IP Library Granted Patent US 8,797,816
Granted Patent B2
US 8,797,816 · App. 13/341,369 · Granted Aug 5, 2014

Semiconductor memory apparatus and bit line equalizing circuit

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 8,797,816
App. No.
13/341,369
Granted
Aug 5, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A semiconductor memory apparatus comprises bit line sense amplifier unit, and a pair of precharge elements coupled in series between a first bit line and a second bit line and having an asymmetrical contact resistance ratio.

Claims (34)

1. A semiconductor memory apparatus comprising a first bit line sense amplifier unit coupled between a first bit line and a second bit line; and

a pair of precharge elements coupled in series between the first bit line and the second bit line and having an asymmetrical contact resistance ratio,

wherein the pair of precharge elements comprises a first precharge element and a second precharge element, and

the contact resistance ratio is set so that a first charge time and a second charge time are equalized to each other,

wherein the first charge time is decided by a first contact resistance of the first precharge element coupled to the first bit line, and a capacitance existing in the first bit line, and

the second charge time is decided by a second resistance of the second precharge element coupled to the second bit line, and a capacitance existing in the second bit line.

2. The semiconductor memory apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the pair of precharge elements comprises:

the first precharge element coupled between the first bit line and a first precharge voltage supply line and driven in response to a bit line equalize signal; and

the second precharge element coupled between a second precharge voltage supply line and the second bit line and driven in response to the bit line equalize signal,

wherein a ratio of the first contact resistance to the second contact resistance is different.

3. The semiconductor memory apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the first precharge element comprises:

a first junction region coupled to the first bit line through a first bit line contact and a second junction region coupled to a precharge voltage supply line through a first precharge contact and is driven in response to the bit line equalize signal, and

the second precharge element comprises a third junction region coupled to the precharge voltage supply line through a second precharge contact and a fourth junction region coupled to the second bit line through a second bit line contact and is driven in response to the bit line equalize signal,

wherein the asymmetrical contact resistance ratio is set according to a ratio of a length of the first bit line contact and a length of the second bit line contact.

4. The semiconductor memory apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the second junction region and the third junction region are the same junction region, and the first precharge contact and the second precharge contact are the same contact.

5. The semiconductor memory apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the second junction region and the third junction region are electrically isolated from each other, the first precharge contact and the second precharge contact are electrically isolated from each other, and the asymmetrical contact resistance ratio is set according to the ratio of the length of the first bit line contact to the length of the second bit line contact and the ratio of the length of the first precharge contact to the length of the second precharge contact.

6. The semiconductor memory apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the first precharge element comprises:

a first junction region coupled to the first bit line through a first bit line contact and a second junction region coupled to a precharge voltage supply line through a first precharge contact, and is driven in response to the bit line equalize signal, and

the second precharge element comprises a third junction region coupled to the precharge voltage supply line through a second precharge contact and a fourth junction region coupled to the second bit line through a second bit line contact, and is driven in response to the bit line equalize signal,

wherein the second junction region and the third junction region are electrically isolated from each other, the first precharge contact and the second precharge contact are electrically isolated from each other, and the asymmetrical contact resistance ratio is set according to a ratio of a length of the first precharge contact and a length of the second precharge contact.

7. The semiconductor memory apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising one or more banks each comprising one or more memory cell arrays arranged in a line, and

the first bit line sense amplifier unit is disposed at both edges of the bank.

8. The semiconductor memory apparatus according to claim 7 , further comprising one or more second bit line sense amplifier units each comprising one or more second bit line sense amplifiers arranged between the pair of memory cell arrays adjacent to each other and coupled between first and second bit lines extended from the pair of memory cell arrays, respectively.

9. The semiconductor memory apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein each of the one or more second bit line sense amplifiers comprises a pair of precharge elements coupled in series between the first and second bit lines extended from the pair of memory cell arrays adjacent each other, respectively, and having a symmetrical contact resistance ratio.

10. A bit line equalizing circuit which is coupled between first and second bit lines, and precharges the first and second bit lines to a preset voltage, the bit line equalizing circuit comprising:

a first precharge element coupled between the first bit line and a first precharge voltage supply line and driven in response to a bit line equalize signal; and

a second precharge element coupled between a second precharge voltage supply line and the second bit line and driven in response to the bit line equalize signal,

wherein a ratio of a resistance value between the first bit line and the first precharge voltage supply line and a resistance value between the second bit line and the second precharge voltage supply line is set so that a first charge time and a second charge time are equalized to each other,

wherein the first charge time is decided by a first contact resistance of the first precharge element coupled to the first bit line, and a capacitance existing in the first bit line, and

the second charge time is decided by a second resistance of the second precharge element coupled to the second bit line, and a capacitance existing in the second bit line.

11. The bit line equalizing circuit according to claim 10 , wherein the first precharge element is coupled to the first bit line through a first bit line contact, the second precharge element is coupled to the second bit line through a second bit line contact, and the ratio of the resistance values is set according to a length of the first bit line contact and a length of the second bit line contact.

12. The semiconductor memory apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the first precharge voltage supply line and the second precharge voltage supply line are the same voltage supply line.

13. The semiconductor memory apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the first precharge element is coupled to the first precharge voltage supply line through a first precharge contact, the second precharge element is coupled to the second precharge voltage supply line through a second precharge contact which is electrically isolated from the first precharge contact, and the ratio of the resistance values is set according to a length of the first precharge contact and a length of the second precharge contact.

14. The semiconductor memory apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the ratio of the resistance values is set according to the lengths of the first and second bit line contacts and the lengths of the first and second precharge contacts.

Assignments (4)
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 30, 2011
From: JO, MI HYEON
To: HYNIX SEMICONDUCTOR INC.
Reel/Frame 027465/0778 →