IP Library Granted Patent US 9,424,907
Granted Patent B2
US 9,424,907 · App. 14/315,951 · Granted Aug 23, 2016

Semiconductor device suppressing BTI deterioration

Inventor: Keisuke Fujishiro (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
G11C11/4076G11C11/4093G11C11/4094G11C11/40626
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,424,907
App. No.
14/315,951
Granted
Aug 23, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed herein is a device includes a command generation circuit that activates first and second command signals, an internal circuit that includes a plurality of transistors that are brought into a first operation state when at least one of the first and second command signals is activated, and an output gate circuit that receives a first signal output from the internal circuit, the output gate circuit being configured to pass the first signal when the second command signal is deactivated and to block the first signal when the second command signal is activated.

Claims (38)

1. A semiconductor device comprising:

a command generation circuit that activates first and second command signals;

an input gate circuit that receives the first command signal and a command, the input gate circuit configured to pass the command when the first command signal is deactivated and block the command when the first command signal is activated;

an internal circuit coupled to the input gate circuit and the internal circuit includes a plurality of transistors that are brought into a first operation state when at least one of the first and second command signals is activated; and

an output gate circuit that receives a first signal output from the internal circuit, the output gate circuit being configured to pass the first signal when the second command signal is deactivated and to block the first signal when the second command signal is activated.

2. The semiconductor device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the internal circuit is configured such that the plurality of transistors are brought into a second operation state different from the first operation state when both the first and second command signals are deactivated.

3. The semiconductor device as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a second control circuit, wherein

the internal circuit and the output gate circuit constitute a first control circuit,

the first control circuit is configured to perform a first control by outputting the first signal from the output gate circuit when the first command signal is activated, and not to perform the first control when the second command signal is activated, and

the second control circuit is configured to perform a second control different from the first control when the second command signal is activated.

4. The semiconductor device as claimed in claim 3 , wherein

the second control circuit is configured to activate a third command signal in response to an activation of the second command signal, and

the internal circuit is configured such that the plurality of transistors are brought into the first operation state when at least one of the first and third command signals is activated.

5. The semiconductor device as claimed in claim 4 , wherein

the second command signal is activated periodically,

the second control circuit is configured to activate the third command signal each time the second command signal is activated, and

a period during which activation of the third command signal continues is shorter than an activation cycle of the second command signal.

6. The semiconductor device as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the input gate circuit outputs a second signal taking a first logic state when at least one of the first and third command signals is activated and taking a second logic state when neither the first nor the third command signal is activated, wherein

the internal circuit includes plural stage of inverter circuits,

the plurality of transistors constitute the plural stage of inverter circuits, and

the second signal is supplied to an input terminal of an inverter circuit being an initial stage of the plural stage of inverter circuits.

7. A semiconductor device comprising:

a command generation circuit that activates first and second command signals;

an internal circuit that includes a plurality of transistors that are brought into a first operation state when at least one of the first and second command signals is activated;

an output gate circuit that receives a first signal output from the internal circuit, the output gate circuit being configured to pass the first signal when the second command signal is deactivated and to block the first signal when the second command signal is activated,

wherein the internal circuit and the output gate circuit constitute a first control circuit, and the first control circuit is configured to perform a first control by outputting the first signal from the output gate circuit when the first command signal is activated, and not to perform the first control when the second command signal is activated; and

a second control circuit configured to perform a second control different from the first control when the second command signal is activated,

wherein the second control circuit is configured to activate a fourth command signal in response to an activation of the second command signal, and

an output of the output gate circuit is fixed to a constant value when the fourth command signal is activated.

8. The semiconductor device as claimed in claim 3 , further comprising a plurality of memory cells that are arranged in a matrix pattern and are selected by row access and column access, wherein

the first control is of the column access, and

the second control is of the row access.

9. The semiconductor device as claimed in claim 8 , wherein

the first control is read control or write control for the plurality of memory cells, and

the second control is refresh control for the plurality of memory cells.

10. The semiconductor device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein

the internal circuit includes plural stage of inverter circuits, and

the plurality of transistors constitute the plural stage of inverter circuits.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 12, 2019
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.; MICRON SEMICONDUCTOR PRODUCTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 051028/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 9, 2019
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 050937/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 23, 2018
From: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 047243/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 13, 2018
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.; MICRON SEMICONDUCTOR PRODUCTS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 047540/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REPLACE ERRONEOUSLY FILED PATENT #7358718 WITH THE CORRECT PATENT #7358178 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 038669 FRAME 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded Jun 8, 2017
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 043079/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 2, 2016
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038954/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 12, 2016
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038669/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 26, 2014
From: FUJISHIRO, KEISUKE
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 033187/0754 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2013-133557 · Jun 26, 2013 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20150003177A1 · Jan 1, 2015