IP Library Granted Patent US 7,167,409
Granted Patent B2
US 7,167,409 · App. 11/085,471 · Granted Jan 23, 2007

Semiconductor memory device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,167,409
App. No.
11/085,471
Granted
Jan 23, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

A cell array in the semiconductor memory device is divided into two blocks. Each of control signal lines for transmission of control signals are also divided into a first portion and a second portion correspondingly to the blocks. A repeater circuit that relays a control signal is provided between the two portions. The repeater circuit does not output the control signal from the first portion to the second portion, as long as a block that receives the control signal via the first portion is selected.

Claims (26)

1. A semiconductor memory device comprising:

a cell array that is divided into n blocks, where n is an integer greater than 1;

a control circuit that outputs a signal to be transmitted to any one of the blocks;

n signal lines including a first signal line that transmits the signal to a first block of the blocks, a second signal line that transmits the signal to a second block of the blocks, and n−2 signal lines that transmit the signal to a corresponding block of the blocks; and

n−1 repeater circuits, wherein an m-th repeater circuit, where m=1, 2, . . . , n−1, is provided between each of m-th signal line and m+1-th signal line, wherein an m-th repeater circuit includes a gate circuit that blocks the signal when the m-th block is selected.

2. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1 , wherein the gate circuit outputs the signal to an m+1-th signal line when a k-th block, where k=m+1, m+2, . . . , n, is selected.

3. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1 , wherein the gate circuit blocks the signal based on a block selection signal for selecting any one of the blocks.

4. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1 , wherein each block is not operated when not selected.

5. A semiconductor memory device comprising:

a cell array that is divided into n blocks, where n is an integer greater than 1;

a control circuit that outputs a signal to be transmitted to any one of the blocks;

n signal lines including a first signal line that transmits the signal to a first block of the blocks, a second signal line that transmits the signal to a second block of the blocks, and n−2 signal lines that transmit the signal to a corresponding block of the blocks; and

n−1 repeater circuits, wherein an m-th repeater circuit, where m=1, 2, . . . , n−1, is provided between each of m-th signal line and m+1-th signal line, wherein the m-th repeater circuit includes a gate circuit that blocks the signal when a k-th block, where k=m+1, m+2, . . . , n, is not selected.

6. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 5 , wherein the gate circuit outputs the signal to the m+1-th signal line when a k-th block, where k=m+1, m+2, . . . , n, is selected.

7. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 5 , wherein the gate circuit blocks the signal based on a block selection signal for selecting any one of the blocks.

8. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 5 , wherein each block is not operated when not selected.

9. A semiconductor memory device comprising:

a cell array that is divided into n blocks, where n is an integer greater than 1;

a control circuit that outputs a signal to be transmitted to any one of the blocks;

m signal lines, where m=2, 3, . . . , n, each of which transmits the signal to at least one block of the blocks; and

a repeater circuit that is provided between a k-th signal line and a k+1-th signal line, where k=1, 2, . . . , m−1, wherein

the repeater circuit includes a gate circuit that blocks the signal when a block to which the signal is transmitted by the k-th signal line is selected.

10. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 9 , wherein the gate circuit outputs the signal to the k+1-th signal line when a block to which the signal is transmitted by the k+1-th signal line is selected.

11. The semiconductor memory device according claim 9 , further comprising another repeater circuit that does not include the gate circuit and outputs the signal irrespective of which block is selected.

12. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 9 , wherein the gate circuit blocks the signal based on a block selection signal for selecting any one of the blocks.

13. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 9 , wherein each block is not operated when not selected.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 27, 2015
From: FUJITSU SEMICONDUCTOR LIMITED
To: SOCIONEXT INC.
Reel/Frame 035508/0469 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 22, 2010
From: FUJITSU MICROELECTRONICS LIMITED
To: FUJITSU SEMICONDUCTOR LIMITED
Reel/Frame 024982/0245 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 12, 2008
From: FUJITSU LIMITED
To: FUJITSU MICROELECTRONICS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 021998/0645 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 22, 2005
From: AKIYOSHI, HIDEO
To: FUJITSU LIMITED
Reel/Frame 016409/0028 →