IP Library Granted Patent US 9,881,681
Granted Patent B2
US 9,881,681 · App. 15/251,798 · Granted Jan 30, 2018

Semiconductor memory device for storing multivalued data

Inventors: Noboru Shibata (Kawasaki, JP); Tomoharu Tanaka (Yokohama, JP)
Assignee: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
G11C16/3427G11C11/5628G11C11/5642G11C16/0483G11C16/10G11C16/12G11C16/3459G11C2211/5621G11C2211/5646G11C2211/5648G11C2216/14
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,881,681
App. No.
15/251,798
Granted
Jan 30, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

Data storage circuits are connected to the bit lines in a one-to-one correspondence. A write circuit writes the data on a first page into a plurality of 5 first memory cells selected simultaneously by a word line. Thereafter, the write circuit writes the data on a second page into the plurality of first memory cell. Then, the write circuit writes the data on the first and second pages into second memory cells adjoining 10 the first memory cells in the bit line direction.

Claims (32)

1. A semiconductor memory device comprising:

a memory cell array in which memory cells are provided in a matrix, the memory cells including data cells and at least one flag cell;

word lines connected to the memory cells;

bit lines connected to the memory cells; and

a control circuit configured to control potentials of the word lines and potentials of bit lines,

wherein the data cell is capable of storing i bit of data and the flag cell is capable of storing j bit of flag data,

the j is a natural number smaller than the I, and the j is equal to or larger than 1, and

the flag cell is selected together with the data cell.

2. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1 , wherein

the i is a natural number equal to or larger than 2, and the j is 1.

3. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1 , wherein

data from an external is written into the data cells.

4. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1 , wherein

data read from the data cells is outputted to an external.

5. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1 , wherein

the flag data read from the at least one flag cell is not outputted to an external.

6. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1 , wherein

data in an n number of first memory cells among the memory cells is simultaneously read from memory cell array;

an h (2<h<n) number of second memory cells among the n number of first memory cells is used as the at least one flag cell, the flag data is determined by a majority decision for the read data from the h number of second memory cells, and

in a read result of a k (k<n) number of third memory cells used as the data cells among the n number of first memory cells, the read data from the k number of third memory cells is converted based on the flag data determined by a majority decision.

7. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 6 , wherein

when the flag data determined by the majority decision is a first value, the read data from the data cells is set to a second value.

8. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 6 , wherein

each of the second memory cells is capable of storing the data having a third value or a fourth value, a result of the majority decision is determined based on the number of the third values.

9. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 6 , wherein

write data is simultaneously written into the n number of first memory cells in a write operation.

10. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

data storage circuits connected to bit lines, the data storage circuits including first circuits corresponding to the data cells and at least one second circuit corresponding to the at least one flag cell.

11. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1 , wherein

the data of the data cell and the flag data of the flag cell is simultaneously read.

12. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1 , wherein

the data of the data cell and the flag data of the flag cell is simultaneously written.

Assignments (4)
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 26, 2017
From: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
To: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 043328/0388 →
Priority Claims (2)
JP 2002-347797 · Nov 29, 2002 · national
JP 2003-402161 · Dec 1, 2003 · national
Continuity (16)
Continuation 14861288 · Sep 22, 2015
Continuation 14581714 · Dec 23, 2014
Continuation 14266275 · Apr 30, 2014
Continuation 14079279 · Nov 13, 2013
Continuation 13648778 · Oct 10, 2012
Continuation 13158508 · Jun 13, 2011
Continuation 12837595 · Jul 16, 2010
Continuation 12365039 · Feb 3, 2009
Continuation 12189566 · Aug 11, 2008
Continuation 11949649 · Dec 3, 2007
Continuation 11469279 · Aug 31, 2006
Division 11325917 · Jan 4, 2006
Division 10764828 · Jan 26, 2004
Continuation In Part 10689868 · Oct 20, 2003
Continuation In Part 10358643 · Feb 4, 2003
Related Publication 20170053706A1 · Feb 23, 2017