IP Library Granted Patent US 8,824,220
Granted Patent B2
US 8,824,220 · App. 13/736,138 · Granted Sep 2, 2014

Semiconductor apparatus

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,824,220
App. No.
13/736,138
Granted
Sep 2, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A semiconductor apparatus includes: a sense amplifier unit enabled for a predetermined time during a read operation in response to a first read enable signal, enabled before a write operation in response to a second read enable signal, and disabled when the write operation is started, and a switch unit configured to connect a write driver and a memory unit during the write operation in response to a first select signal, connect the sense amplifier unit and the memory unit for the predetermined time during the read operation in response to a control signal, and disconnect the sense amplifier and the memory unit when the write operation is started.

Claims (23)

1. A semiconductor apparatus comprising:

a sense amplifier unit enabled for a predetermined time during a read operation in response to a first read enable signal, enabled before a write operation in response to a second read enable signal, and disabled when the write operation is started;

a switch unit configured to connect a write driver and a memory unit during the write operation in response to a first select signal, connect the sense amplifier unit and the memory unit for the predetermined time during the read operation in response to a control signal, and disconnect the sense amplifier and the memory unit when the write operation is started, and

a control unit configured to generate the control signal and the second read enable signal in response to the first read enable signal and a second select signal.

2. The semiconductor apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit generates the second read enable signal by delaying the first read enable signal.

3. The semiconductor apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the first select signal comprises a signal enabled during a write operation.

4. The semiconductor apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the second select signal comprises a signal enabled during a read operation.

5. The semiconductor apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the control unit performs a logic operation on the second read enable signal and the second select signal, and outputs the control signal.

6. The semiconductor apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the sense amplifier unit comprises:

a signal combination section configured to perform a logic operation on the first and second read enable signals; and

a sense amplifier connected to the memory unit in response to an output signal of the signal combination section.

7. The semiconductor apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the memory unit comprises a phase change memory element.

8. The semiconductor apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the sense amplifier unit comprises:

a signal combination section configured to perform a logic operation on the first and second read enable signals; and

a sense amplifier connected to the memory unit in response to an output signal of the signal combination section.

9. The semiconductor apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the memory unit comprises a phase change memory element.

10. A semiconductor apparatus comprising:

a switch unit configured to control a first current path where a write driver and a memory unit are connected during a write operation in response to a first select signal and a control signal and control a second current path where a sense amplifier unit and the memory unit are connected for a predetermined time during a read operation and then disconnected when the write operation is started; and

a control unit configured to output the control signal in response to a first read enable signal and a second select signal,

wherein the control unit generates the second read enable signal by delaying the first read enable signal.

11. The semiconductor apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the first select signal comprises a signal enabled during a write operation.

12. The semiconductor apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the second select signal comprises a signal enabled during a read operation.

13. The semiconductor apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the control unit performs a logic operation on the second read enable signal and the second select signal, and outputs the control signal.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 7, 2024
From: SK HYNIX INC.
To: MIMIRIP LLC
Reel/Frame 067335/0246 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 8, 2013
From: LEE, HYUN JOO; KIM, DONG KEUN
To: SK HYNIX INC.
Reel/Frame 029583/0415 →