Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of memory cell arrays each including a plurality of memory cells arranged in a matrix pattern, and a plurality of cell plate lines each being shared by the memory cell arrays, each of the cell plate lines corresponding to each of rows of the memory cells and each of the cell plate lines being connected to the memory cells of a corresponding one of the rows. Each of the memory cell arrays includes a plurality of word lines each of which corresponds to each of the rows of the memory cells in the memory cell array. The number of the memory cells connected to each of the cell plate lines is larger than the number of the memory cells connected to one of the word lines corresponding to the each of the cell plate lines.

Abstract: A syndrome generation section generates a syndrome from input data having d bits of data bits and k bits of parity bits. A syndrome table stores a syndrome pattern indicating that no error has occurred in the input data and syndrome patterns indicating an error position. A comparison section compares the syndrome generated by the syndrome generation section with the syndrome patterns in the syndrome table, outputs a match signal when a syndrome pattern matching the syndrome exists, and outputs a no-match signal when no syndrome pattern matching the syndrome exists. An error correction section corrects the error in the input data based on the match signal from the comparison section.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of memory cell arrays each including a plurality of memory cells arranged in a matrix pattern, and a plurality of cell plate lines each being shared by the memory cell arrays, each of the cell plate lines corresponding to each of rows of the memory cells and each of the cell plate lines being connected to the memory cells of a corresponding one of the rows. Each of the memory cell arrays includes a plurality of word lines each of which corresponds to each of the rows of the memory cells in the memory cell array. The number of the memory cells connected to each of the cell plate lines is larger than the number of the memory cells connected to one of the word lines corresponding to the each of the cell plate lines.

Abstract: In rewriting processing of logical sectors, data of the transferred logical sectors are temporarily stored in a memory buffer. When the buffer memory has been full filled with data, the data is written into a flash memory. In rewriting processing for the flash memory including a writing unit (page) having a capacity larger than a minimum writing unit (sector) from outside, the number of executions of the evacuation processing can be reduced and the fast data rewriting can be performed. Thus, it is possible to rationalize the evacuation processing for old data caused in the rewriting in units of sectors and to improve the data rewriting speed.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device including a ferroelectric memory includes: a nonvolatile memory having higher data retention capability under high temperature than the ferroelectric memory; and a connection circuit for switching between connection and disconnection of the ferroelectric memory and the nonvolatile memory. The ferroelectric memory receives, through the connection circuit, at least part of data which is unique to the device and which has been written into the nonvolatile memory, and retains the received data.

Abstract: A memory system of the present invention includes a memory device having a nonvolatile memory and an access device which accesses the memory device. The memory device has a detection unit to detect a temperature of the memory device, a determination unit to determine an operating condition in accordance with the detected temperature and a notification unit to notify the access device of the determined operating condition. The access device has an interface unit to connect to the memory device and a controlling unit to control the interface unit in accordance with the notified operating condition from the memory device.

Abstract: A semiconductor storage apparatus comprising: a ferroelectric memory; an SRAM 30; a counter 41; a CAM 10 that judges whether or not a block of data requested to be read out from the ferroelectric memory is stored in the SRAM 30; a storage control unit 51 that, if a result of the judgment is negative, performs a control to read out the requested block of data from the ferroelectric memory and stores a copy of the read-out block of data into a unit storage area in the SRAM 30 that corresponds to the count value indicated by the counter 41; and a counter control unit 52 that causes the counter 41 to update the count value each time a result of the judgment is negative.

Abstract: An operation switch circuit receives a command specifying operational specifications from a host. An operation control circuit controls the time of voltage application to a plate line based on an output signal from the operation switch circuit, to attain volatile-mode operation in a first memory region and nonvolatile-mode operation in a second memory region, for example.

Abstract: A non-volatile storage device comprises a non-volatile memory into which data is written per unit area, and a memory controller for controlling writing of data into the non-volatile memory. The memory controller comprises a first storage section for holding data input from the outside of the device, a first control section for writing data which is held by the first storage section and whose amount corresponds to the unit area, into the non-volatile memory in a unit area-by-unit area basis, and writing data which is held by the first storage section and whose amount is less than the unit area, into a second storage section, and a second control section for writing data held by the second storage section into the non-volatile memory.

Abstract: A ferroelectric memory of the present invention comprises: a plurality of normal cells, each of which includes a first ferroelectric capacitor for holding data and a first transistor connected to a first electrode of the first ferroelectric capacitor; a first bit line connected to the first transistor; a first bit line precharge circuit which is a switch circuit provided between the first bit line and a ground; and a word line connected to a gate of the first transistor. The word line is deactivated to disconnect the first ferroelectric capacitor from the first bit line before the first bit line precharge circuit is driven to discharge a potential of the first bit line.

Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor memory device compatible with a SRAM and capable of a high-speed data transfer operation while maintaining data reliability. An access to a memory core 6 starts when an external chip enable signal XCE performs a falling transition. Simultaneously, an external write enable signal XWE and an external address signal ADD are received, and a memory cell 1, in the memory core 6, corresponding to the received external address signal ADD is selected. When a data read-out from the memory cell 1 or a data write-in to the memory cell 1 is complete, a rewrite timer 7 is activated in accordance with a rising transition of an external chip enable signal XCE or a rising transition of the external write enable signal XWE for performing a data rewrite for the memory cell 1.

Abstract: A nonvolatile storage device according to the invention is a nonvolatile storage device into which data is inputted from an external device on a sector unit, and includes: a main memory which is nonvolatile and in which data is written on a page unit, the page unit being larger than the sector unit; an auxiliary memory which holds at least a single page worth of the input data; a memory judging unit that judges whether or not data held in the auxiliary memory is equal to or larger than data of the page unit; and a memory control unit that writes, in a new page of the main memory on the page unit, the data held in the auxiliary memory when the memory judgment unit judges that the data held in the auxiliary memory is equal to or larger than data of the page unit.

Abstract: A semiconductor storage apparatus comprising: a ferroelectric memory; an SRAM 30; a counter 41; a CAM 10 that judges whether or not a block of data requested to be read out from the ferroelectric memory is stored in the SRAM 30; a storage control unit 51 that, if a result of the judgment is negative, performs a control to read out the requested block of data from the ferroelectric memory and stores a copy of the read-out block of data into a unit storage area in the SRAM 30 that corresponds to the count value indicated by the counter 41; and a counter control unit 52 that causes the counter 41 to update the count value each time a result of the judgment is negative.

Abstract: An operation switch circuit receives a command specifying operational specifications from a host. An operation control circuit controls the time of voltage application to a plate line based on an output signal from the operation switch circuit, to attain volatile-mode operation in a first memory region and nonvolatile-mode operation in a second memory region, for example.

Abstract: To provide a semiconductor storage device which can adapt to assembly processes involving different treatment temperatures, can become unrewritable when rewriting of data by the user is prohibited, negates the necessity for developing different semiconductor storage devices, and lowers development cost. A semiconductor storage device is provided with, as areas for storing faulty address information indicating a faulty area and operation mode setting information about the semiconductor storage device, a first setting function storage area 103 formed from electrically-rewritable nonvolatile memory and a second setting function storage area 102 formed from once-rewritable nonvolatile memory. Transfer of faulty address information to a faulty address register 111 and transfer of operation mode setting information to an operation mode register 110 are selectively performed.

Abstract: A memory system of the present invention includes a memory device having a nonvolatile memory and an access device which accesses the memory device. The memory device has a detection unit to detect a temperature of the memory device, a determination unit to determine an operating condition in accordance with the detected temperature and a notification unit to notify the access device of the determined operating condition. The access device has an interface unit to connect to the memory device and a controlling unit to control the interface unit in accordance with the notified operating condition from the memory device.

Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor memory device compatible with a SRAM and capable of a high-speed data transfer operation while maintaining data reliability. An access to a memory core 6 starts when an external chip enable signal XCE performs a falling transition. Simultaneously, an external write enable signal XWE and an external address signal ADD are received, and a memory cell 1, in the memory core 6, corresponding to the received external address signal ADD is selected. When a data read-out from the memory cell 1 or a data write-in to the memory cell 1 is complete, a rewrite timer 7 is activated in accordance with a rising transition of an external chip enable signal XCE or a rising transition of the external write enable signal XWE for performing a data rewrite for the memory cell 1.

Abstract: To provide a semiconductor storage device which can adapt to assembly processes involving different treatment temperatures, can become unrewritable when rewriting of data by the user is prohibited, negates the necessity for developing different semiconductor storage devices, and lowers development cost. A semiconductor storage device is provided with, as areas for storing faulty address information indicating a faulty area and operation mode setting information about the semiconductor storage device, a first setting function storage area 103 formed from electrically-rewritable nonvolatile memory and a second setting function storage area 102 formed from once-rewritable nonvolatile memory. Transfer of faulty address information to a faulty address register 111 and transfer of operation mode setting information to an operation mode register 110 are selectively performed.

Abstract: A ferroelectric memory of the present invention comprises: a plurality of normal cells, each of which includes a first ferroelectric capacitor for holding data and a first transistor connected to a first electrode of the first ferroelectric capacitor; a first bit line connected to the first transistor; a first bit line precharge circuit which is a switch circuit provided between the first bit line and a ground; and a word line connected to a gate of the first transistor. The word line is deactivated to disconnect the first ferroelectric capacitor from the first bit line before the first bit line precharge circuit is driven to discharge a potential of the first bit line.

Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor memory device compatible with a SRAM and capable of a high-speed data transfer operation while maintaining data reliability. An access to a memory core 6 starts when an external chip enable signal XCE performs a falling transition. Simultaneously, an external write enable signal XWE and an external address signal ADD are received, and a memory cell 1, in the memory core 6, corresponding to the received external address signal ADD is selected. When a data read-out from the memory cell 1 or a data write-in to the memory cell 1 is complete, a rewrite timer 7 is activated in accordance with a rising transition of an external chip enable signal XCE or a rising transition of the external write enable signal XWE for performing a data rewrite for the memory cell 1.