IP Library Granted Patent US 7,280,380
Granted Patent B2
US 7,280,380 · App. 11/302,325 · Granted Oct 9, 2007

Semiconductor memory device and method of making design change to semiconductor chip

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,280,380
App. No.
11/302,325
Granted
Oct 9, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

The positions of the main driver 10 , the output pad 20 and the first buffer 61 and the second buffer 62 are changed from the central region 111 to the peripheral region 120 , and the first control signal line 31 and the second control signal line 32 are elongated. The distance between the output pad 20 and the main driver 10 is maintained so that the resistance between the output pad 20 and the main driver 10 does not increase.

Claims (35)

1. A semiconductor chip, comprising:

a main driver comprising a pMOSFET, an nMOSFET and an output node, wherein the pMOSFET has a first gate for receiving a first control signal and the nMOSFET has a second gate for receiving a second control signal;

an output pad coupled to the output node;

a first control signal line for transmitting the first control signal;

a second control signal line for transmitting the second control signal;

a first predriver for driving the first control signal line;

a second predriver for driving the second control signal line;

the first control signal line is arranged physically next to and physically in parallel with the second control signal line.

2. The semiconductor chip of claim 1 , wherein;

the first control signal line and the second control signal line are arranged so that the first control signal line and the second control signal line have a capacitance of zero therebetween when the first control signal has a value equal to that of the second control signal.

3. The semiconductor chip of claim 1 , wherein

each of the first control signal line and the second control signal line has a length longer than a distance between the output node and the output pad.

4. The semiconductor chip of claim 1 , further comprising:

a main region; and

a peripheral region;

wherein the output pad and the main driver are positioned on the peripheral region and the first predriver and the second predriver are positioned on the main region.

5. The semiconductor chip of claim 1 , further comprising:

a first ground line; and

a second ground line;

wherein the first control signal line is positioned between the first ground line and the second control signal line,

the first ground line is physically next to the first control signal line,

the second control signal line is positioned between the first control signal line and the second ground line, and

the second ground line is physically next to the second control signal line.

6. The semiconductor chip of claim 1 , further comprising:

a first buffer coupled between the first control signal line and the gate of the pMOSFET; and

a second buffer coupled between the second control signal line and the gate of the nMOSFET.

7. The semiconductor chip of claim 1 , further comprising a predetermined layer;

wherein the first control signal line and the second control signal line are formed on the predetermined layer.

8. The semiconductor chip of claim 7 , further comprising a plurality of line layers,

wherein the line layer is an uppermost line layer.

9. A semiconductor memory device comprising the semiconductor chip of claim 1 .

10. The semiconductor memory device of claim 9 , comprising a memory array, wherein the first control signal line and the second control signal line extend over the memory array.

11. A method of making design change to a semiconductor chip comprising a main driver, an output pad, a first control signal line, a second control signal line, a first predriver and a second predriver; wherein a main driver comprises an output node, a pMOSFET and an nMOSFET comprises a first gate for receiving a first control signal, the nMOSFET comprises a second gate for receiving a second control signal, the output pad is coupled to the output node, the first control signal line transmits the first control signal, the second control signal line transmits the second control signal, the first predriver drives the first control signal line, the second predriver drives the second control signal line, comprising:

preparing layouts of the semiconductor chip; and

arranging the first control signal line physically next to and physically in parallel with the second control signal line.

Assignments (6)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2018
From: LONGITUDE SEMICONDUCTOR S.A.R.L.
To: LONGITUDE LICENSING LIMITED
Reel/Frame 046867/0248 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 24, 2016
From: PS5 LUXCO S.A.R.L.
To: LONGITUDE SEMICONDUCTOR S.A.R.L.
Reel/Frame 039793/0880 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 24, 2016
From: PS4 LUXCO S.A.R.L.
To: PS5 LUXCO S.A.R.L.
Reel/Frame 039818/0506 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 15, 2014
From: ELPIDA MEMORY, INC.
To: PS4 LUXCO S.A.R.L.
Reel/Frame 032899/0588 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 29, 2013
From: PS4 LUXCO S.A.R.L.
To: ELPIDA MEMORY INC.
Reel/Frame 032414/0261 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 14, 2005
From: HARAGUCHI, YOSHINORI
To: ELPIDA MEMORY, INC.
Reel/Frame 017363/0119 →