US6236618B1
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US
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Centrally decoded divided wordline (DWL) memory architecture
Assignee: Synopsys Inc
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Filing: 2000-04-03
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Granted: 2001-05-22
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Expires: 2020-04-03
Abstract
Abstract A divided wordline memory architecture for memory compilers wherein a main memory array is organized into a plurality of local memory arrays. A plurality of local wordline decoders are provided such that each local memory array is associated with a local wordline decoder for selecting local wordline segments. Main wordline signals are generated based on a first portion of wordline address signals in a main wordline decoder provided as an integrated centrally located decoder structure. A combination of Plane signals, Set signals, or both, which are generated in the integrated centrally located decoder structure, are provided to the local wordline decoder in conjunction with a portion of the main wordline signals for selecting a local wordline segment based on a select main wordline signal and one of a select Plane signal, a select Set signal, or a combination of both.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard Roy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 07:07
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11C; G11C8/00; G11C8/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
A semiconductor memory circuit, comprising: a main array of memory cells organized into a plurality of local memory arrays; an integrated centrally located decoder structure for generating a plurality of main wordline signals based on a first portion of wordline address signals and for generating a plurality of Plane signals based on a second portion of said wordline address signals; and a local wordline decoder associated with each of said plurality of local memory arrays, said local wordline decoder receiving at least a portion of said plurality of main wordline signals, wherein said local wordline decoder generates local wordline select signals for selecting local wordline segments disposed in a select local memory array based on said main wordline signals, said Plane signals, and a select portion of said wordline address signals provided to said local wordline decoder.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
137 words
A semiconductor memory circuit, comprising: a main array of memory cells organized into a plurality of local memory arrays; an integrated centrally located decoder structure for generating a plurality of main wordline signals based on a first portion of wordline address signals and for generating a plurality of Plane signals based on a second portion of said wordline address signals; and a local wordline decoder associated with each of said plurality of local memory arrays, said local wordline decoder receiving at least a portion of said plurality of main wordline signals, wherein said local wordline decoder generates local wordline select signals for selecting local wordline segments disposed in a select local memory array based on said main wordline signals, said Plane signals, and a select portion of said wordline address signals provided to said local wordline decoder.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
118 words
The semiconductor memory circuit as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of sense amplifier and column circuitry portions which span said main array horizontally and segment said main array into a plurality of banks, each bank having a portion of said local memory arrays arranged horizontally such that a select sub-portion of one of said plurality of sense amplifier and column circuitry portions is associated with a select local memory array, whereby said local wordline decoders intersect said sense amplifier and column circuitry portions so as to create an area in each of said sense amplifier and column circuitry portions wherein a local control circuitry portion is capable of being placed within said area.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
The semiconductor memory circuit as set forth in claim 2 , wherein said Plane signals drive corresponding Plane lines coupled to said local wordline decoder, and further wherein a select main wordline signal and a select Plane signal are decoded to a select local wordline segment.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
78 words
The semiconductor memory circuit as set forth in claim 3 , wherein said Plane lines are repeated along the vertical direction of said main array such that said Plane lines and electrical paths for conducting said main wordline signals alternate in the vertical direction of said array whereby said electrical paths for said main wordlines are routed over every other row of memory cells and said Plane lines are routed over the remaining other rows of memory cells.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
70 words
The semiconductor memory circuit as set forth in claim 3 , wherein said local wordline decoder comprises a plurality of logic blocks, each logic block comprising a NAND gate coupled to an inverter, and further wherein the inputs of each NAND gate are coupled to a select main wordline and a select Plane line, and the output of each of said inverters is coupled to a corresponding local wordline segment.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The semiconductor memory circuit as set forth in claim 3 , wherein said main array comprises a Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) instance in an embedded circuit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The semiconductor memory circuit as set forth in claim 3 , wherein said main array comprises a Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) instance in an embedded circuit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The semiconductor memory circuit as set forth in claim 3 , wherein said main array comprises an Electrically Programmable Read-Only Memory (EPROM) instance in an embedded circuit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The semiconductor memory circuit as set forth in claim 3 , wherein said main array comprises a Flash EPROM instance in an embedded circuit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
135 words
A semiconductor memory circuit, comprising: a main array of memory cells organized into a plurality of local memory arrays; an integrated centrally located decoder structure for generating a plurality of main wordline signals based on a first portion of wordline address signals and for generating a plurality of Set signals based on a second portion of said wordline address signals; and a local wordline decoder associated with each of said plurality of local memory arrays, said local wordline decoder receiving at least a portion of said plurality of main wordline signals; wherein said local wordline decoder generates local wordline signals for selecting local wordlines disposed in a select local memory array based on said main wordline signals, said Set signals and a select portion of said wordline address signals provided to said local wordline decoder.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
135 words
A semiconductor memory circuit, comprising: a main array of memory cells organized into a plurality of local memory arrays; an integrated centrally located decoder structure for generating a plurality of main wordline signals based on a first portion of wordline address signals and for generating a plurality of Set signals based on a second portion of said wordline address signals; and a local wordline decoder associated with each of said plurality of local memory arrays, said local wordline decoder receiving at least a portion of said plurality of main wordline signals; wherein said local wordline decoder generates local wordline signals for selecting local wordlines disposed in a select local memory array based on said main wordline signals, said Set signals and a select portion of said wordline address signals provided to said local wordline decoder.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
122 words
The semiconductor memory circuit as set forth in claim 10 , further comprising a plurality of sense amplifier and column circuitry portions which span said main array horizontally and segment said main array into a plurality of banks, each bank having a sub-portion of said local memory arrays arranged horizontally such that a select sub-portion of one of said plurality of sense amplifier and column circuitry portions is associated with local bitlines disposed in a select local memory array, whereby said local wordline decoders intersect said sense amplifier and column circuitry portions so as to create an area in each of said sense amplifier and column circuitry portions, wherein a local control circuitry portion is capable of being placed within said area.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
68 words
The semiconductor memory circuit as set forth in claim 11 , wherein local wordline decoder comprises a plurality of logic blocks, each logic block comprising a NAND gate coupled to an inverter, and further wherein the inputs of each NAND gate are coupled to a select main wordline and a select Set line, and the output of each of said inverters is coupled to a corresponding local wordline.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The semiconductor memory circuit as set forth in claim 12 , wherein said main array comprises a Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) instance in an embedded circuit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
The semiconductor memory circuit as set forth in claim 12 , wherein said main array comprises a Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) instance in an embedded circuit.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The semiconductor memory circuit as set forth in claim 12 , wherein said main array comprises an Electrically Programmable Read-Only Memory (EPROM) instance in an embedded circuit.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The semiconductor memory circuit as set forth in claim 12 , wherein said main array comprises a Flash EPROM instance in an embedded circuit.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
134 words
A semiconductor memory circuit, comprising: a main array of memory cells organized into a plurality of local memory arrays; an integrated centrally located decoder structure for generating a plurality of main wordline signals, a plurality of Set signals, and a plurality of Plane signals based on wordline address signals provided to said semiconductor memory circuit; and a local wordline decoder associated with each of said plurality of local memory arrays, said local wordline decoder receiving at least a portion of said plurality of main wordline signals; wherein said local wordline decoder generates local wordline signals for selecting local wordline segments disposed in a select local memory array based on said main wordline signals, said Set signals, said Plane signals and a select portion of said wordline address signals provided to said local wordline decoder.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
134 words
A semiconductor memory circuit, comprising: a main array of memory cells organized into a plurality of local memory arrays; an integrated centrally located decoder structure for generating a plurality of main wordline signals, a plurality of Set signals, and a plurality of Plane signals based on wordline address signals provided to said semiconductor memory circuit; and a local wordline decoder associated with each of said plurality of local memory arrays, said local wordline decoder receiving at least a portion of said plurality of main wordline signals; wherein said local wordline decoder generates local wordline signals for selecting local wordline segments disposed in a select local memory array based on said main wordline signals, said Set signals, said Plane signals and a select portion of said wordline address signals provided to said local wordline decoder.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
122 words
The semiconductor memory circuit as set forth in claim 17 , further comprising a plurality of sense amplifier and column circuitry portions which span said main array horizontally and segment said main array into a plurality of banks, each bank having a sub-portion of said local memory arrays arranged horizontally such that a select sub-portion of one of said plurality of sense amplifier and column circuitry portions is associated with local bitlines disposed in a select local memory array, whereby said local wordline decoders intersect said sense amplifier and column circuitry portions so as to create an area in each of said sense amplifier and column circuitry portions, wherein a local control circuitry portion is capable of being placed within said area.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
73 words
The semiconductor memory circuit as set forth in claim 18 , wherein local wordline decoder comprises a plurality of logic blocks, each logic block comprising a NAND gate coupled to an inverter, and further wherein the inputs of each NAND gate are coupled to a select main wordline, a select Plane line and a select Set line, and the output of each of said inverters is coupled to a corresponding local wordline segment.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
The semiconductor memory circuit as set forth in claim 19 , wherein said main array comprises a Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) instance in an embedded circuit.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
The semiconductor memory circuit as set forth in claim 19 , wherein said main array comprises a Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) instance in an embedded circuit.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
The semiconductor memory circuit as set forth in claim 19 , wherein said main array comprises an Electrically Programmable Read-Only Memory (EPROM) instance in an embedded circuit.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
The semiconductor memory circuit as set forth in claim 19 , wherein said main array comprises a Flash EPROM instance in an embedded circuit.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5621690A
Cited
US5732040A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-05-21 | 2004-11-20 | 2005-05-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-05-21 | 2008-11-20 | 2009-05-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-05-21 | 2012-11-20 | 2013-05-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |