IP Library Granted Patent US 12670949
Granted Patent B2
US 12670949 · App. 18/651,072 · Granted Jun 30, 2026

Volatile memory device with global input and output line allocated for metadata

Inventors: Ki-Heung Kim (Suwon-si, KR); Taeyoung Oh (Suwon-si, KR); Hyongryol Hwang (Suwon-si, KR)
Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
G11C11/4097G11C7/18G11C11/4087G11C11/4091
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12670949
App. No.
18/651,072
Granted
Jun 30, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A memory device includes a bank connected to a plurality of wordlines, a first global input and output (GIO) line, and a second GIO line formed to have a larger length than the first GIO line in a column direction. One of the first GIO line and the second GIO line may be allocated for metadata.

Claims (51)

1 . A memory device comprising:

a bank comprising a first subbank and a second subbank, wherein the bank is connected to a plurality of wordlines, wherein a first global input and output (GIO) line has a first length in a column direction, and a second GIO line has a second length in the column direction, wherein the second length is larger than the first length,

wherein one of the first GIO line and the second GIO line is allocated for metadata,

wherein one of the first GIO line and the second GIO line is configured to input or output metadata, and the other one of the first GIO line and the second GIO line is configured to input or output normal data corresponding to the metadata, and

wherein at least one wordline of the plurality of wordlines connected to the first subbank is allocated for the metadata of the second subbank, and at least one wordline of the plurality of wordlines connected to the second subbank is allocated for the metadata of the first subbank.

2 . The memory device of claim 1 , wherein:

the bank is divided into the first subbank and the second subbank in the column direction,

the first subbank is connected to a first wordline included in the plurality of wordlines and the first GIO line, and

the second subbank is connected to a second wordline included in the plurality of wordlines and the second GIO line.

3 . The memory device of claim 2 , wherein the first GIO line and the second GIO line are configured to simultaneously input or output data based on activating the first wordline and the second wordline.

4 . The memory device of claim 1 , wherein the one of the first GIO line and the second GIO line is configured to input or output the metadata, and the other one of the first GIO line and the second GIO line is configured to input or output the normal data corresponding to the metadata simultaneously.

5 . The memory device of claim 4 , wherein a ratio of the metadata to the normal data is 1:n, where n is a positive integer.

6 . The memory device of claim 1 , wherein the first GIO line and the second GIO line are each provided with M GIO lines, where M is a positive integer.

7 . The memory device of claim 1 , wherein the first GIO line and the second GIO line comprise different metals.

8 . The memory device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a row decoder configured to select the plurality of wordlines; and

a column decoder configured to select a plurality of column select lines (CSLs), respectively connected to the first GIO line and the second GIO line.

9 . The memory device of claim 8 , wherein the row decoder is configured to simultaneously select a first wordline and a second wordline, among the plurality of wordlines.

10 . The memory device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a first sense amplifier connected to the first GIO line and configured to sense and amplify data output from the first GIO line; and

a second sense amplifier connected to the second GIO line and configured to sense and amplify data output from the second GIO line.

11 . The memory device of claim 10 , wherein:

the first GIO line is one first GIO line of a plurality of first GIO lines,

the second GIO line is one second GIO line of a plurality of second GIO lines,

the first sense amplifier is one first input/output sense amplifier of a plurality of first input/output sense amplifiers,

the second sense amplifier is one second input/output sense amplifier of a plurality of second input/output sense amplifiers,

there is a first same number of the plurality of first input/output sense amplifiers and the plurality of first GIO lines, and

there is a second same number of the plurality of second input/output sense amplifiers and the plurality of second GIO lines.

12 . A memory device comprising:

a bank comprising a first subbank and a second subbank, wherein the bank is connected to a plurality of wordlines, a first global input and output (GIO) line, and a second GIO line, wherein the second GIO line has a larger length than the first GIO line in a column direction; and

a row decoder connected to the plurality of wordlines, extending in the column direction, and configured to select the plurality of wordlines,

wherein one of the first GIO line and the second GIO line is allocated for metadata,

wherein one of the first GIO line and the second GIO line is configured to input or output metadata, and the other one of the first GIO line and the second GIO line is configured to input or output normal data corresponding to the metadata, and

wherein at least one wordline of the plurality of wordlines connected to the first subbank is allocated for the metadata of the second subbank, and at least one wordline of the plurality of wordlines connected to the second subbank is allocated for the metadata of the first subbank.

13 . The memory device of claim 12 , wherein:

the bank is divided into the first subbank and the second subbank in the column direction,

the first subbank is connected to a first wordline included in the plurality of wordlines and the first GIO line, and

the second subbank is connected to a second wordline included in the plurality of wordlines and the second GIO line.

14 . The memory device of claim 13 , wherein the row decoder is configured to simultaneously select the first wordline and the second wordline in an operation mode for inputting or outputting the metadata.

15 . The memory device of claim 12 , wherein the one of the first GIO line and the second GIO line is configured to input or output the metadata and the other one of the first GIO line and the second GIO line simultaneously inputs or outputs the normal data corresponding to the metadata, in an operation mode for inputting or outputting the metadata.

16 . The memory device of claim 15 , wherein the one of the first GIO line and the second GIO line and the other one of the first GIO line and the second GIO line are configured to input or output the normal data when the operation mode is turned off.

17 . The memory device of claim 12 , wherein a ratio of the metadata to the normal data input or output is 1:n, where n is a positive integer.

18 . A memory device comprising:

a bank comprising a plurality of subbanks divided in a column direction;

a plurality of wordlines, each extending in a row direction and connected to the plurality of subbanks; and

a plurality of global input and output (GIO) lines extending in the column direction and connected to the plurality of subbanks,

wherein the plurality of GIO lines comprise two GIO lines connected to different subbanks, and one of the two GIO lines is allocated for metadata,

wherein a first GIO line of the two GIO lines is configured to input or output metadata, and a second GIO line of the two GIO lines is configured to input or output normal data corresponding to the metadata, and

wherein at least one wordline of the plurality of wordlines connected to a first subbank of the plurality of subbanks is allocated for the metadata of a second subbank of the plurality of subbanks, and at least one wordline of the plurality of wordlines connected to the second subbank is allocated for the metadata of the first subbank.

19 . The memory device of claim 18 , wherein the two GIO lines are formed to have different lengths in the column direction.

20 . The memory device of claim 18 , wherein two wordlines among the plurality of wordlines that are connected to the different subbanks are simultaneously activated.