IP Library Granted Patent US 9,978,441
Granted Patent B2
US 9,978,441 · App. 15/445,230 · Granted May 22, 2018

Semiconductor memory device

Inventors: Chika Tanaka (Fujisawa, JP); Keiji Ikeda (Kawasaki, JP); Toshinori Numata (Yokkaichi, JP); Tsutomu Tezuka (Yokohama, JP)
Assignee: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
G11C11/4091G11C11/4045G11C11/4087G11C11/4094
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,978,441
App. No.
15/445,230
Granted
May 22, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell, a sense amplifier, a first transfer transistor, a second transfer transistor, and a controller. The memory cell can store a first value and a second value. The sense amplifier amplifies the first value or the second value read from the memory cell to the sense node. The first transfer transistor has a first control terminal connected to the sense node. The second transfer transistor has a second control terminal connected to the sense node. The controller applies a backgate potential to backgate terminals of the first transfer transistor and the second transfer transistor.

Claims (61)

1. A semiconductor memory device, comprising:

a memory cell capable of storing a first value and a second value;

a sense amplifier configured to amplify a sense node to a first read potential when the first value is read from the memory cell to the sense node, and amplify the sense node to a second read potential when the second value is read from the memory cell to the sense node;

a first transfer transistor having a first control terminal connected to the sense node and a first backgate terminal of the first control terminal, the first transfer transistor configured to transfer a first write potential to the memory cell when the sense node is at the first read potential;

a second transfer transistor having a second control terminal connected to the sense node and a second backgate terminal of the second control terminal, the second transfer transistor configured to transfer a second write potential to the memory cell when the sense node is at the second read potential; and

a controller configured to apply a first backgate potential to the first backgate terminal, and apply a second backgate potential to the second backgate terminal.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein

the memory cell is capable of storing 2 n values (n is a natural number equal to or larger than 1) including the first value and the second value.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein

the sense amplifier is disposed on a semiconductor substrate,

the memory cell includes a capacitor and a select transistor, the capacitor having a first electrode and a second electrode, the select transistor having a first current terminal connected to the first electrode, a second current terminal connected to the sense node, and a control terminal that controls turn-on and turn-off of a current path between the first and second current terminals, and

the current path includes an oxide semiconductor layer.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein

the first backgate potential is different from the second backgate potential.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein

the first backgate potential is identical to the second backgate potential.

6. A semiconductor memory device, comprising:

a memory cell capable of storing a first value and a second value;

a sense amplifier configured to amplify a sense node to a first read potential when the first value is read from the memory cell to the sense node, and amplify the sense node to a second read potential when the second value is read from the memory cell to the sense node;

a first transfer transistor having a first control terminal connected to the sense node, the first transfer transistor configured to transfer a first write potential to the memory cell via a conductive wire when the sense node is at the first read potential;

a second transfer transistor having a second control terminal connected to the sense node, the second transfer transistor configured to transfer a second write potential to the memory cell via the conductive wire when the sense node is at the second read potential;

a first switch element connected between the memory cell and the sense node;

a second switch element connected between the memory cell and the conductive wire; and

a controller configured to read the first value or the second value from the memory cell to the sense node by setting the first switch element to an on-state and setting the second switch element to an off-state.

7. The device of claim 6 , wherein

the memory cell is capable of storing 2 n values (n is a natural number equal to or larger than 1) including the first value and the second value.

8. The device of claim 6 , wherein

the sense amplifier is disposed on a semiconductor substrate,

the memory cell includes a capacitor and a select transistor, the capacitor having a first electrode and a second electrode, the select transistor having a first current terminal connected to the first electrode, a second current terminal connected to the sense node, and a control terminal that controls turn-on and turn-off of a current path between the first and second current terminals, and

the current path includes an oxide semiconductor layer.

9. The device of claim 6 , wherein

the first transfer transistor has a first backgate terminal, and the second transfer transistor has a second backgate terminal.

10. The device of claim 9 , wherein

the controller supplies a first backgate potential to the first backgate terminal, and supplies a second backgate potential to the second backgate terminal.

11. The device of claim 10 , wherein

the first backgate potential is different from the second backgate potential.

12. The device of claim 10 , wherein

the first backgate potential is identical to the second backgate potential.

13. A semiconductor memory device, comprising:

a memory cell capable of storing a first value and a second value;

a sense amplifier configured to amplify a sense node to a first read potential when the first value is read from the memory cell to the sense node, and amplify the sense node to a second read potential when the second value is read from the memory cell to the sense node;

a conductive wire connected to the memory cell;

a first N-channel transistor having a first control terminal to which a control signal is supplied, the first N-channel transistor configured to transfer a first write potential to the conductive wire;

a second N-channel transistor having a second control terminal connected to the sense node, the second N-channel transistor configured to transfer a second write potential to the conductive wire when the sense node is at the second read potential; and

a controller configured to set the first N-channel transistor to an on-state using the control signal when the sense node is at the first read potential or the second read potential.

14. The device of claim 13 , wherein

the memory cell is capable of storing 2 n value (n is a natural number equal to or larger than 1) including the first value and the second value.

15. The device of claim 13 , wherein

the sense amplifier is disposed on a semiconductor substrate,

the memory cell includes a capacitor and a select transistor, the capacitor having a first electrode and a second electrode, the select transistor having a first current terminal connected to the first electrode, a second current terminal connected to the sense node, and a control terminal that controls turn-on and turn-off of a current path between the first and second current terminals, and

the current path includes an oxide semiconductor layer.

16. The device of claim 13 , wherein

the first N-channel transistor has a first backgate terminal, and the second N-channel transistor has a second backgate terminal.

17. The device of claim 16 , wherein

the controller supplies a first backgate potential to the first backgate terminal, and supplies a second backgate potential to the second backgate terminal.

18. The device of claim 17 , wherein

the first backgate potential is different from the second backgate potential.

19. The device of claim 13 , further comprising:

a switch element connected between the memory cell and the conductive wire.

20. The device of claim 19 , wherein

the controller sets the switch element to an off-state when the first value or the second value is read from the memory cell to the sense node.

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 Aug 22, 2017
From: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
To: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 043620/0798 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 11, 2017
From: TANAKA, CHIKA; IKEDA, KEIJI; NUMATA, TOSHINORI; TEZUKA, TSUTOMU
To: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
Reel/Frame 042976/0865 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2016-183441 · Sep 20, 2016 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20180082733A1 · Mar 22, 2018