Patents by Inventor Shuichi Kubouchi

Shuichi Kubouchi 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: 9543037
    Abstract: To provide an electrical fuse that is connected to a detection node via a selective transistor, a precharge transistor that precharges the detection node in a state where the selective transistor is off; a bias transistor that passes a bias current to the detection node in a state where the selective transistor is on and the precharge transistor is off, and a detection circuit that detects a potential of the detection node in a state where the bias current is flowing into the detection node, wherein the bias transistor reduces an amount of the bias current in a stepwise manner or a continuous manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Longitude Semiconductor S.A.R.L.
    Inventors: Shuichi Kubouchi, Daiki Nakashima
  • Patent number: 9230686
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus that includes: a plurality of memory banks each including a plurality of memory cells; a plurality of redundant circuits each allocated to an associated one of the plurality of memory banks to replace a defective memory cell among the plurality of memory cells included in the associated memory bank; a plurality of roll call circuits allocated to an associated one of the plurality of memory banks to generate a roll call data when an address corresponding to the defective memory cell is supplied; and a plurality of data buses commonly allocated to the plurality of memory banks. The roll call circuits output the roll call data to the plurality of data buses in parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Shuichi Kubouchi, Hiroyuki Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20140286113
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus that includes: a plurality of memory banks each including a plurality of memory cells; a plurality of redundant circuits each allocated to an associated one of the plurality of memory banks to replace a defective memory cell among the plurality of memory cells included in the associated memory bank; a plurality of roll call circuits allocated to an associated one of the plurality of memory banks to generate a roll call data when an address corresponding to the defective memory cell is supplied; and a plurality of data buses commonly allocated to the plurality of memory banks. The roll call circuits output the roll call data to the plurality of data buses in parallel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: SHUICHI KUBOUCHI, Hiroyuki Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20140111271
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a boosting circuit that boosts an internal power supply voltage in a boosting range according to an external power supply voltage, an external voltage-level comparison circuit that compares the external power supply voltage and a predetermined reference voltage, and a variable resistor circuit that includes a variable resistor connected to an output terminal of the boosting circuit. The variable resistor circuit controls a resistance value of the variable resistor based on a comparison result of the external voltage-level comparison circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: Elpida Memory, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroki FUJISAWA, Shuichi KUBOUCHI, Hitoshi TANAKA
  • Patent number: 8699256
    Abstract: A bit memory circuit of an antifuse element set includes two antifuse elements of which logical states are changed from an insulation state to a conductive state when a program voltage is applied. 1-bit data is represented by the logical states of the two antifuse elements. The two antifuse elements are collectively controlled by one decoder circuit. When writing data, the decoder circuit simultaneously performs insulation-breakdown on the two antifuse elements by simultaneously connecting the two antifuse elements to program voltage lines, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Elpida Memory, Inc.
    Inventors: Shuichi Kubouchi, Hiroki Fujisawa
  • Patent number: 8633758
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a boosting circuit that boosts an internal power supply voltage in a boosting range according to an external power supply voltage, an external voltage-level comparison circuit that compares the external power supply voltage and a predetermined reference voltage, and a variable resistor circuit that includes a variable resistor connected to an output terminal of the boosting circuit. The variable resistor circuit controls a resistance value of the variable resistor based on a comparison result of the external voltage-level comparison circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Elpida Memory, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroki Fujisawa, Shuichi Kubouchi, Hitoshi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8270237
    Abstract: To provided a relief-address generating circuit that generates relief address information based on plural data bits supplied in time sequence via a first terminal from outside and a programming circuit that writes into any one of fuse sets the relief address information generated by the relief-address generating circuit. With this configuration, repetition of a programming operation by the total number of the fuse sets at the maximum completes a series of write processing on relief address information. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the time required for a series of write processing on relief address information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Elpida Memory, Inc.
    Inventor: Shuichi Kubouchi
  • Publication number: 20120120735
    Abstract: To provide a plurality of fuse elements, each of which is either in a programmed state or a non-programmed state, a plurality of fuse determination circuits, each of which outputs a determination result signal that corresponds to a programmed state or a non-programmed state of the fuse element, and a plurality of latch circuits that commonly receive a first timing signal, and each of which latches and outputs the determination result signal synchronously with the first timing signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: ELPIDA MEMORY, INC.
    Inventors: Shuichi KUBOUCHI, Daiki NAKASHIMA
  • Publication number: 20120120750
    Abstract: To provide an electrical fuse that is connected to a detection node via a selective transistor, a precharge transistor that precharges the detection node in a state where the selective transistor is off; a bias transistor that passes a bias current to the detection node in a state where the selective transistor is on and the precharge transistor is off, and a detection circuit that detects a potential of the detection node in a state where the bias current is flowing into the detection node, wherein the bias transistor reduces an amount of the bias current in a stepwise manner or a continuous manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: ELPIDA MEMORY, INC.
    Inventors: Shuichi KUBOUCHI, Daiki NAKASHIMA
  • Publication number: 20110221513
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a boosting circuit that boosts an internal power supply voltage in a boosting range according to an external power supply voltage, an external voltage-level comparison circuit that compares the external power supply voltage and a predetermined reference voltage, and a variable resistor circuit that includes a variable resistor connected to an output terminal of the boosting circuit. The variable resistor circuit controls a resistance value of the variable resistor based on a comparison result of the external voltage-level comparison circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: ELPIDA MEMORY, INC.
    Inventors: Hiroki Fujisawa, Shuichi Kubouchi, Hitoshi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7940587
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device comprises a memory cell array having memory cells arranged at intersections of word lines and bit lines, a first sense amplifier connected to a bit line at a predetermined position of the bit lines, a second sense amplifier connected to a bit line adjacent to the bit line at the predetermined position, a supplying circuit for supplying a predetermined voltage to each bit line connected to the first or second sense amplifier, and a sense amplifier control circuit capable of controlling the first and second sense amplifiers independently. In the semiconductor memory device, the sense amplifier control circuit performs a control in which an operation of either of the first and second sense amplifiers is stopped, the predetermined voltage is supplied to the bit line connected to the stopped sense amplifier, and the other of the first and second sense amplifiers is operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Elpida Memory Inc.
    Inventors: Shuichi Kubouchi, Jun Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7940583
    Abstract: There are provided are a plurality of memory mats, a sub-word driver that accesses a normal memory cell irrespective of whether a row address to which access is requested is a defective address, a sub-word driver that accesses a redundant memory cell belonging to a memory mat different from the normal memory cell indicated by the row address, when the row address is a defective address. According to the present invention, the normal memory cell and a redundant memory cell belong to memory mats different to each other, and thus the normal memory cell can be accessed concurrently with determining operation of the repair determining circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Elpida Memory, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshiro Riho, Jun Suzuki, Yasuhiro Matsumoto, Shuichi Kubouchi, Hiromasa Noda, Yasuji Koshikawa
  • Publication number: 20110096616
    Abstract: A sense amplifier circuit, which is connected to a bit line and to an inverted bit line to which a voltage, inverted alternatively from a high level or a low level of a voltage applied to the bit line, is applied, includes a first resistance section reducing a voltage output from a memory cell through the inverted bit line, a second resistance section reducing a voltage output from a memory cell through the bit line, and an amplification section amplifying the first voltage reduced by the first resistance section and amplifying the second voltage reduced by the second resistance section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Inventors: Shuichi KUBOUCHI, Yoshiro RIHO
  • Publication number: 20110063933
    Abstract: To provided a relief-address generating circuit that generates relief address information based on plural data bits supplied in time sequence via a first terminal from outside and a programming circuit that writes into any one of fuse sets the relief address information generated by the relief-address generating circuit. With this configuration, repetition of a programming operation by the total number of the fuse sets at the maximum completes a series of write processing on relief address information. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the time required for a series of write processing on relief address information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Applicant: Elpida Memory, Inc.
    Inventor: Shuichi Kubouchi
  • Publication number: 20110058402
    Abstract: A bit memory circuit of an antifuse element set includes two antifuse elements of which logical states are changed from an insulation state to a conductive state when a program voltage is applied. 1-bit data is represented by the logical states of the two antifuse elements. The two antifuse elements are collectively controlled by one decoder circuit. When writing data, the decoder circuit simultaneously performs insulation-breakdown on the two antifuse elements by simultaneously connecting the two antifuse elements to program voltage lines, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicant: Elpida Memory, Inc.
    Inventors: Shuichi Kubouchi, Hiroki Fujisawa
  • Publication number: 20100103758
    Abstract: To provide a first power supply wiring that supplies a lower-side write potential to a sense amplifier, a second power supply wiring that supplies a higher-side write potential to the sense amplifier, a third power supply wiring that supplies an overdrive potential to the sense amplifier, and a stabilizing capacitance arranged between the first power supply wiring and the third power supply wiring. With this configuration, a capacitance value applied to the lower-side write potential and a capacitance value applied to the overdrive potential inevitably match, and thus fluctuation of the lower-side write potential and fluctuation of the overdrive potential at an initial stage of a sense operation are offset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: ELPIDA MEMORY, INC.
    Inventors: Yoshiro Riho, Shuichi Kubouchi
  • Publication number: 20090268534
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device comprises a memory cell array having memory cells arranged at intersections of word lines and bit lines, a first sense amplifier connected to a bit line at a predetermined position of the bit lines, a second sense amplifier connected to a bit line adjacent to the bit line at the predetermined position, a supplying circuit for supplying a predetermined voltage to each bit line connected to the first or second sense amplifier, and a sense amplifier control circuit capable of controlling the first and second sense amplifiers independently. In the semiconductor memory device, the sense amplifier control circuit performs a control in which an operation of either of the first and second sense amplifiers is stopped, the predetermined voltage is supplied to the bit line connected to the stopped sense amplifier, and the other of the first and second sense amplifiers is operated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Inventors: Shuichi Kubouchi, Jun Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7580321
    Abstract: A synchronous semiconductor memory device of the present invention has a clock generator for generating a normal and a reverse phase clocks by dividing an external clock, a command decoder for decoding an external command and outputting a command signal; latency setting means capable of selectively setting an even or odd number latency within a range of a predetermined number of clock cycles of the external clock, a latency counter which includes two counter circuits for sequentially shifting the command signal captured using the normal and reverse phase clock and being capable of switching a signal path in response to the number of clock cycles, and first and second control means which controls counting of the clock cycles equivalent to the even or odd number latency by forming an appropriate signal path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Elpida Memory, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroki Fujisawa, Shuichi Kubouchi, Koji Kuroki
  • Publication number: 20090201753
    Abstract: There are provided are a plurality of memory mats, a sub-word driver that accesses a normal memory cell irrespective of whether a row address to which access is requested is a defective address, a sub-word driver that accesses a redundant memory cell belonging to a memory mat different from the normal memory cell indicated by the row address, when the row address is a defective address. According to the present invention, the normal memory cell and a redundant memory cell belong to memory mats different to each other, and thus the normal memory cell can be accessed concurrently with determining operation of the repair determining circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Inventors: Yoshiro Riho, Jun Suzuki, Yasuhiro Matsumoto, Shuichi Kubouchi, Hiromasa Noda, Yasuji Koshikawa
  • Publication number: 20080165611
    Abstract: A synchronous semiconductor memory device of the present invention has a clock generator for generating a normal and a reverse phase clocks by dividing an external clock, a command decoder for decoding an external command and outputting a command signal; latency setting means capable of selectively setting an even or odd number latency within a range of a predetermined number of clock cycles of the external clock, a latency counter which includes two counter circuits for sequentially shifting the command signal captured using the normal and reverse phase clock and being capable of switching a signal path in response to the number of clock cycles, and first and second control means which controls counting of the clock cycles equivalent to the even or odd number latency by forming an appropriate signal path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: ELPIDA MEMORY INC.
    Inventors: Hiroki Fujisawa, Shuichi Kubouchi, Koji Kuroki