Patents by Inventor Nobuaki Otsuka

Nobuaki Otsuka 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).

  • Publication number: 20140050018
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell provided with a pair of storage nodes which store data in a complementary manner, a pair of bit lines that are driven in a complementary manner based on data written to the memory cell, a word line that selects a row of the memory cell, and a word line potential fixing circuit that fixes a potential of the word line so that the row of the memory cell is not selected when a power supply of the memory cell rises.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi MIDORIKAWA, Nobuaki OTSUKA
  • Patent number: 8105886
    Abstract: A fuse link is formed between first and second terminals. The first and second terminals and fuse link have a polysilicon layer and a layer formed on the polysilicon layer and containing a metal element. At least a portion of the fuse link is an amorphous silicon layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Nobuaki Otsuka, Takahiko Sasaki, Shuso Fujii
  • Patent number: 7957176
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a first inverter ad a second inverter, a first power supply control circuit, and a second power supply control circuit. The first and second inverters constitute a memory cell and each have an input terminal and an output terminal connected crosswise to an output terminal and an input terminal, respectively, of the other. The first power supply control circuit supplies a first voltage to the first inverter. The second power supply control circuit supplies a second voltage to the second inverter. The first and second power supply control circuits control the first and second voltages, respectively, supplied to the first and second inverters in a selected memory cell for a writing operation in accordance with write data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Nobuaki Otsuka
  • Patent number: 7924080
    Abstract: A level shifter circuit converts a signal generated by an internal circuit which operates with a first power supply, into a signal by a second power supply having voltage higher than that of the first power supply. The voltages at substrate terminals of two NMOS transistors, to which complementary two signals by the first power supply are input, is boosted to voltage higher than circuit ground potential in a period in which a voltage level of one of the two input signals and a voltage level of an output signal by the second power supply do not coincide with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yukinori Uchino, Nobuaki Otsuka
  • Publication number: 20100201426
    Abstract: A level shifter circuit converts a signal generated by an internal circuit which operates with a first power supply, into a signal by a second power supply having voltage higher than that of the first power supply. The voltages at substrate terminals of two NMOS transistors, to which complementary two signals by the first power supply are input, is boosted to voltage higher than circuit ground potential in a period in which a voltage level of one of the two input signals and a voltage level of an output signal by the second power supply do not coincide with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Yukinori Uchino, Nobuaki Otsuka
  • Patent number: 7710808
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a first block and a second block adjacent to each other in a column direction, each block including first and second memory cell arrays each including a plurality of local bit lines and a local sense amplifier shared by the first and second memory cell arrays, a plurality of global bit lines shared by the first block and the second block, a global sense amplifier configured to sense data transferred to the global bit lines, first and second replica cell groups provided in the first and second blocks, first and second replica bit lines connected to the first and second replica cell groups, an activation circuit connected to each replica bit line, and configured to activate the local sense amplifier, an edge cell group surrounding the first block and the second block, and a contact region surrounding the edge cell group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Keiichi Kushida, Nobuaki Otsuka
  • Patent number: 7649799
    Abstract: This semiconductor memory device comprises a plurality of sub-arrays with a plurality of memory cells arranged in matrix form. Each local bit line is connected to a plurality of memory cells that are arranged in column direction in the sub-arrays. In addition, a global bit line is connected to the plural local bit lines. A column decoder is connected to the global bit line. The global bit line extends from the column decoder toward the plurality of sub-arrays, and it is cut before the furthest sub-array formed in the furthest region from that column decoder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Gou Fukano, Tomoaki Yabe, Nobuaki Otsuka
  • Patent number: 7609581
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array provided in a cell array area and including a plurality of memory cells, a source potential line which applies a source potential to the memory cells, a switching element group provided in the cell array area adjacent to the memory cell array, the switching element group electrically connecting the source potential line to a ground potential line, when the memory cells are in an operation mode, a first P-type MIS transistor connected between the source potential line and the ground potential line, and fixing the source potential when the memory cells are in the sleep mode, and a bias generation circuit provided in a peripheral circuit area, and supplying a first bias potential to the first MIS transistor, the first MIS transistor being provided in the peripheral circuit area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Nobuaki Otsuka, Osamu Hirabayashi
  • Patent number: 7535753
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a first inverter circuit and a second inverter circuit, a first transfer gate which is connected between a first power node of the first inverter circuit and a first bit line, a second transfer gate which is connected between a second power node of the second inverter circuit and a second bit line, a first word line connected to gate terminals of the first transfer gate and the second transfer gate, a first read transistor connected between the first power node and a second word line, a second read transistor connected between the second power node and the second word line, and an application circuit which is connected to the second word line, and applies a read voltage to the second word line in reading data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Akira Katayama, Nobuaki Otsuka, Keiichi Kushida, Osamu Hirabayashi
  • Publication number: 20080258256
    Abstract: A fuse link is formed between first and second terminals. The first and second terminals and fuse link have a polysilicon layer and a layer formed on the polysilicon layer and containing a metal element. At least a portion of the fuse link is an amorphous silicon layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2008
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Inventors: Nobuaki Otsuka, Takahiko Sasaki, Shuso Fujii
  • Patent number: 7430134
    Abstract: Disclosed is an SRAM including a latch circuit, first and second write transfer gates, first and second write buffer transistors, read driver transistor, and read transfer gate. A write path is formed by connecting first and second write transfer gates and first and second write buffer transistors to the latch circuit which stores data and the path is controlled by use of a word line and data write bit lines. Further, a read path is formed by connecting a read driver transistor and read transfer gate to the latch circuit and the path is controlled by use of the word line, read bit line and data of the latch circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yasuhisa Takeyama, Nobuaki Otsuka, Osamu Hirabayashi
  • Publication number: 20080175040
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a first block and a second block adjacent to each other in a column direction, each block including first and second memory cell arrays each including a plurality of local bit lines and a local sense amplifier shared by the first and second memory cell arrays, a plurality of global bit lines shared by the first block and the second block, a global sense amplifier configured to sense data transferred to the global bit lines, first and second replica cell groups provided in the first and second blocks, first and second replica bit lines connected to the first and second replica cell groups, an activation circuit connected to each replica bit line, and configured to activate the local sense amplifier, an edge cell group surrounding the first block and the second block, and a contact region surrounding the edge cell group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Inventors: Keiichi KUSHIDA, Nobuaki OTSUKA
  • Patent number: 7400524
    Abstract: A flip-flop includes a first storage node at one terminal and a second storage node at the other terminal. The gate of a first MOS connects to the first storage node. The gate of a second MOS connects to the second storage node. One end of the current path of a first transfer connects to one end of the current path of the first MOS. One end of the current path of a second transfer connects to one end of the current path of the second MOS. The anode of a first diode connects to the first storage node. The cathode of the first diode connects to one end of the current path of the second transfer. The anode of a second diode connects to the second storage node. The cathode of the second diode connects to one end of the current path of the first transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Nobuaki Otsuka
  • Publication number: 20080137393
    Abstract: This semiconductor memory device comprises a plurality of sub-arrays with a plurality of memory cells arranged in matrix form. Each local bit line is connected to a plurality of memory cells that are arranged in column direction in the sub-arrays. In addition, a global bit line is connected to the plural local bit lines. A column decoder is connected to the global bit line. The global bit line extends from the column decoder toward the plurality of sub-arrays, and it is cut before the furthest sub-array formed in the furthest region from that column decoder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Gou FUKANO, Tomoaki YABE, Nobuaki OTSUKA
  • Patent number: 7368801
    Abstract: A fuse link is formed between first and second terminals. The first and second terminals and fuse link have a polysilicon layer and a layer formed on the polysilicon layer and containing a metal element. At least a portion of the fuse link is an amorphous silicon layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Nobuaki Otsuka, Takahiko Sasaki, Shuso Fujii
  • Patent number: 7362646
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array provided in a cell array area and including a plurality of memory cells, a source potential line which applies a source potential to the memory cells, a switching element group provided in the cell array area adjacent to the memory cell array, the switching element group electrically connecting the source potential line to a ground potential line, when the memory cells are in an operation mode, a first P-type MIS transistor connected between the source potential line and the ground potential line, and fixing the source potential when the memory cells are in the sleep mode, and a bias generation circuit provided in a peripheral circuit area, and supplying a first bias potential to the first MIS transistor, the first MIS transistor being provided in the peripheral circuit area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Nobuaki Otsuka, Osamu Hirabayashi
  • Publication number: 20080019194
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a first inverter circuit and a second inverter circuit, a first transfer gate which is connected between a first power node of the first inverter circuit and a first bit line, a second transfer gate which is connected between a second power node of the second inverter circuit and a second bit line, a first word line connected to gate terminals of the first transfer gate and the second transfer gate, a first read transistor connected between the first power node and a second word line, a second read transistor connected between the second power node and the second word line, and an application circuit which is connected to the second word line, and applies a read voltage to the second word line in reading data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2007
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Inventors: Akira KATAYAMA, Nobuaki Otsuka, Keiichi Kushida, Osamu Hirabayashi
  • Patent number: 7313038
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first nonvolatile memory element group which includes a plurality of first nonvolatile memory elements programmed with data by electrically and irreversibly varying device characteristics, a verify circuit which detects a defective first nonvolatile memory element in the first nonvolatile memory element group, and a second nonvolatile memory element group which includes a plurality of second nonvolatile memory elements programmed with data by electrically and irreversibly varying device characteristics and which stores address data to rescue the defective first nonvolatile memory element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Nobuaki Otsuka
  • Publication number: 20070280009
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array provided in a cell array area and including a plurality of memory cells, a source potential line which applies a source potential to the memory cells, a switching element group provided in the cell array area adjacent to the memory cell array, the switching element group electrically connecting the source potential line to a ground potential line, when the memory cells are in an operation mode, a first P-type MIS transistor connected between the source potential line and the ground potential line, and fixing the source potential when the memory cells are in the sleep mode, and a bias generation circuit provided in a peripheral circuit area, and supplying a first bias potential to the first MIS transistor, the first MIS transistor being provided in the peripheral circuit area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2007
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Inventors: Nobuaki Otsuka, Osamu Hirabayashi
  • Publication number: 20070279998
    Abstract: semiconductor device includes a first nonvolatile memory element group which includes a plurality of first nonvolatile memory elements programmed with data by electrically and irreversibly varying device characteristics, a verify circuit which detects a defective first nonvolatile memory element in the first nonvolatile memory element group, and a second nonvolatile memory element group which includes a plurality of second nonvolatile memory elements programmed with data by electrically and irreversibly varying device characteristics and which stores address data to rescue the defective first nonvolatile memory element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2007
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Inventor: NOBUAKI OTSUKA