IP Library Granted Patent US 7,016,247
Granted Patent B2
US 7,016,247 · App. 11/023,663 · Granted Mar 21, 2006

Semiconductor memory apparatus

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,016,247
App. No.
11/023,663
Granted
Mar 21, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

A semiconductor memory apparatus including a simple circuit configuration and is capable of randomly accessing fuse data. A fuse cell 30 including a fuse 31 is connected to a pair of bit lines of a memory circuit. The fuse 31 and a fuse data output circuit (which includes a resistor 32 and an inverter 33 ) are connected to a pair of bit lines BLT and BLB of the memory circuit through a fuse selection switch 34 . By allowing a column decoder 12 for selecting a pair of bit lines of the memory cell to also function as a decoder circuit for selecting a fuse, the bit lines of the memory circuit can be used as signal lines for outputting fuse data, whereby the circuit size is reduced and the circuit area is reduced.

Claims (39)

1. A semiconductor memory apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of memory cells;

bit lines which connect the memory cells;

a sense amplifier for amplifying a signal on a corresponding bit line;

a selection circuit for selecting at least one bit line from the bit lines;

a data line to be connected to the bit line selected by the selection circuit;

a plurality of fuses;

fuse data output circuits each for outputting a signal in accordance with a disconnection/non-disconnection state of a corresponding fuse;

a fuse selection circuit for selecting at least one circuit from the fuse data output circuits; and

a fuse selection switch for connecting, when reading corresponding fuse data, a corresponding fuse data output circuit selected by the fuse selection circuit to the data line.

2. A semiconductor memory apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of memory cells;

bit lines to be connected to the memory cells;

a sense amplifier for amplifying a signal on a corresponding bit line;

a selection circuit for selecting at least one bit line from the bit lines;

a data line to be connected to the bit line selected by the selection circuit;

a plurality of fuses;

fuse data output circuits each for outputting a signal in accordance with a disconnection/non-disconnection state of a corresponding fuse; and

a fuse selection switch for connecting, when reading corresponding fuse data, a corresponding fuse data output circuit to a corresponding bit line selected by the selection circuit.

3. The semiconductor memory apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein

the number of fuses is less than the number of bit lines, and

the bit lines include:

a first bit line to be connected to a corresponding fuse data output circuit through a corresponding fuse selection switch; and

a second bit line which is not connected to either a corresponding fuse selection switch or a corresponding fuse data output circuit.

4. The semiconductor memory apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the bit lines include a plurality of the first bit lines and a plurality of the second bit lines.

5. The semiconductor memory apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein

the bit lines include a plurality of the first bit lines and a plurality of the second bit lines, and

the first bit lines and the second bit lines are all arranged in a region where the memory cells are arranged.

6. The semiconductor memory apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein

the bit lines include a plurality of the first bit lines and a plurality of the second bit lines, and

each second bit line is fixed, when reading corresponding fuse data, to a predetermined potential corresponding to a low level or a high level.

7. The semiconductor memory apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the sense amplifier amplifies a signal on a corresponding first bit line and does not amplify a signal on a second bit line, when reading corresponding fuse data.

8. The semiconductor memory apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising:

an output control circuit for controlling an output of the data line, wherein

the memory cells include:

a data storage memory cell for storing normal data; and

an error correction memory cell for storing error correction data, wherein

the output control circuit outputs, when reading memory data, a result obtained by performing error correction on data read from a corresponding data storage memory cell and a corresponding error correction memory cell, and outputs, when reading fuse data, data read from a corresponding data storage memory cell as it is.

9. The semiconductor memory apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the sense amplifier amplifies, when reading corresponding memory data, a signal on a corresponding bit line, and does not amplify, when reading corresponding fuse data, a signal on a corresponding bit line.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 11, 2018
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION
To: CETUS TECHNOLOGIES INC.
Reel/Frame 047855/0799 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 11, 2017
From: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 044831/0898 →