IP Library Granted Patent US 7,428,168
Granted Patent B2
US 7,428,168 · App. 11/478,527 · Granted Sep 23, 2008

Semiconductor memory device sharing a data line sense amplifier and a write driver in order to reduce a chip size

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,428,168
App. No.
11/478,527
Granted
Sep 23, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

A semiconductor memory device includes a first and a second bank, a global data line, a first and a second data line, a data transmitter, and a switch. The global data line is configured between the first and the second banks and commonly shared by the first and the second banks. The first and the second local data lines are respectively configured in the first and the second banks. The data transmitter is configured to transmit data between the global data line and the first and the second local data lines. The switch is configured to couple the data transmitter with the first or the second local data line in response to a corresponding bank selection signal.

Claims (25)

1. A semiconductor memory device, comprising:

a first and a second bank;

a global data line configured between the first and the second banks and commonly shared by the first and the second banks, wherein the global data line is commonly used by input data and output data;

a first local data line configured in the first bank;

a second local data line configured in the second bank;

a data transmitter configured to transmit data between the global data line and the first and the second local data lines; and

a switch configured to couple the data transmitter with the first or the second local data line in response to a corresponding bank selection signal.

2. The semiconductor memory device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the data transmitter includes:

a write driver configured to transmit data loaded at the global data line to one of the first and the second local data lines; and

a data line sense amplifier configured to transmit data loaded at one of the first and the second local data lines to the global data line.

3. The semiconductor memory device as recited in claim 2 , wherein the switch includes:

a first switch configured to connect the first local data line with the data transmitter in response to a first bank selection signal; and

a second switch configured to connect the second local data line with the data transmitter in response to a second bank selection signal.

4. The semiconductor memory device as recited in claim 3 , wherein the first and the second switches comprise NMOS transistors.

5. A semiconductor memory device, comprising:

a plurality of banks; and

a plurality of global data lines commonly shared by the plurality of banks, wherein each global data line is commonly used by input data and output data; and

a plurality of data transmitters, each of which is commonly shared by two adjacent said banks to transmit data between the global data and the two adjacent banks,

wherein each bank includes:

a plurality of local data lines; and

a plurality of switches corresponding to the local data lines configured to selectively couple corresponding data transmitters with corresponding local data lines in response to a corresponding bank selection signal.

6. The semiconductor memory device as recited in claim 5 , wherein each data transmitter includes:

a write driver configured to transmit data loaded at the global data line to one of corresponding local data lines included in the corresponding two adjacent banks; and

a data line sense amplifier configured to transmit data loaded at one of the corresponding local data lines included in the corresponding two adjacent banks to the global data line.

7. The semiconductor memory device as recited in claim 6 , wherein each switch comprises an NMOS transistor.

Assignments (12)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE CONVEYING PARTY'S NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 058297 FRAME 0853. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CHANGE OF NAME. Recorded Aug 28, 2023
From: CONVERSANT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT INC.
To: MOSAID TECHNOLOGIES INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 064742/0953 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 19, 2021
From: CONVERSANT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY INC.
To: MOSAID TECHNOLOGIES INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 058297/0853 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 10, 2020
From: CPPIB CREDIT INVESTMENTS INC.
To: CONVERSANT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT INC.
Reel/Frame 054371/0684 →
RELEASE OF U.S. PATENT AGREEMENT (FOR NON-U.S. GRANTORS) Recorded Oct 12, 2018
From: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, AS LENDER
To: CONVERSANT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT INC.
Reel/Frame 047645/0424 →
AMENDED AND RESTATED U.S. PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (FOR NON-U.S. GRANTORS) Recorded Aug 22, 2018
From: CONVERSANT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT INC.
To: CPPIB CREDIT INVESTMENTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 046900/0136 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 22, 2015
From: CONVERSANT IP N.B. 868 INC.
To: CONVERSANT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT INC.
Reel/Frame 036159/0386 →
U.S. PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (FOR NON-U.S. GRANTORS) Recorded Sep 9, 2014
From: CONVERSANT IP N.B. 868 INC.
To: CPPIB CREDIT INVESTMENTS INC., AS LENDER; ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, AS LENDER
Reel/Frame 033707/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 7, 2014
From: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
To: CONVERSANT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT INC.; CONVERSANT IP N.B. 868 INC.; CONVERSANT IP N.B. 276 INC.
Reel/Frame 033484/0344 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 13, 2014
From: 658868 N.B. INC.
To: CONVERSANT IP N.B. 868 INC.
Reel/Frame 032439/0547 →
U.S. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT (FOR NON-U.S. GRANTORS) - SHORT FORM Recorded Jan 10, 2012
From: 658276 N.B. LTD.; 658868 N.B. INC.; MOSAID TECHNOLOGIES INCORPORATED
To: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
Reel/Frame 027512/0196 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 16, 2011
From: HYNIX SEMICONDUCTOR INC.
To: 658868 N.B. INC.
Reel/Frame 027233/0644 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 27, 2006
From: KIM, SEUNG-LO
To: HYNIX SEMICONDUCTOR INC.
Reel/Frame 018347/0573 →