplying the first pulse to the memory element.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2011Date of Patent: May 28, 2013Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Masahiro Kamoshida, Katsuaki Sakurai, Takahiko Sasaki
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Publication number: 20120236664Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided a semiconductor memory device including a memory cell array, a plurality of signal lines, and a plurality of signal-line-lead-out portions. In the memory cell array, a plurality of memory cells are arranged. The plurality of signal lines connected to the plurality of memory cells. The plurality of signal-line-lead-out portions are arranged in a periphery of the memory cell array and are connected to the plurality of signal lines. Each of the plurality of signal-line-lead-out portions includes a plug as an electrode whose upper surface and side surface are covered with a passivation film.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2012Publication date: September 20, 2012Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventor: Masahiro KAMOSHIDA
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Publication number: 20120014164Abstract: According to one embodiment, a resistance-change memory includes a memory element in which its variable resistance state corresponds to data to be stored therein, a pulse generation circuit which generates a first pulse, a second pulse, a third pulse, and a fourth pulse, the first pulse having a first amplitude which changes the resistance state of the memory element from a high- to a low-resistance state, the third pulse having a third amplitude smaller than the first amplitude to read data in the memory element, the fourth pulse having a fourth amplitude between the first amplitude and the third amplitude, and a control circuit which controls the operations of the memory element and the pulse generation circuit. The control circuit supplies the fourth pulse to the memory element after supplying the first pulse to the memory element.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 13, 2011Publication date: January 19, 2012Inventors: Masahiro KAMOSHIDA, Katsuaki Sakurai, Takahiko Sasaki
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Patent number: 7439782Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit device operates using a first power supply and a second power supply differing from the first power supply in voltage. The semiconductor integrated circuit device includes a first detecting circuit which detects that the first power supply has exceeded a specific voltage, a second detecting circuit which detects that the second power supply has exceeded a specific voltage, and a check circuit which checks the operating state of an analog circuit carrying out an analog operation using the first power supply and outputs a control signal indicating whether the analog circuit is operating properly. The detecting level of the first detecting circuit is determined on the basis of the control signal. A power-on reset signal is output according to the result of the detection at the first and second detecting circuits.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2006Date of Patent: October 21, 2008Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventor: Masahiro Kamoshida
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Patent number: 7233513Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes memory cells, a memory cell array, word lines, a row decoder, first metal wiring layers, and metal wiring lines. The memory cell includes a first MOS transistor having a charge accumulation layer and a control gate. Each word line is formed by connecting commonly the control gates in a same row. The row decoder selects any one of the word lines. The first metal wiring layers are provided for the word lines in a one-to-one correspondence. The first metal wiring layers are electrically connected to the corresponding ones of the word lines and transmit a first row select signal for the row decoder to select one of the word lines. The metal wiring lines are formed at a plurality of levels. The first metal wiring layers are made of the metal wiring lines located at the level of the lowest layer.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2005Date of Patent: June 19, 2007Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Masahiro Kamoshida, Akira Umezawa
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Patent number: 7193260Abstract: A ferroelectric memory device includes a first bit line, a second bit line provided adjacent to the first bit line, a first memory cell block including a first terminal, a second terminal, and a plurality of memory cells connected in series between the first and second terminals and arranged in a first direction along the first bit line connected to the first terminal by a first block select transistor, a second memory cell block including a plurality of memory cells, and a plurality of first contacts arranged between the first and second memory cell blocks, each first contact connecting the upper electrode and drain or source electrode of one memory cell.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2004Date of Patent: March 20, 2007Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Masahiro Kamoshida, Daisaburo Takashima
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Publication number: 20070001516Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit device operates using a first power supply and a second power supply differing from the first power supply in voltage. The semiconductor integrated circuit device includes a first detecting circuit which detects that the first power supply has exceeded a specific voltage, a second detecting circuit which detects that the second power supply has exceeded a specific voltage, and a check circuit which checks the operating state of an analog circuit carrying out an analog operation using the first power supply and outputs a control signal indicating whether the analog circuit is operating properly. The detecting level of the first detecting circuit is determined on the basis of the control signal. A power-on reset signal is output according to the result of the detection at the first and second detecting circuits.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2006Publication date: January 4, 2007Inventor: Masahiro Kamoshida
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Publication number: 20060083045Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes memory cells, a memory cell array, word lines, a row decoder, first metal wiring layers, and metal wiring lines. The memory cell includes a first MOS transistor having a charge accumulation layer and a control gate. Each word line is formed by connecting commonly the control gates in a same row. The row decoder selects any one of the word lines. The first metal wiring layers are provided for the word lines in a one-to-one correspondence. The first metal wiring layers are electrically connected to the corresponding ones of the word lines and transmit a first row select signal for the row decoder to select one of the word lines. The metal wiring lines are formed at a plurality of levels. The first metal wiring layers are made of the metal wiring lines located at the level of the lowest layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2005Publication date: April 20, 2006Inventors: Masahiro Kamoshida, Akira Umezawa
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Patent number: 7016215Abstract: A memory device comprises a normal memory cell array and a spare memory cell array, in which memory cells each comprising a ferroelectric capacitor are arranged; a normal word line; a normal word line driver; a spare word line; a spare word line driver; an address input circuit to which an address signal is inputted; and a judging circuit which compares an input address with a faulty address and generates an output for selecting one of the normal and spare word line drivers according to the comparison. The normal and spare word line drivers are simultaneously selected by an output of the address input circuit to start driving the normal and spare word lines, and thereafter the normal and spare word line drivers are enabled by the output of the judging circuit to stop the driving of one of the normal and spare word lines and continue the other.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2003Date of Patent: March 21, 2006Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Masahiro Kamoshida, Daisaburo Takashima
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Publication number: 20050212019Abstract: A ferroelectric memory device includes a first bit line, a second bit line provided adjacent to the first bit line, a first memory cell block including a first terminal, a second terminal, and a plurality of memory cells connected in series between the first and second terminals and arranged in a first direction along the first bit line connected to the first terminal by a first block select transistor, a second memory cell block including a plurality of memory cells, and a plurality of first contacts arranged between the first and second memory cell blocks, each first contact connecting the upper electrode and drain or source electrode of one memory cell.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 6, 2004Publication date: September 29, 2005Inventors: Masahiro Kamoshida, Daisaburo Takashima
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Patent number: 6950361Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a sense amplifier, a pair of bit lines connected to the sense amplifier, first and second memory cell arrays connected to the bit lines, respectively, and including a plurality of memory cells each having a cell transistor and a ferroelectric capacitor, and first and second select transistors connected to the bit lines between the sense amplifier and the first and second memory cell arrays. The device further includes a first equalizing circuit connected to the bit lines closer to the first and second memory cell arrays than the first and second select transistors.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2004Date of Patent: September 27, 2005Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Masahiro Kamoshida, Daisaburo Takashima
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Publication number: 20050190621Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a sense amplifier, a pair of bit lines connected to the sense amplifier, first and second memory cell arrays connected to the bit lines, respectively, and including a plurality of memory cells each having a cell transistor and a ferroelectric capacitor, and first and second select transistors connected to the bit lines between the sense amplifier and the first and second memory cell arrays. The device further includes a first equalizing circuit connected to the bit lines closer to the first and second memory cell arrays than the first and second select transistors.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2004Publication date: September 1, 2005Inventors: Masahiro Kamoshida, Daisaburo Takashima
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Patent number: 6885598Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes first and second select transistors arranged on both sides of a shared-scheme sense amplifier and connected to a bit line, and first and second memory cell arrays connected to the bit line via the first and second select transistors, respectively, the first and second memory cell arrays each including a plurality of memory cells each having a cell transistor and a ferroelectric capacitor. The device further includes a setting circuit which controls the first and second select transistors, thereby setting the first and second memory cell arrays in an operative state at the same time, and a control circuit which performs a test at the same time for the first and second memory cell arrays, which are set in the operative state at the same time by the setting circuit.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2003Date of Patent: April 26, 2005Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Masahiro Kamoshida, Daisaburo Takashima
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Publication number: 20050002247Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes first and second select transistors arranged on both sides of a shared-scheme sense amplifier and connected to a bit line, and first and second memory cell arrays connected to the bit line via the first and second select transistors, respectively, the first and second memory cell arrays each including a plurality of memory cells each having a cell transistor and a ferroelectric capacitor. The device further includes a setting circuit which controls the first and second select transistors, thereby setting the first and second memory cell arrays in an operative state at the same time, and a control circuit which performs a test at the same time for the first and second memory cell arrays, which are set in the operative state at the same time by the setting circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2003Publication date: January 6, 2005Inventors: Masahiro Kamoshida, Daisaburo Takashima
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Publication number: 20040114414Abstract: A memory device comprising a normal memory cell array and a spare memory cell array, in which memory cells each comprising a ferroelectric capacitor are arranged, a normal word line, a normal word line driver, a spare word line, a spare word line driver, an address input circuit to which an address signal is inputted, and a judging circuit which compares an input address with a faulty address and generates an output for selecting one of the normal and spare word line drivers according to the comparison, wherein the normal and spare word line drivers are simultaneously selected by an output of the address input circuit to start driving the normal and spare word lines, and thereafter the normal and spare word line drivers are enabled by the output of the judging circuit to stop the driving of one of the normal and spare word lines and continue the other.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 5, 2003Publication date: June 17, 2004Inventors: Masahiro Kamoshida, Daisaburo Takashima
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Patent number: 6473865Abstract: Each delay unit is divided into two delay unit groups, the preceding stage side and the succeeding stage side. To the delay unit group in the preceding stage side, power supply voltage is supplied via a power supply terminal, and to each delay unit of the delay unit group in the succeeding stage side, power supply voltage is supplied from the power supply terminal via a power supply control switch. A forward-pulse detecting circuit detects that forward pulse was propagated to a stage between the N-th stage and a stage a predetermined number of stages before the N-th, and outputs the detected result to the power supply control switch. With this operation, when forward pulse is propagated to the (N+1)th stage, power supply voltage is supplied also to the delay unit group in the succeeding stage side. As electric power is not supplied to the delay unit group in the succeeding stage side when forward pulse is not propagated to the (N+1)th stage, wasteful consumption of electric power is prevented.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 1999Date of Patent: October 29, 2002Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Masahiro Kamoshida, Haruki Toda, Tsuneaki Fuse, Yukihito Oowaki
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Patent number: 6393080Abstract: A state-holding circuit initializing circuit initializes state-holding circuit when propagation of forward pulse to the forward-pulse delay circuits in the last stage is detected. With this operation, synchronization is established in a short time from the resumption of outputting from a receiver. The state-holding circuit control circuit also controls the reset timing of the state-holding circuit. A forward-pulse adjusting circuit controls the pulse width of forward pulse to be supplied to the forward-pulse delay line. With this operation, the stages from the stage where rearward pulse was generated to the first stage are securely turned to the set state, enabling propagation of rearward pulse and synchronization is established. Thus, synchronization is established reliably even when output from a receiver stops or the duty of an external clock signal is heavy.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 1999Date of Patent: May 21, 2002Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Masahiro Kamoshida, Haruki Toda, Tsuneaki Fuse, Yukihito Oowaki
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Patent number: 6388484Abstract: In this clock control circuit, clock signal CLK from a receiver is supplied to a pulse generating circuit, and the pulse generating circuit generates forward pulse, which is clock signal CLK delayed as much time as A, and pulse s which is synchronized with dock signal CLK and has a pulse width of A. Consequently, as forward pulse becomes “H” while pulse s is “L” without generating pulse which width is narrower than A, the edge part of forward pulse is securely propagated by a forward-pulse delay line even if it is high frequency. Propagation of forward pulse stops at rising edge of pulse s, and rearward pulse is generated in a corresponding stage. This rearward pulse is propagated by a rearward-pulse delay line, and outputted from an output buffer.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 1999Date of Patent: May 14, 2002Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Masahiro Kamoshida, Haruki Toda, Tsuneaki Fuse, Yukihito Oowaki