IP Library Granted Patent US 8,335,124
Granted Patent B2
US 8,335,124 · App. 12/839,341 · Granted Dec 18, 2012

External signal input circuit of semiconductor memory

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,335,124
App. No.
12/839,341
Granted
Dec 18, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

In one embodiment, an external signal input circuit of a semiconductor memory may include: an input block configured to receive a plurality of external signals and to generate a plurality of internal signals; and a control block configured to output one or more internal signals of the plurality of internal signals that correspond to a rank configuration of the semiconductor memory and to block output of one or more internal signals of the plurality of internal signals that do not correspond to the rank configuration.

Claims (18)

1. An external signal input circuit of a semiconductor memory, comprising:

an input block configured to receive a plurality of external signals and to generate a plurality of internal signals; and

a control block configured to output one or more internal signals of the plurality of internal signals that correspond to a rank configuration of the semiconductor memory in response to a rank signal and to block output of one or more internal signals of the plurality of internal signals that do not correspond to the rank configuration in response to the rank signal.

2. The external signal input circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the rank signal defines the rank configuration as a single-rank configuration or a multi-rank configuration.

3. An external signal input circuit of a semiconductor memory, comprising:

a first input unit configured to receive a first external signal to generate a first internal signal;

a second input unit configured to receive a second external signal to generate a second internal signal;

a first control unit configured to receive the first internal signal and output the first internal signal; and

a second control unit configured to block an output of the second internal signal in response to a rank signal.

4. The external signal input circuit according to claim 3 , wherein the rank signal defines the rank configuration as a single-rank configuration or a multi-rank configuration.

5. An external signal input circuit of a semiconductor memory, comprising:

a first input unit configured to output a first buffering signal as a first internal signal, the first buffering signal being generated by receiving a first external signal; and

a second input unit configured to select one of the first buffering signal and a second buffering signal, generated by receiving a second external signal, in response to a rank signal and to output the selected buffering signal as a second internal signal,

wherein the second input unit is configured to block an input of the second external signal in response to the rank signal.

6. The external signal input circuit according to claim 5 , wherein the second input unit comprises:

a buffer configured to receive the second external signal in response to a control signal and to generate the second buffering signal;

a control section configured to receive an enable signal and to output the enable signal as the control signal based on the rank signal; and

a setup/hold section configured to select one of the first buffering signal and the second buffering signal based on the rank signal and to control a setup/hold time of the selected buffering signal.

Assignments (3)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNEE IS HYNIX SEMICONDUCTOR INC. NOT HYNIX-SEMICONDUCTOR INC. THERE IS NO HYPHEN IN THE NAME. PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 67328 FRAME 814. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CHANGE OF NAME. Recorded May 14, 2024
From: HYNIX SEMICONDUCTOR INC.
To: SK HYNIX INC.
Reel/Frame 067412/0482 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 9, 2024
From: SK HYNIX INC.
To: MIMIRIP LLC
Reel/Frame 067369/0832 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 6, 2024
From: HYNIX-SEMICONDUCTOR INC.
To: SK HYNIX INC.
Reel/Frame 067328/0814 →