IP Library Granted Patent US 9,747,966
Granted Patent B2
US 9,747,966 · App. 15/065,449 · Granted Aug 29, 2017

Semiconductor memory device for sensing memory cell with variable resistance

Inventor: Katsuyuki Fujita (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
G11C11/1673G11C11/1697H01L27/226H01L43/08G11C5/146G11C2207/002
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,747,966
App. No.
15/065,449
Granted
Aug 29, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell; a reference signal generation circuit; a sense amplifier; a first transistor configured to electrically couple the memory cell and a first input terminal of the sense amplifier; a second transistor configured to electrically couple the reference signal generation circuit and a second input terminal of the sense amplifier; a first control circuit configured to supply a voltage to gates of the first transistor and the second transistor; a second control circuit configured to supply a first voltage except 0V to a back gate of the first transistor; and a third control circuit configured to supply a second voltage except 0V to a back gate of the second transistor.

Claims (47)

1. A semiconductor memory device comprising:

a memory cell which includes a variable resistance element;

a reference signal generation circuit configured to generate a reference signal;

a sense amplifier including a first input terminal and a second input terminal;

a first transistor configured to electrically couple the memory cell and the first input terminal of the sense amplifier;

a second transistor configured to electrically couple the reference signal generation circuit and the second input terminal of the sense amplifier;

a first control circuit configured to supply a voltage to gates of the first transistor and the second transistor;

a second control circuit configured to supply a first voltage except 0V to a back gate of the first transistor;

a third control circuit configured to supply a second voltage except 0V to a back gate of the second transistor; and

a functional circuit including a third transistor,

wherein threshold voltages of the first transistor and the second transistor are greater than a threshold voltage of the third transistor.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the second control circuit is configured to supply the first voltage such that the first voltage has temperature dependency and/or the third control circuit is configured to supply the second voltage such that the second voltage has temperature dependency.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the second control circuit is configured to supply the first voltage such that the first voltage is a negative voltage and/or the third control circuit is configured to supply the second voltage such that the second voltage is a negative voltage.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein during a read operation, the second control circuit supplies the first voltage and/or the third control circuit supplies the second voltage.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein:

the first transistor and the second transistor have positive threshold voltages, and

during a read operation, the first control circuit supplies a power supply voltage to the gates of the first transistor and the second transistor.

6. A semiconductor memory device comprising:

a memory cell which includes a variable resistance element;

a reference signal generation circuit configured to generate a reference signal;

a sense amplifier including a first input terminal and a second input terminal;

a first transistor configured to electrically couple the memory cell and the first input terminal of the sense amplifier;

a second transistor configured to electrically couple the reference signal generation circuit and the second input terminal of the sense amplifier;

a first control circuit configured to supply a voltage to gates of the first transistor and the second transistor;

a second control circuit configured to supply a first voltage except 0V to a back gate of the first transistor; and

a third control circuit configured to supply a second voltage except 0V to a back gate of the second transistor,

wherein:

the first transistor and the second transistor have negative threshold voltages, and

during a read operation, the first control circuit supplies a ground voltage to the gates of the first transistor and the second transistor.

7. A semiconductor memory device comprising:

a memory cell which includes a variable resistance element;

a reference signal generation circuit configured to generate a reference signal;

a sense amplifier including a first input terminal and a second input terminal;

a first transistor configured to electrically couple the reference signal generation circuit and the first input terminal of the sense amplifier;

a first control circuit configured to supply a voltage to a gate of the first transistor; and

a second control circuit configured to supply a first voltage except 0V to a back gate of the first transistor,

wherein the second control circuit comprises:

a first operational amplifier configured to compare a second voltage which has temperature dependency and a third voltage based on the first voltage, and configured to output a fourth voltage based on a result of the comparison;

a negative voltage generation pump configured to operate in accordance with the fourth voltage;

a second operational amplifier configured to compare the second voltage and a fifth voltage based on the first voltage, and to output a sixth voltage based on a result of the comparison; and

a third transistor having a gate supplied with the sixth voltage.

8. The device of claim 7 , wherein the second control circuit is configured to supply the first voltage such that the first voltage has temperature dependency.

9. The device of claim 7 , wherein:

the first transistor has positive threshold voltage, and

during a read operation, the first control circuit supplies a power supply voltage to the gate of the first transistor.

10. The device of claim 7 , further comprising a second transistor configured to electrically couple the memory cell and the second input terminal of the sense amplifier,

wherein in a read operation, a fixed voltage is supplied to a back gate of the second transistor.

Assignments (5)
MERGER Recorded Jan 22, 2021
From: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
To: K.K. PANGEA
Reel/Frame 055659/0471 →
CHANGE OF NAME AND ADDRESS Recorded Jan 22, 2021
From: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
To: KIOXIA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 055669/0001 →
CHANGE OF NAME AND ADDRESS Recorded Jan 22, 2021
From: K.K. PANGEA
To: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 055669/0401 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 14, 2017
From: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
To: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 043194/0382 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 25, 2016
From: FUJITA, KATSUYUKI
To: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
Reel/Frame 038103/0402 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62209673 · Aug 25, 2015
Related Publication 20170062033A1 · Mar 2, 2017