Global Word Or Bit Lines Patents (Class 365/185.13)
  • Patent number: 7872902
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a memory cell array including a plurality of memory cells. A first plurality of bit lines is positioned in a first plane. The first plurality of bit lines is electrically coupled to a first set of the memory cells. A second plurality of bit lines is positioned in a second plane that is different than the first plane. The second plurality of bit lines is electrically coupled to a second set of the memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Qimonda AG
    Inventors: Joerg Volrath, Marcin Gnat
  • Patent number: 7872915
    Abstract: A nonvolatile memory device can improve its operation characteristic by reducing leakage current of a bit line in a read operation. The nonvolatile memory device includes a plurality of word lines, a plurality of main bit lines intersecting with the plurality of word lines, a plurality of cell blocks each including a plurality of cell strings, each of the cell strings including first and second select transistors and a plurality of memory cells, a plurality of sub bit lines commonly connected to the respective cell strings in same group, the cell blocks being grouped into a plurality of groups whose number is identical to or smaller than the number of the cell blocks, a plurality of group selectors configured to selectively connect the main bit lines to the sub bit lines of a selected group, and a plurality of page buffers configured to sense data of the memory cells through the main bit lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventor: Tae-Un Youn
  • Publication number: 20100322004
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device and an erase method in the same are disclosed. The semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array configured to have a cell string in which memory cells are coupled, a block switch configured to switch a global word line and a word line of the memory cell array, a block decoder configured to control the block switch, and a recycle switch configured to use an erase voltage charged in a P-well of the memory cell array as a supply voltage of the block decoder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Sam Kyu WON, Jae Won Cha, In Ho Kang, Kwang Ho Baek
  • Patent number: 7855918
    Abstract: A memory structure includes a first memory cell and a second memory cell located at an identical bit line and adjacent to the first memory cell. Each memory cell includes a substrate, a source, a drain, a charge storage device, and a gate. A method for programming the memory structure includes respectively providing a first gate biasing voltage and a second gate biasing voltage to the first memory cell and the second memory cell, boosting the absolute value of a channel voltage of the first memory cell to generate electron and hole pairs at the drain of the second memory cell through gate-induced drain leakage or band-to-band tunneling, and injecting the electron of the generated electron and hole pairs into the charge storage device of the first memory cell to program the first memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Powerflash Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Riichiro Shirota, Ching-Hsiang Hsu, Cheng-Jye Liu
  • Patent number: 7848147
    Abstract: A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device and a writing method thereof are provided. The nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a cell array, a controller configured to receive input data from an outside source, an address latch unit configured to store a Y-address of the input data and X-addresses respectively corresponding to at least two wordlines, over which the input data is written, based on an address of the input data output from the controller, and a page buffer configured to receive the input data from the controller and temporarily store the input data. The controller writes the data stored in the page buffer over the two wordlines in the cell array based on the at least two X-addresses and the Y-address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jun Young Park
  • Publication number: 20100302865
    Abstract: A nonvolatile memory device comprises a memory cell array comprising memory cells, an operation voltage generation unit configured to generate a first pass voltage when a verification voltage for a memory cell to be programmed is higher than a reference voltage and to generate a second pass voltage lower than the first pass voltage when the verification voltage for the memory cell to be programmed is lower than the reference voltage, a high voltage switch unit configured to transfer the first or second pass voltage to global word lines other than a selected global word line and to transfer the verification voltage to the selected global word line of the global word lines, and a block selection unit coupled between the global word lines and word lines and configured to transfer the verification voltage and the first or second pass voltage to the word lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventor: In Soo WANG
  • Publication number: 20100302853
    Abstract: A nonvolatile memory device includes a high voltage generation unit configured to generate a program voltage and a pass voltage, a block selection unit coupled to the high voltage generation unit through global word lines, a memory cell array coupled to the block selection unit through word lines, a discharge unit coupled to the global word lines and configured to change a level of voltage supplied to the global word lines, and a discharge control unit configured to generate a discharge signal, and transfer the discharge signal to the discharge unit in response to the program voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2009
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventor: In Soo WANG
  • Publication number: 20100284221
    Abstract: A nonvolatile memory device includes global selection lines, local selection lines, a first selection circuit, and a second selection circuit. The local lines correspond respectively to the global selection lines. The first selection circuit is configured to connect to the global selection lines to select the global selection lines. The second selection circuit is connected between the global selection lines and the local selection lines and is configured to select the local selection lines. The first selection circuit is configured to select at least one global selection line, and the second selection circuit is configured to select the local selection lines corresponding to the selected global selection line while the at least one global selection line is continuously activated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Inventors: Joon-Yong Choi, Byunggil Choi, Yu Hwan Ro, Yong-Jun Lee
  • Patent number: 7830722
    Abstract: A plurality of integrated circuit features are provided in the context of an array of memory cells including a plurality of word lines and a plurality of bit lines. Each memory cell includes a floating body or is volatile memory. The aforementioned features may include, among others, an option whereby the foregoing bit lines may be situated below a channel region of corresponding memory cells, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: SanDisk 3D LLC
    Inventor: Roy E. Scheuerlein
  • Patent number: 7830718
    Abstract: In one of the disclosed embodiments, a write algorithm is used to remove errors due to back pattern effects, cell-to-cell capacitive coupling, and program disturb in memory cells. Original data to be programmed is adjusted prior to an initial programming operation of the memory cells. The original data is then programmed into the memory cells in another programming operation. In an alternate embodiment, a read adjustment weight data value is associated with each series string of memory cells. The weight data value is used to compensate data read during an initial word line read. The weight data value is updated after each read and read adjustment such that the adjusted weight data value is used on the subsequent read operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Vishal Sarin, Jung-Sheng Hoei, Frankie F. Roohparvar
  • Patent number: 7830716
    Abstract: During first portion of a first read cycle determining that a first input of a sense amplifier is to receive information based upon a state of a storage cell during a first portion of a read cycle, and determining that a conductance at the first input is substantially equal to a conductance at a second input of the sense amplifier during the first portion. A plurality of NAND string modules are connected to a global bit line of a memory device that includes a memory column where a plurality of NAND strings and a buffer are formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Spansion LLC
    Inventors: Bruce Lee Morton, Michael VanBuskirk
  • Patent number: 7826266
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a sense amplifier and a decoder provided on a semiconductor substrate together with memory cells provided above the sense amplifier and the decoder. Each of the memory cells includes a channel region, in which current flows in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the semiconductor substrate, a charge accumulation region provided along the channel region, and an insulator film provided between the channel region and the charge accumulation region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Ishii
  • Patent number: 7826267
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for dynamic programming and dynamic reading of a select non-volatile memory cell in a virtual grounds array is disclosed. In the dynamic read operation the global bit lines and the associated local bit lines are connected to a precharged voltage. One of the first or second global bit lines is connected to a low voltage such as ground, wherein the one global bit line connected to ground also connects to the local bit line for sensing the select non-volatile memory cell. The state of the select non-volatile memory cell is detected by detecting the sense amplifier connected to the global bit line, other than the one global bit line. In a dynamic programming operation, the first and second global bit lines and their associated local bit lines are precharged to a first voltage. One of the first or second global bit line and its associated local bit lines is connected to a second voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Silicon Storage Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jack Frayer, Ya-Fen Lin, Gianfranco Pellegrini, William Saiki, Changyuan Chen, Xiuhong Chen
  • Patent number: 7821833
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes sectors having memory cells connected to local word lines, decoders selecting the sectors, and a circuit generating, in erasing of a selected sector, a control signal that causes a corresponding one of the decoders associated with the selected sector to be temporarily unselected. Each of the sectors includes a pull-up transistor that is driven by a corresponding one of the decoders via a corresponding one of global word lines connecting the sectors and drives one of the local word lines, and the pull-up transistor is kept OFF by the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Spansion LLC
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Tanuma, Kazuhiro Kurihara
  • Patent number: 7821821
    Abstract: A multibit electro-mechanical memory device and a method of manufacturing the same include a substrate, a bit line in a first direction on the substrate, a lower word line in a second direction intersecting the first direction, a pad electrode isolated from a sidewall of the lower word line and connected to the bit line, a cantilever electrode expending in the first direction over the lower word line with a lower void therebetween, and connected to the pad electrode and curved in a third direction vertical to the first and second direction by an electrical field induced by a charge applied to the lower word line, a trap site expending in the second direction over the cantilever electrode with an upper void therebetween, and an upper word line to which a charge to curve the cantilever electrode in a direction of the trap site is applied, and on the trap site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ji-Myoung Lee, Min-Sang Kim, Eun-Jung Yun, Sung-Young Lee, In-Hyuk Choi
  • Patent number: 7808042
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods, systems and devices, including a device having a digit line and a plurality of transistors each having one terminal connected to the digit line and another terminal disposed on alternating sides of the digit line. In some embodiments, each transistor among the plurality of transistors comprises a fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Werner Juengling
  • Publication number: 20100238739
    Abstract: A NOR flash memory device is programmed by selecting one of a plurality of global bit lines and sequentially selecting a plurality of local bit lines commonly connected with the selected global bit line to supply a program voltage to memory cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ji ho CHO
  • Publication number: 20100226180
    Abstract: A memory array is described, including memory cells with source and drain doped regions, and global bit lines coupled to the doped regions via select transistors. The connections of the select transistors are configured such that the respective loading capacitances of two global bit lines respectively coupled to the source and the drain of a memory cell to be read do not vary with the memory cell to be read.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: MACRONIX International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-He Chiang, Chung-Kuang Chen, Han-Sung Chen
  • Patent number: 7791936
    Abstract: A multibit electro-mechanical memory device and a method of manufacturing the same include a substrate, a bit line on the substrate; a lower word line and a trap site isolated from the bit line, a pad electrode isolated from a sidewall of the trap site and the lower word line and connected to the bit line, a cantilever electrode suspended over a lower void in an upper part of the trap site, and connected to the pad electrode and curved by an electrical field induced by a charge applied to the lower word line, a contact part for concentrating a charge induced from the cantilever electrode thereon in response to the charge applied from the lower word line and the trap site, the contact part protruding from an end part of the cantilever electrode, and an upper word line formed with an upper void above the cantilever electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ji-Myoung Lee, Min-Sang Kim, Eun-Jung Yun, Sung-Young Lee, In-Hyuk Choi
  • Patent number: 7791940
    Abstract: An integrated circuit has a plurality of first memory cells, which are electrically coupled along a first line, and additionally has a plurality of second memory cells which are electrically coupled along a second line. The integrated circuit furthermore has a switching unit having a plurality of switching elements having in turn a first contact and a second contact. The first contact of a first switching element is coupled to the plurality of first memory cells, and the first contact of a second switching element is coupled to the plurality of second memory cells. In addition, the first contact of a third switching element is coupled to the second contact of the first switching element, and the first contact of a fourth switching element is coupled to the second contact of the second switching element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Qimonda AG
    Inventor: Andreas Taeuber
  • Patent number: 7791879
    Abstract: A shell of an electronic device includes a front cover, a rear cover, and a latching assembly. The front cover includes two first sidewalls. The rear cover includes two first borders. The latching assembly includes two first latching members, two spacers, and two groups of second latching members. The first latching members define a number of latch-receiving portions. The first latching members are fixed to the inner surface of first sidewall with a corresponding spacer intervened therebetween. The second latching member is mounted to the inner surface. Each of the second latching members includes a sliding pole and a cap. Each of the latch-receiving portion includes a sliding portion forming an entrance for a corresponding second latching member sliding into the latch-receiving portion, and a latching portion communicating with the sliding portion, which is an elongate slot parallel to the length direction of the first latching member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hua Jiang, Zhan-Sheng Lu
  • Patent number: 7787299
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device and an erase method in the same are disclosed. The semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array configured to have a cell string in which memory cells are coupled, a block switch configured to switch a global word line and a word line of the memory cell array, a block decoder configured to control the block switch, and a recycle switch configured to use an erase voltage charged in a P-well of the memory cell array as a supply voltage of the block decoder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Sam Kyu Won, Jae Won Cha, In Ho Kang, Kwang Ho Baek
  • Patent number: 7778086
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods may operate to receive an external erase command at a control circuit coupled to an erasable memory array located on a substrate. A global select gate voltage may thereafter be enabled for application to wordline transistors coupled to the erasable memory array after a voltage applied to the substrate has reached a preselected initiation voltage level between about zero volts and an ultimate erase voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaojun Yu, Jin-man Han, Aaron Yip
  • Patent number: 7764549
    Abstract: A plurality of integrated circuit features are provided in the context of an array of memory cells including a plurality of word lines and a plurality of bit lines. Each memory cell includes a floating body or is volatile memory. The aforementioned features may include, among others, an option whereby the foregoing bit lines may be situated below a channel region of corresponding memory cells, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: SanDisk 3D LLC
    Inventor: Roy E. Scheuerlein
  • Patent number: 7755941
    Abstract: In a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device storing data by accumulating charges in a floating gate, memory units, each of which includes a first MOS transistor as a read device, a bit cell composed of a first capacitor as a capacitance coupling device and a second capacitor as an erase device, and a decode device including a second MOS transistor and a third MOS transistor, are arranged in array. This attains nonvolatile memory capable of bit by bit selective erase arranged in array to thus reduce the core area remarkably.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yasue Yamamoto, Masanori Shirahama, Yasuhiro Agata, Toshiaki Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 7755942
    Abstract: A memory cell array includes a plurality of memory cells disposed in matrix. A plurality of word lines extend in the row direction, and the gates in the memory cells disposed in each row are commonly connected to one of the word lines. A plurality of sub bit lines extend in the column direction, and the sources in the memory cells disposed in a first column and the drains in the memory cells disposed in a second column, which is adjacent to the first column, are commonly connected to one of the sub bit lines. A plurality of pairs of transistors are provided, each having a source selector and a drain selector. Each transistor pair is disposed at one of the locations at both ends of the sub bit lines, which are adjacent to each other, in a manner such that the transistor pairs sandwich the word lines from alternating sub bit ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Oki Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomonori Terasawa, Nobukazu Murata
  • Patent number: 7746690
    Abstract: A memory operable at a high speed is obtained. This memory comprises a plurality of word lines, first transistors each connected to each the plurality of word lines for entering an ON-state through selection of the corresponding word line, a plurality of memory cells including diodes having cathodes connected to the source or drain regions of the first transistors respectively and a data determination portion connected to the drain or source regions of the first transistors for determining data read from a selected memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kouichi Yamada
  • Patent number: 7738307
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is capable of minimizing data skew among respective data which are transmitted to a receiver through respective data lines. The semiconductor device includes a synchronization unit connected to at least one portion of the respective data lines, for synchronizing time that the plurality of data transferred through the respective data lines take to arrive at the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Seong-Hwi Song
  • Publication number: 20100142279
    Abstract: In this AG-AND type flash memory, a layered bit line configuration where a memory array is divided into a plurality of sub blocks, new main bit lines are allocated so as to correspond to each sub block, and a main bit line is selectively connected to a global bit line in an upper layer via a switch is adopted, so that charge sharing write-in is carried out between two main bit lines. Accordingly, write-in of data into the flash memory can be carried out with low power consumption, and the threshold voltage can be controlled with precision.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: RENESAS TECHNOLOGY CORP.
    Inventors: Takashi Kono, Yuichi Kunori, Hironori Iga
  • Patent number: 7733683
    Abstract: Disclosed is a semiconductor memory including ferroelectric capacitors. Memory cells each including a ferroelectric capacitor and an insulted-gate-type cell transistor are connected to a corresponding one of bit lines. Insulated-gate-type separating transistors are connected between multiple bit-line selecting transistors and multiple sense amplifiers, respectively. When the separating transistors are turned on, data retained in the sense amplifiers are capable of being written to the memory cells during the same time period substantially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Daisaburo Takashima, Ryu Ogiwara
  • Patent number: 7733696
    Abstract: A non-volatile integrated circuit memory device may include a semiconductor substrate having first and second electrically isolated wells of a same conductivity type. A first plurality of non-volatile memory cell transistors may be provided on the first well, and a second plurality of non-volatile memory cell transistors may be provided on the second well. A local control gate line may be electrically coupled with the first and second pluralities of non-volatile memory cell transistors, and a group selection transistor may be electrically coupled between the local control gate line and a global control gate line. More particularly, the group selection transistor may be configured to electrically couple and decouple the local control gate line and the global control gate line responsive to a group selection gate signal applied to a gate of the group selection transistor. Related methods and systems are also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yong-Kyu Lee, Myung-Jo Chun, Young-Ho Kim, Hee-Seog Jeon, Jeong-Uk Han
  • Patent number: 7724575
    Abstract: In one aspect a non-volatile memory device is provided which is operable in a programming mode and a read mode. The memory device includes a memory cell array which includes a plurality of non-volatile memory cells, a plurality of word lines, and a plurality of bit lines. The memory device further includes an internal data output line for outputting data read from the bit lines of the memory array, and a page buffer operatively connected between a bit line of the memory cell array and the internal data output line. The page buffer includes a sense node which is selectively connected to the bit line, a latch circuit having a latch node which is selectively connected to the sense node, a latch input path which sets a logic voltage of the latch node in the programming mode and the read mode, and a latch output path which is separate from the latch input path and which sets as logic voltage of the internal date output line according to the logic voltage of the latch node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung-Soo Lee, Young-Ho Lim, Hyun-Chul Cho, Dong-Hyuk Chae
  • Patent number: 7719897
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory device includes page buffers arranged in groups, each group being coupled to a corresponding data output line so that data from more than one of the page buffers in each group may be simultaneously represented on the corresponding data output line during a program verification operation. Page buffers may be arranged in repair units with data from more than one page buffer simultaneously coupled to a data output line during a column scan operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chul-Ho Lee, Jin-Yub Lee
  • Patent number: 7719894
    Abstract: The capacitive coupling between two adjacent bitlines of a NAND memory device may be exploited for boosting the voltage of bitlines that are not to be programmed in order to inhibit program operations on them. The even (odd) bitlines that include cells not to be programmed are biased with a first voltage for inhibiting them from being programmed while the even (odd) bitlines that include cells to be programmed are grounded. The adjacent odd (even) bitlines are biased at the supply voltage or at an auxiliary voltage for boosting the bias voltage of the even (odd) bitlines above the supply voltage. The bias voltage of the even (odd) bitlines that include cells not to be programmed is boosted because of the relevant parasitic coupling capacitances between adjacent bitlines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Inventors: Luca Crippa, Roberto Ravasio, Rino Micheloni
  • Patent number: 7679985
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device and an arrangement method thereof are disclosed. The semiconductor memory device comprises column selecting signal lines and global data IO signal lines arranged on the same layer in the same direction above a memory cell array; word lines and first local data IO signal lines arranged on a different layer from the column selecting signal lines above the memory cell array, in a perpendicular direction to the column selecting signal lines; and second local data IO signal lines arranged on a different layer from the column selecting signal lines and the word lines above the memory cell array, in the same direction as the first local data IO signal lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chul-Woo Park, Sung-Hoon Kim, Hyuk-Joon Kwon, Jung-Bae Lee, Youn-Sik Park
  • Patent number: 7679963
    Abstract: An intergrated circuit having a drive circuit is disclosed. One embodiment provides an intergrated memory circuit arrangement with a drive circuit for an EEPROM. In one embodiment, the drive circuit contains tunnel field effect transistors and can be produced in particular on a small chip area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Ronald Kakoschke, Thomas Nirschl, Doris Schmitt-Landsiedel
  • Patent number: 7675779
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory device includes memory transistors disposed on a semiconductor substrate in a NAND string. A string select transistor is disposed at a first end of the NAND string, and a ground select transistor is disposed at a second end of the NAN string. Bit lines are electrically connected to the semiconductor substrate outside of the string select transistor and a gate electrode of the ground select transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Won-joo Kim, Yoon-dong Park, Seung-hoon Lee, Suk-pil Kim, Jae-woong Hyun, Jung-hun Sung, Tae-hee Lee
  • Publication number: 20100054039
    Abstract: For realizing high speed flash memory, bit line is multi-divided for reducing parasitic capacitance, so that local bit line is quickly discharged when reading a memory cell and multi-stage sense amps are used, wherein the multi-stage sense amps are composed of a first dynamic circuit serving as a local sense amp connecting to the local bit line through a read transistor, a second dynamic circuit serving as a segment sense amp for reading the local sense amp, and a tri-state inverter serving as an amplify circuit of a global sense amp for reading the segment sense amp. When reading data, a cell current difference is converted to a time difference for differentiating low threshold data and high threshold data by the multi-stage sense amps. And a buffered data path is connected to the global sense amp for achieving fast data transfer. Additionally, alternative circuits and memory cell structures are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Inventor: Juhan Kim
  • Patent number: 7668011
    Abstract: Provided herein is a serial flash memory device and precharging method thereof in which a single local bit-line data is sensed in synchronization with a clock. The method includes precharging two or more local bit-lines in synchronization with a first clock; and disprecharging one of the two local bit-lines in synchronization with a second clock and sensing and amplifying data of the other local bit-line. Accordingly, two precharged local bit-lines are not adjacent to each other, thereby eliminating a coupling noise effect. In addition, the time for performing the precharging operation and the sensing operation is easily secured, compared to the prior precharging method in which corresponding local bit-lines are precharged at every clock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Excel Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Hun Woo Kye, Jong Bae Jeong, Seung Duck Kim, Sang Yong Lee, Ki Won Kwon, Seung Keun Lee
  • Patent number: 7668010
    Abstract: A memory array comprises a semiconductor body having a plurality of trenches aligned generally in parallel. The trenches contain semiconductor material, such as doped amorphous silicon, and act as source/drain lines for the memory array. Insulating liners lie between the semiconductor material within the trenches and the semiconductor body. A plurality of word lines overlie the plurality of trenches and channel regions in the semiconductor body in an array of cross points. Charge trapping structures lie between the word lines and the channel regions at the cross points, providing an array of flash memory cells. The charge trapping structures comprise dielectric charge trapping structures adapted to be programmed and erased to store data. A method for manufacturing such devices includes patterning and forming the sources/drain lines with insulating liners prior to formation of the charge trapping structure over the channel regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shaw Hung Ku, Ten Hao Yeh, Shih Chin Lee, Shang Wei Lin, Chia Wei Wu, Tzung Ting Han, Ming Shang Chen, Wenpin Lu
  • Patent number: 7656717
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device of the claimed invention, having an active state for performing a read or write operation and an inactive state except for the active state includes a data input/output (I/O) line; a pull-up latch unit for pulling-up the data I/O line when the semiconductor memory device is in the inactive state; a pull-down latch unit for pulling-down the data I/O line when the semiconductor memory device is in the inactive state; and a selection unit for selectively driving one of the pull-up latch unit and the pull-down latch unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Sang-Jin Byeon, Beom-Ju Shin
  • Patent number: 7656708
    Abstract: The present invention provides a solution for long master bit lines in a large capacity memory device. A master bit line is partitioned by at least one switching transistor placed on the master bit line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventors: Stanley Hong, Jami Wang, Alan Chen
  • Patent number: 7656693
    Abstract: In a memory cell area of a semiconductor device, first, second, and third inter-layer insulating films respectively cover a cell transistor, a bit wiring line, and a capacitor which are connected to each other. In an adjacent peripheral circuit area, a peripheral-circuit transistor is covered with the first inter-layer insulating film, a first-layer wiring line connected to the peripheral-circuit transistor is provided on the first inter-layer insulating film and covered with the second inter-layer insulating film, and a second-layer wiring line is provided on the third inter-layer insulating film. In the memory cell area, a landing pad is provided on the second inter-layer insulating film and between the capacitor and a contact plug for connecting the capacitor to the cell transistor. An assist wiring line connected to the first-layer wiring line is provided on the main surface of the second inter-layer insulating film, on which the landing pad is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Elpida Memory, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Nakamura, Mitsutaka Izawa
  • Patent number: 7646640
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes first and second memory cell blocks, a block decoder, and first and second block switches. The first and second memory cell blocks have a plurality of memory cells connected in a string structure and are respectively disposed in neighboring planes. The block decoder outputs first and second block select signals in response to pre-decoded address signals and first and second plane select signals, which are respectively enabled according to an enable state of the planes. The first and second block switches connect global word lines to word lines of the first and second memory cell blocks in response to the first and second block select signals, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Je-Il Ryu, You-Sung Kim
  • Patent number: 7643344
    Abstract: A variable resistive memory device includes memory sectors, memory cells in each of the memory sectors, sub-wordlines including a first in signal communication with at least a first pair of the memory cells in a first sector and a second in signal communication with at least a second pair of the memory cells in a second sector, local bitlines where each is in signal communication a memory cell, a local bitline selecting signal generator in signal communication with local bitline selecting signal paths, a first local bitline selecting signal path in signal communication with a first pair of the local bitlines, and a second local bitline selecting signal path in signal communication with a second pair of the plurality of local bitlines, where a first of the first pair of local bitlines is in signal communication with a first of the first pair of the memory cells in the first sector and a second of the first pair of local bitlines is in signal communication with a second of the second pair of the memory cells in
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Byung-Gil Choi
  • Patent number: 7643345
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes memory cells, a memory cell array, a contact region, and first contact plugs. The memory cells include a control gate and a current path. The memory cells are arranged in the memory cell array in the first direction. The contact region is adjacent to the memory cell array in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. A terminal portion on one end of the control gate is drawn onto the contact region from within the memory cell array. Each of the first contact plugs is formed on the control gate located in the contact region. The first contact plugs are located so as to alternately sandwich a first axis in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Shigeru Ishibashi
  • Patent number: 7636260
    Abstract: A method for controlling non-volatile storage having individually controllable shield plates between storage elements. The shield plates are formed by depositing a conductive material such as doped polysilicon between storage elements and their associated word lines, and providing contacts for the shield plates. The shield plates reduce electromagnetic coupling between floating gates of the storage elements, and can be used to optimize programming, read and erase operations. The shield plates provide a field induced conductivity between storage elements in a NAND string during a sense operation so that source/drain implants are not needed in the substrate. Alternating high and low voltages are applied to the shield plates, or a common voltage is applied to the shield plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: SanDisk Corporation
    Inventor: Masaaki Higashitani
  • Publication number: 20090303793
    Abstract: During first portion of a first read cycle determining that a first input of a sense amplifier is to receive information based upon a state of a storage cell during a first portion of a read cycle, and determining that a conductance at the first input is substantially equal to a conductance at a second input of the sense amplifier during the first portion. A plurality of NAND string modules are connected to a global bit line of a memory device that includes a memory column where a plurality of NAND strings and a buffer are formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: Spansion LLC
    Inventors: Bruce Lee Morton, Michael VanBuskirk
  • Publication number: 20090296473
    Abstract: The present invention provides an integrated circuit including N1 NAND flash array segments with N2 local bit lines, N1 intra array multiplexers and N2/2 global bit lines. Further, the present invention provides a method of producing an integrated circuit including N1 NAND flash array segments with N2 local bit lines, N1 intra array multiplexers and N2/2 global bit lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: QIMONDA AG
    Inventor: Steffen Meyer
  • Patent number: RE41868
    Abstract: A memory cell with a small surface area is fabricated by forming source lines and data lines above and below and by running the channels to face up and down. The local data lines for each vertically stacked memory cell are connected to a global data line by way of separate selection by a molecular oxide semiconductor, and use of a large surface area is avoided by making joint use of peripheral circuits such as global data lines and sensing amplifiers by performing read and write operations in a timed multiplex manner. Moreover, data lines in multi-layers and memory cells (floating electrode cell) which are non-destructive with respect to readout are utilized to allow placement of memory cells at all intersecting points of word lines and data lines while having a folded data line structure. An improved noise tolerance is attained by establishing a standard threshold voltage for identical dummy cells even in any of the read verify, write verify and erase verify operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Device Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Sano, Tomoyuki Ishii, Kazuo Yano, Toshiyuki Mine