US4413191A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Array word line driver system
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1981-05-05
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Granted: 1983-11-01
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Expires: 2001-05-05
Abstract
Abstract This invention provides a system for selectively driving one word line of a plurality of word lines in a memory array which includes a first highly capacitive common line connected to a plurality of driver circuits, each of which has connected to its output a respective word line and each of which includes a transistor having a capacitive junction connected to the common line. Means are provided for charging the common line and for rapidly discharging the common line through a selected driver circuit to its associated word line. Additionally, a second highly capacitive common line is connected to a point of reference potential through a resistor, with each of the driver circuits being connected between said first and second common lines.
Inventors
- 👤 Russell J. Houghton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 20:57
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11C; G11C11/00; G11C11/21; G11C11/34; G11C11/40; G11C11/41; G11C11/413; G11C11/414; G11C11/415
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
A driver system comprising: a first common conductive line, a plurality of load lines, a plurality of switching means, each of said means having a given capacitive element coupled to said common line and each of said means being connected between said common line and a respective one of said plurality of load lines, means for precharging said common line and said plurality of load lines during a first period of time, and means for selectively actuating one of said plurality of switching means during a second period of time for discharging said precharged common line to thereby effect the discharge of the respective load line of said actuated switching means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
111 words
A driver system comprising: a first common conductive line, a plurality of load lines, a plurality of switching means, each of said means having a given capacitive element coupled to said common line and each of said means being connected between said common line and a respective one of said plurality of load lines, means for precharging said common line and said plurality of load lines during a first period of time, and means for selectively actuating one of said plurality of switching means during a second period of time for discharging said precharged common line to thereby effect the discharge of the respective load line of said actuated switching means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
103 words
A driver system comprising: a first common conductive line, a capacitor connected to said common line, a plurality of load lines, a plurality of switching means, each of said means being connected between said common line and a respective one of said plurality of load lines, means for precharging said common line and said plurality of load lines during a first period of time, and means for selectively actuating one of said plurality of switching means during a second period of time for discharging said precharged common line to thereby effect the discharge of the respective load line of said actuated switching means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
103 words
A driver system comprising: a first common conductive line, a capacitor connected to said common line, a plurality of load lines, a plurality of switching means, each of said means being connected between said common line and a respective one of said plurality of load lines, means for precharging said common line and said plurality of load lines during a first period of time, and means for selectively actuating one of said plurality of switching means during a second period of time for discharging said precharged common line to thereby effect the discharge of the respective load line of said actuated switching means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
118 words
A memory array driver system comprising: a first common conductive line, a second common conductive line having a capacitive impedance connected thereto, a plurality of word lines, a plurality of switching means, each of said means having a given capacitive element coupled to said first common line and each of said means being connected between said first and second common lines, and to a respective one of said plurality of word lines, means for charging said first common line and said plurality of word lines, and means for selectively actuating one of said plurality of switching means for discharging said first common line to thereby effect the discharge of the respective word line of said actuated switching means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
118 words
A memory array driver system comprising: a first common conductive line, a second common conductive line having a capacitive impedance connected thereto, a plurality of word lines, a plurality of switching means, each of said means having a given capacitive element coupled to said first common line and each of said means being connected between said first and second common lines, and to a respective one of said plurality of word lines, means for charging said first common line and said plurality of word lines, and means for selectively actuating one of said plurality of switching means for discharging said first common line to thereby effect the discharge of the respective word line of said actuated switching means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A driver system as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said switching means includes a transistor having a junction capacitance coupled to said common line.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A driver system as set forth in claim 4 wherein said transistor is a PNP transistor having its emitter-base junction capacitance coupled to said common line.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
A memory array driver system as set forth in claim 3 wherein each of said switching means includes a first transistor having a capacitive junction coupled to said first common line and wherein said charging means includes a resistor and a source of potential coupled to said first common line through said resistor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
A memory array driver system as set forth in claim 6 wherein each of said switching means includes a first current amplifier including said first transistor and a second current amplifier coupled to said first current amplifier including a second transistor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
133 words
A driver system comprising: a first common conductive line, a plurality of load lines, a plurality of switching means, each of said means having a given capacitive element coupled to said common line and each of said means being connected between said common line and a respective one of said plurality of load lines, means for charging said common line and said plurality of load lines, a resistor, a second common conductive line connected to a point of reference potential through said resistor, each of said switching means further including a second capacitive element coupled to said second common line, and means for selectively actuating one of said plurality of switching means for discharging said first common line to thereby effect the discharge of the respective load line of said actuated switching means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
133 words
A driver system comprising: a first common conductive line, a plurality of load lines, a plurality of switching means, each of said means having a given capacitive element coupled to said common line and each of said means being connected between said common line and a respective one of said plurality of load lines, means for charging said common line and said plurality of load lines, a resistor, a second common conductive line connected to a point of reference potential through said resistor, each of said switching means further including a second capacitive element coupled to said second common line, and means for selectively actuating one of said plurality of switching means for discharging said first common line to thereby effect the discharge of the respective load line of said actuated switching means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
122 words
A driver system comprising: a first common conductive line, a capacitor connected to said common line, a plurality of load lines, a plurality of switching means, each of said means being connected between said common line and a respective one of said plurality of load lines, means for charging said common line and said plurality of load lines, a resistor, a second common conductive line connected to a point of reference potential through said resistor, each of said switching means being connected between said first and second common lines, and means for selectively actuating one of said plurality of switching means for discharging said first common line to thereby effect the discharge of the respective load line of said actuated switching means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
122 words
A driver system comprising: a first common conductive line, a capacitor connected to said common line, a plurality of load lines, a plurality of switching means, each of said means being connected between said common line and a respective one of said plurality of load lines, means for charging said common line and said plurality of load lines, a resistor, a second common conductive line connected to a point of reference potential through said resistor, each of said switching means being connected between said first and second common lines, and means for selectively actuating one of said plurality of switching means for discharging said first common line to thereby effect the discharge of the respective load line of said actuated switching means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
159 words
A memory array driver system comprising: a first common conductive line, a plurality of word lines, a plurality of amplifying means, each of said means having a first current amplifier including a first transistor having a capacitive junction forming a given capacitive element coupled to said common line and a second current amplifier coupled to said first current amplifier including a second transistor, and each of said means being connected between said common line and a respective one of said plurality of word lines, means for charging said common line and said plurality of load lines, a resistor, a second common conductive line connected to a point of reference potential through said resistor, said second transistor including a capacitive junction connected to said second common line, and means for selectively actuating one of said plurality of amplifying means for discharging said first common line to thereby effect the discharge of the respective word line of said actuated amplifying means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
159 words
A memory array driver system comprising: a first common conductive line, a plurality of word lines, a plurality of amplifying means, each of said means having a first current amplifier including a first transistor having a capacitive junction forming a given capacitive element coupled to said common line and a second current amplifier coupled to said first current amplifier including a second transistor, and each of said means being connected between said common line and a respective one of said plurality of word lines, means for charging said common line and said plurality of load lines, a resistor, a second common conductive line connected to a point of reference potential through said resistor, said second transistor including a capacitive junction connected to said second common line, and means for selectively actuating one of said plurality of amplifying means for discharging said first common line to thereby effect the discharge of the respective word line of said actuated amplifying means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
A driver system as set forth in claim 8 wherein each of said switching means includes a first transistor including said given capacitive element and a second transistor including said second capacitive element.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
A driver system as set forth in claim 11 wherein each of said switching means includes a first current amplifier including said first transistor and a second current amplifier including said second transistor.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
41 words
A driver system as set forth in claim 12 wherein said first transistor is a PNP transistor and said second transistor is an NPN transistor and the output of said first amplifier being coupled to the input of said second amplifier.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
A driver system as set forth in claim 13 wherein said selectively actuating means includes means for supplying a current to said first current amplifier.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
40 words
A driver system as set forth in claim 9 wherein said switching means is a current amplifier and said charging means includes a second resistor and a source of potential coupled to said first common line through said second resistor.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
41 words
A memory array driver system as set forth in claim 10 wherein said first transistor is a PNP transistor and said second transistor is an NPN transistor, and said selectively actuating means includes means for supplying current to said first transistor.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-10-31 | 1987-05-02 | 1987-11-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-10-31 | 1991-05-02 | 1991-11-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-10-31 | 1995-05-02 | 1995-11-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |