IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,158,439
Granted Patent B2
US 7,158,439 · App. 10/890,173 · Granted Jan 2, 2007

Memory and driving method of the same

Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,158,439
App. No.
10/890,173
Granted
Jan 2, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

A memory having a bit line, a word line crossing the bit line, a memory cell electrically connected to the bit line and to the word line, a column decoder and a selector including a clocked inverter having a plurality of transistors electrically connected in series between a first power source and a second power source is provided. An input node of the clocked inverter is connected to the bit line, an output node of the clocked inverter is electrically connected to a data line, the plurality of transistors comprise a P-type transistor and a N-type transistor, a gate electrode of the P-type transistor and a gate electrode of the N-type transistor are electrically connected to the column decoder, and a sense amplifier is not interposed between the bit line and the input node of the clocked inverter.

Claims (155)

1. A memory comprising:

a bit line;

a word line crossing the bit line;

a memory cell electrically connected to the bit line and to the word line, including a memory element;

a column decoder; and

a selector including a clocked inverter having a plurality of transistors electrically connected in series between a first power source and a second power source,

wherein:

an input node of the clocked inverter is connected to the bit line,

an output node of the clocked inverter is electrically connected to a data line,

the plurality of transistors comprise a P-type transistor and a N-type transistor,

a gate electrode of the P-type transistor and a gate electrode of the N-type transistor are electrically connected to the column decoder, and

a sense amplifier is not interposed between the bit line and the input node of the clocked inverter.

2. A memory according to claim 1 , wherein the memory is a Read Only Memory.

3. A memory according to claim 1 , wherein the selector comprises a thin film transistor.

4. A memory according to claim 1 , further comprising a Read/Write circuit including a second analog switch and a third analog switch,

wherein:

the selector further comprises a first analog switch,

the bit line is electrically connected to the data line via the clocked inverter and the second analog switch, or via the first analog switch and the third analog switch,

the first analog switch is interposed between the bit line and the third analog switch,

the second analog switch is interposed between the clocked inverter and the data line,

the third analog switch is interposed between the first analog switch and the data line.

5. A memory comprising:

a bit line;

a word line crossing the bit line;

a memory cell electrically connected to the bit line and to the word line, including a memory element;

a column decoder; and

a selector including a clocked inverter having a plurality of transistors electrically connected in series between a first power source and a second power source,

wherein:

an input node of the clocked inverter is connected to the bit line,

an output node of the clocked inverter is electrically connected to a data line,

the plurality of transistors comprise a P-type transistor and a N-type transistor,

one electrode selected from a gate electrode of the P-type transistor and a gate electrode of the N-type transistor is electrically connected to the column decoder,

the other electrode is electrically connected to the column decoder via an inverter, and

a sense amplifier is not interposed between the bit line and the input node of the clocked inverter.

6. A memory according to claim 5 , wherein the memory is a Read Only Memory.

7. A memory according to claim 5 , wherein the selector comprises a thin film transistor.

8. A memory according to claim 5 , further comprising a Read/Write circuit including a second analog switch and a third analog switch,

wherein:

the selector further comprises a first analog switch,

the bit line is electrically connected to the data line via the clocked inverter and the second analog switch, or via the first analog switch and the third analog switch,

the first analog switch is interposed between the bit line and the third analog switch,

the second analog switch is interposed between the clocked inverter and the data line,

the third analog switch is interposed between the first analog switch and the data line.

9. A memory comprising:

a bit line;

a word line crossing the bit line;

a memory cell electrically connected to the bit line and to the word line, including a memory element;

a column decoder;

a selector including a first switch and a clocked inverter; and

a Read/Write circuit including a second switch and a third switch,

wherein:

the bit line is electrically connected to a data line via the clocked inverter and the second switch, or via the first switch and the third switch,

a gate electrode of a first transistor included in the first switch is electrically connected to the column decoder,

a gate electrode of a second transistor included in the second switch is electrically connected to a Read Enable signal line, and

a gate electrode of a third transistor included in the third switch is electrically connected to a Write Enable signal line.

10. A memory according to claim 9 , wherein the first to third switches are analog switches.

11. A memory according to claim 9 , wherein the memory is a Random Access Memory.

12. A memory comprising:

a bit line;

a word line crossing the bit line;

a memory cell electrically connected to the bit line and to the word line, including a memory element;

a column decoder;

a selector including a first switch and a clocked inverter; and

a Read/Write circuit including a second switch, a third switch, a first logic circuit and a second logic circuit,

wherein:

the bit line is electrically connected to a data line via the clocked inverter and the second switch, or via the first switch and the third switch,

a gate electrode of a first transistor included in the first switch is electrically connected to the column decoder,

a gate electrode of a second transistor included in the second switch is electrically connected to an output node of the first logic circuit,

a gate electrode of a third transistor included in the third switch is electrically connected to an output node of the second logic circuit,

a first input node of the first logic circuit is electrically connected to a Read Enable signal line,

a second input node of the first logic circuit is electrically connected to a Chip Enable signal line,

a first input node of the second logic circuit is electrically connected to a Write Enable signal line, and

a second input node of the second logic circuit is electrically connected to a Chip Enable signal line.

13. A memory according to claim 12 wherein the first to third switches are analog switches.

14. A memory according to claim 12 , wherein the first and second logic circuits are NORs.

15. A memory according to claim 12 , wherein the memory is a Random Access Memory.

16. A driving method of a memory comprising:

a bit line;

a word line crossing the bit line;

a memory cell electrically connected to the bit line and to the word line, including a memory element;

a column decoder;

a selector including a clocked inverter having a plurality of transistors electrically connected in series between a first power source and a second power source,

wherein:

an input node of the clocked inverter is connected to the bit line,

an output node of the clocked inverter is electrically connected to a data line,

the plurality of transistors comprise a P-type transistor and a N-type transistor,

a gate electrode of the P-type transistor and a gate electrode of the N-type transistor are electrically connected to the column decoder,

a sense amplifier is not interposed between the bit line and the input node of the clocked inverter,

the clocked inverter is put into an operating state by inputting a signal from the column decoder to the gate electrode of the P-type transistor and the gate electrode of the N-type transistor, and

a data signal is inputted from the memory cell to the input node of the clocked inverter via the bit line, and an amplified data signal is outputted from the output node of the clocked inverter.

17. A driving method of a memory according to claim 16 , wherein the selector comprises a thin film transistor.

18. A memory according to claim 16 , further comprising a Read/Write circuit including a second analog switch and a third analog switch,

wherein:

the selector further comprises a first analog switch,

the bit line is electrically connected to the data line via the clocked inverter and the second analog switch, or via the first analog switch and the third analog switch,

the first analog switch is interposed between the bit line and the third analog switch,

the second analog switch is interposed between the clocked inverter and the data line,

the third analog switch is interposed between the first analog switch and the data line.

19. A driving method of a memory comprising:

a bit line;

a word line crossing the bit line;

a memory cell electrically connected to the bit line and to the word line, including a memory element;

a column decoder; and

a selector including a clocked inverter having a plurality of transistors electrically connected in series between a first power source and a second power source,

wherein:

an input node of the clocked inverter is connected to the bit line,

an output node of the clocked inverter is electrically connected to a data line,

the plurality of transitors comprise a P-type transistor and a N-type transistor,

one electrode selected from a gate electrode of the P-type transistor and a gate electrode of the N-type transistor is electrically connected to the column decoder,

the other electrode is electrically connected to the column decoder via an inverter,

a sense amplifier is not interposed between the bit line and the input node of the clocked inverter,

the clocked inverter is into an operating state by inputting a signal from the column decoder to the gate electrode of the P-type transistor and the gate electode of the N-type transistor, and

a data signal is inputted from the memory cell to the input node of the clocked inverter via the bit line, and an amplified data signal is outputted from the output node of the clocked inverter.

20. A drining method of a memory according to claim 19 wherein the selector comprises a thin film transistor.

21. A memory according to claim 19 , further comprising a Read/Write circuit including a second analog switch and a third analog switch,

wherein:

the selector further comprises a first analog switch,

the bit line is electrically connected to the data line via the clocked inverter and the second analog switch, or via the first analog switch and the third analog switch,

the first analog switch is interposed between the bit line and the third analog switch,

the second analog switch is interposed between the clocked inverter and the data line,

the third analog switch is interposed between the first analog switch and the data line.

22. A driving method of a memory comprising:

a bit line;

a word line crossing the bit line;

a memory cell electrically connected to the bit line and to the word line, including a memory element;

a column decoder;

a selector including a first switch and a clocked inverter; and

a Read/Write circuit including a second switch and a third switch,

wherein:

the bit line is electrically connected to a data line via the clocked inverter and the second switch, or via the first switch and the third switch,

a gate electrode of a first transistor included in the first switch is electrically connected to the column decoder,

a gate electrode of a second transistor included in the second switch is electrically connected to a Read Enable signal line,

a gate electrode of a third transistor included in the third switch is electrically connected to a Write Enable signal line,

a Read Enable signal is inputted to make a second switch conductive,

a Write Enable signal is inputted to make a third switch non-conductive, and

a data signal is inputted from the memory cell to an input node of the clocked inverter via the bit line, and an amplified data signal is outputted from an output node of the clocked inverter.

23. A driving method of a memory comprising:

a bit line;

a word line crossing the bit line;

a memory cell electrically connected to the bit line and to the word line, including a memory element;

a column decoder;

a selector including a first switch and a clocked inverter; and

a Read/Write circuit including a second switch, a third switch, a first logic circuit and a second logic circuit,

wherein:

the bit line is electrically connected to a data line via the clocked inverter and the second switch, or via the first switch and the third switch,

a gate electrode of a first transistor included in the first switch is electrically connected to the column decoder,

a gate electrode of a second transistor included in the second switch is electrically connected to an output node of the first logic circuit,

a gate electrode of a third transistor included in the third switch is electrically connected to an output node of the second logic circuit,

a first input node of the first logic circuit is electrically connected to a Read Enable signal line,

a second input node of the first logic circuit is electrically connected to a Chip Enable signal line,

a first input node of the second logic circuit is electrically connected to a Write Enable signal line,

a second input node of the second logic circuit is electrically connected to a Chip Enable signal line,

a Read Enable signal is inputted to make a second switch non-conductive,

a Write Enable signal is inputted to make a third switch conductive, and

a data signal is inputted from the data line to the memory cell via the first switch, the third switch, and the bit line.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 14, 2004
From: SHIONOIRI, YUTAKA; ATSUMI, TOMOAKI; KATO, KIYOSHI
To: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 015584/0718 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2003-291811 · Aug 11, 2003 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20050047266A1 · Mar 3, 2005