US5602793A
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Semiconductor memory device having power line arranged in a meshed shape
Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp
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Filing: 1995-04-06
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Granted: 1997-02-11
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Expires: 2015-04-06
Abstract
Abstract A semiconductor memory device includes a sense amp band including a plurality of sense amplifiers, and a plurality of operation power supply potential lines and a plurality of ground potential lines arranged in a meshed shape. The operation power supply potential lines and the ground potential lines include the lines arranged in parallel with and in proximity to the sense amp band. Each sense amplifier in the sense amp band is connected to an operation power supply potential line and a ground line arranged in proximity to and in parallel with the sense amplifier through a drive component. The drive component is provided one for a predetermined number of sense amplifiers, and is rendered conductive in response to a sense amplifier activation signal from a signal line arranged in parallel with the sense amp band. The plurality of operation power supply potential lines and the plurality of ground lines arranged in a meshed shape are contacted at crossings. Therefore, in the semiconductor memory device, no distribution of power supply potentials is generated to allow a stable supply of a power supply potential and a ground potential to an arbitrary circuit portion. In addition, since a sense amplifier is connected to a proximate operation power supply potential line and ground line through a drive component, a reliable and high-speed sensing operation is possible irrespective of a length of a sense amp drive signal line.
Inventors
- 👤 Shigeki Tomishima
- 👤 Mikio Asakura
- 👤 Kazutami Arimoto
- 👤 Hideto Hidaka
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 20:29
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11C; G11C7/00; G11C7/06; G11C5/00; G11C5/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
251 words
A semiconductor memory device comprising: a memory cell array including a plurality of memory cells arranged in rows and columns; a plurality of word lines, each connecting one row of memory cells; a plurality of pairs of bit lines, each pair connecting one column of memory cells; a first power supply line arranged in parallel with said bit lines for transmitting a predetermined potential; a sense amplifier band divided into a plurality of sense amplifier groups arranged in parallel with said word lines, each group including a plurality of sense amplifiers corresponding to a predetermined number of said bit line pairs for sensing and amplifying a potential of said corresponding bit line pairs; a first and a second sense amp drive signal line for transmitting drive signals to said plurality of sense amplifiers, said first signal line being divided into multiple segments, each line segment being associated with at least one of said sense amplifier groups; a second power supply line arranged in parallel with said sense amplifier groups and coupled to said first power supply line; and a plurality of sense amp drivers coupled between said second sense amp drive signal line and said second power supply line, for receiving a sense amp activation signal and connecting said second power supply line with said second sense amp drive signal line in response to said received sense amp activation signal, for generating a drive signal on said second sense amp drive signal line in response to said sense amp activation signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
251 words
A semiconductor memory device comprising: a memory cell array including a plurality of memory cells arranged in rows and columns; a plurality of word lines, each connecting one row of memory cells; a plurality of pairs of bit lines, each pair connecting one column of memory cells; a first power supply line arranged in parallel with said bit lines for transmitting a predetermined potential; a sense amplifier band divided into a plurality of sense amplifier groups arranged in parallel with said word lines, each group including a plurality of sense amplifiers corresponding to a predetermined number of said bit line pairs for sensing and amplifying a potential of said corresponding bit line pairs; a first and a second sense amp drive signal line for transmitting drive signals to said plurality of sense amplifiers, said first signal line being divided into multiple segments, each line segment being associated with at least one of said sense amplifier groups; a second power supply line arranged in parallel with said sense amplifier groups and coupled to said first power supply line; and a plurality of sense amp drivers coupled between said second sense amp drive signal line and said second power supply line, for receiving a sense amp activation signal and connecting said second power supply line with said second sense amp drive signal line in response to said received sense amp activation signal, for generating a drive signal on said second sense amp drive signal line in response to said sense amp activation signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
The semiconductor memory device of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of precharging circuits, each coupled between one of said segmented first sense amp drive signal lines and said second sense amp drive signal line, for maintaining each of said segmented first lines and said second line at a predetermined precharge potential.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The semiconductor memory device of claim 2, wherein said second sense amp drive signal line is a continuous line commonly connected to at least one adjacent sense amplifier group.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
The semiconductor memory device of claim 2, wherein said second sense amp drive signal line is divided into multiple segments, each corresponding to and being coextensive with a segmented first sense amp drive signal line, and a precharging circuit is coupled between each of said first and second segmented sense amp drive signal lines.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
252 words
A semiconductor memory device comprising: a memory cell array including a plurality of memory cells arranged in rows and columns; a plurality of word lines, each connecting one row of memory cells; a plurality of pairs of bit lines, each pair connecting one column of memory cells; a first power supply line arranged in parallel with said bit lines for transmitting a predetermined potential; a sense amp band including a plurality of sense amplifiers corresponding to a predetermined number of said bit line pairs for sensing and amplifying a potential of said corresponding bit line pairs, said sense amp band being arranged in parallel with said word lines; a first and a second sense amp drive signal line for transmitting drive signals to said plurality of sense amplifiers; a plurality of precharging circuits coupled between said first and second sense amp drive signal lines, for maintaining each said first and second lines at a predetermined precharge potential; a second power supply line arranged in parallel with said sense amp band and coupled to said first power supply line; and a plurality of sense amp drivers coupled between said second sense amp drive signal line and said second power supply line, for receiving a sense amp activation signal and connecting said second power supply line with said second sense amp drive signal line in response to said received sense amp activation signal, for generating a drive signal on said second sense amp drive signal line in response to said sense amp activation signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
252 words
A semiconductor memory device comprising: a memory cell array including a plurality of memory cells arranged in rows and columns; a plurality of word lines, each connecting one row of memory cells; a plurality of pairs of bit lines, each pair connecting one column of memory cells; a first power supply line arranged in parallel with said bit lines for transmitting a predetermined potential; a sense amp band including a plurality of sense amplifiers corresponding to a predetermined number of said bit line pairs for sensing and amplifying a potential of said corresponding bit line pairs, said sense amp band being arranged in parallel with said word lines; a first and a second sense amp drive signal line for transmitting drive signals to said plurality of sense amplifiers; a plurality of precharging circuits coupled between said first and second sense amp drive signal lines, for maintaining each said first and second lines at a predetermined precharge potential; a second power supply line arranged in parallel with said sense amp band and coupled to said first power supply line; and a plurality of sense amp drivers coupled between said second sense amp drive signal line and said second power supply line, for receiving a sense amp activation signal and connecting said second power supply line with said second sense amp drive signal line in response to said received sense amp activation signal, for generating a drive signal on said second sense amp drive signal line in response to said sense amp activation signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
139 words
A semiconductor memory device comprising: a memory cell array including a plurality of memory cells arranged in rows and columns; a plurality of word lines, each connecting one row of memory cells; a plurality of pairs of bit lines, each pair connecting one column of memory cells; a sense amp band including a plurality of sense amplifiers, said sense amp band being arranged in parallel with said word lines, a first and a second sense amp drive signal line for transmitting drive signals to said plurality of sense amplifiers, said first line being divided into multiple segments, and a plurality of precharging circuits, each coupled between one of said segmented first sense amp drive signal lines and said second sense amp drive signal line, for maintaining each segmented first line and said second line at a predetermined precharge potential.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
139 words
A semiconductor memory device comprising: a memory cell array including a plurality of memory cells arranged in rows and columns; a plurality of word lines, each connecting one row of memory cells; a plurality of pairs of bit lines, each pair connecting one column of memory cells; a sense amp band including a plurality of sense amplifiers, said sense amp band being arranged in parallel with said word lines, a first and a second sense amp drive signal line for transmitting drive signals to said plurality of sense amplifiers, said first line being divided into multiple segments, and a plurality of precharging circuits, each coupled between one of said segmented first sense amp drive signal lines and said second sense amp drive signal line, for maintaining each segmented first line and said second line at a predetermined precharge potential.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The semiconductor memory device of claim 6, wherein said second sense amp drive signal line is a continuous line commonly connected to said sense amplifiers of said sense amp band.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
95 words
The semiconductor memory device of claim 7, wherein each of said sense amplifiers comprises an N channel sense amplifier region and a P channel sense amplifier region isolated from said N channel sense amplifier region, said regions sharing one bit line pair; and wherein said first and said second sense amp drive signal lines are arranged in parallel with said word lines, said first line crossing one of said N channel and P channel sense amplifier regions and said second line crossing the other one of said N channel and P channel sense amplifier regions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
79 words
The semiconductor memory device of claim 8, further comprising: a logic circuit including, a column selecting means responsive to a column address for simultaneously selecting a plurality of bit line pairs, a plurality of pairs of I/O data transmission lines arranged in parallel with said word lines, and a plurality of column selection signal lines arranged in parallel with said bit line pairs for transmitting an output of said column selecting means to said plurality of I/O line pairs.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
54 words
The semiconductor memory device of claim 5, wherein said second sense amp drive signal line is divided into multiple segments, each corresponding to and being coextensive with a segmented first sense amp drive signal line, and a precharging circuit is coupled between each of said first and second segmented sense amp drive signal lines.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
82 words
The semiconductor memory device of claim 10, further comprising: a logic circuit, said logic circuit including, a column selecting means responsive to a column address for simultaneously selecting a plurality of bit line pairs, a plurality of pairs of I/O data transmission lines arranged in parallel with said word lines, and a plurality of column selection signal lines arranged in parallel with said bit line pairs for transmitting an output of said column selecting means to said plurality of I/O line pairs.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
95 words
The semiconductor memory device of claim 10, wherein each of said sense amplifiers comprises an N channel sense amplifier region and a P channel sense amplifier region isolated from said N channel sense amplifier region, said regions sharing one bit line pair; and wherein said first and said second sense amp drive signal lines are arranged in parallel with said word lines, said first line crossing one of said N channel and P channel sense amplifier regions and said second line crossing the other one of said N channel and P channel sense amplifier regions.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
79 words
The semiconductor memory device of claim 12, further comprising: a logic circuit including, a column selecting means responsive to a column address for simultaneously selecting a plurality of bit line pairs, a plurality of pairs of I/O data transmission lines arranged in parallel with said word lines, and a plurality of column selection signal lines arranged in parallel with said bit line pairs for transmitting an output of said column selecting means to said plurality of I/O line pairs.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
82 words
A semiconductor memory device of claim 6, further comprising: a logic circuit, said logic circuit including, a column selecting means responsive to a column address for simultaneously selecting a plurality of bit line pairs, a plurality of pairs of I/O data transmission lines arranged in parallel with said word lines, and a plurality of column selection signal lines arranged in parallel with said bit line pairs for transmitting an output of said column selecting means to said plurality of I/O line pairs.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
141 words
A semiconductor memory device comprising: a memory cell array including a plurality of memory cells arranged in rows and columns: a plurality of word lines, each connecting one row of memory cells; a plurality of pairs of bit lines, each pair connecting one column of memory cells; a sense amp band including a plurality of sense amplifiers corresponding to a predetermined number of said bit line pairs for sensing and amplifying a potential of said corresponding bit line pairs, said sense amp band being arranged in parallel with said word lines; a first and a second sense amp drive signal line for transmitting drive signals to said plurality of sense amplifiers; and a plurality of precharging circuits coupled between said first and second sense amp drive signal lines, for maintaining each said first and second lines at a predetermined precharge potential.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
141 words
A semiconductor memory device comprising: a memory cell array including a plurality of memory cells arranged in rows and columns: a plurality of word lines, each connecting one row of memory cells; a plurality of pairs of bit lines, each pair connecting one column of memory cells; a sense amp band including a plurality of sense amplifiers corresponding to a predetermined number of said bit line pairs for sensing and amplifying a potential of said corresponding bit line pairs, said sense amp band being arranged in parallel with said word lines; a first and a second sense amp drive signal line for transmitting drive signals to said plurality of sense amplifiers; and a plurality of precharging circuits coupled between said first and second sense amp drive signal lines, for maintaining each said first and second lines at a predetermined precharge potential.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
82 words
The semiconductor memory device of claim 15, further comprising: a logic circuit, said logic circuit including, a column selecting means responsive to a column address for simultaneously selecting a plurality of bit line pairs, a plurality of pairs of I/O data transmission lines arranged in parallel with said word lines, and a plurality of column selection signal lines arranged in parallel with said bit line pairs for transmitting an output of said column selecting means to said plurality of I/O line pairs.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
94 words
The semiconductor memory device of claim 15, wherein each said sense amplifier comprises an N channel sense amplifier region and a P channel sense amplifier region isolated from said N channel sense amplifier region, said regions sharing one bit line pair; and wherein said first and said second sense amp drive signal lines are arranged in parallel with said word lines, said first line crossing one of said N channel and P channel sense amplifier regions and said second line crossing the other one of said N channel and P channel sense amplifier regions.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
79 words
The semiconductor memory device of claim 17, further comprising: a logic circuit including, a column selecting means responsive to a column address for simultaneously selecting a plurality of bit line pairs, a plurality of pairs of I/O data transmission lines arranged in parallel with said word lines, and a plurality of column selection signal lines arranged in parallel with said bit line pairs for transmitting an output of said column selecting means to said plurality of I/O line pairs.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
177 words
A semiconductor memory device comprising: a memory cell array including a plurality of memory cells arranged in rows and columns; a plurality of word lines, each connecting one row of memory cells; a plurality of pairs of bit lines, each pair connecting one column of memory cells; a first power supply line arranged in parallel with said bit line pairs for transmitting a predetermined potential; a sense amplifier band arranged in parallel with said word lines, said band including a plurality of sense amplifiers, each for amplifying a potential of a corresponding bit line pair, each amplifier comprising, an N channel sense amplifier region and a P channel sense amplifier region isolated from said N channel sense amplifier region, said regions sharing one bit line pair; and a second power supply line arranged in a direction orthogonal to the bit line pairs and coupled to said first power supply line for coupling said predetermined potential to said sense amplifiers, said second line crossing a region including one of said N channel and P channel sense amplifier regions.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
177 words
A semiconductor memory device comprising: a memory cell array including a plurality of memory cells arranged in rows and columns; a plurality of word lines, each connecting one row of memory cells; a plurality of pairs of bit lines, each pair connecting one column of memory cells; a first power supply line arranged in parallel with said bit line pairs for transmitting a predetermined potential; a sense amplifier band arranged in parallel with said word lines, said band including a plurality of sense amplifiers, each for amplifying a potential of a corresponding bit line pair, each amplifier comprising, an N channel sense amplifier region and a P channel sense amplifier region isolated from said N channel sense amplifier region, said regions sharing one bit line pair; and a second power supply line arranged in a direction orthogonal to the bit line pairs and coupled to said first power supply line for coupling said predetermined potential to said sense amplifiers, said second line crossing a region including one of said N channel and P channel sense amplifier regions.
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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) | 2000-02-11 | 2000-08-12 | 2001-02-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-02-11 | 2004-08-12 | 2005-02-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-02-11 | 2008-08-12 | 2009-02-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |