IP Library Granted Patent US 10,359,961
Granted Patent B2
US 10,359,961 · App. 15/507,822 · Granted Jul 23, 2019

Storage device

Inventors: Mikihiko Ito (Ota, JP); Masaru Koyanagi (Ota, JP); Shintaro Hayashi (Yokohama, JP)
Assignee: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
G06F3/0635G06F1/3287G06F3/0625G06F3/0656G06F3/0683G06F13/1673G06F13/4022G06F13/4282G11C5/025G11C29/021G11C29/12G11C29/1201G11C29/48
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,359,961
App. No.
15/507,822
Granted
Jul 23, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

According to one embodiment, there is provided a storage device including a control chip and a plurality of memory chips. The control chip has an input buffer common to the control chip and the plurality of memory chips and electrically connected to an external terminal. A first transmission path going through the input buffer and a second transmission path not going through the input buffer are provided between the external terminal and the plurality of memory chips. In a first mode, the control chip enables the input buffer so as to activate the first transmission path and, in a second mode, disables the input buffer so as to activate the second transmission path.

Claims (47)

1. A storage device comprising:

a control chip; and

a plurality of memory chips;

wherein the control chip includes an input buffer common to the control chip and the plurality of memory chips and electrically connected to an external terminal,

a first transmission path going through the input buffer and a second transmission path not going through the input buffer are provided between the external terminal and the plurality of memory chips, and

in a first mode, the control chip enables the input buffer to activate the first transmission path and, in a second mode, disables the input buffer to activate the second transmission path,

the control chip includes a first control circuit that, in the first mode, enables the input buffer and that, in the second mode, disables the input buffer,

the control chip further includes a first transfer switch provided on the second transmission path and electrically connected to the external terminal,

in the first mode, the first control circuit maintains the first transfer switch in an off state and, in the second mode, turns on the first transfer switch, and

each of the plurality of memory chips includes:

a second transfer switch provided on the second transmission path and electrically connected to the external terminal; and

a second control circuit that, in the first mode, maintains the second transfer switch in the off state and, in the second mode, turns on the second transfer switch.

2. A storage device comprising:

a control chip; and

a plurality of memory chips;

wherein the control chip includes an input buffer common to the control chip and the plurality of memory chips and electrically connected to an external terminal,

a first transmission path going through the input buffer and a second transmission path not going through the input buffer are provided between the external terminal and the plurality of memory chips, and

in a first mode, the control chip enables the input buffer to activate the first transmission path and, in a second mode, disables the input buffer to activate the second transmission path,

the control chip includes a first control circuit that, in the first mode, enables the input buffer and that, in the second mode, disables the input buffer,

the control chip further includes a first transfer switch provided on the second transmission path and electrically connected to the external terminal,

in the first mode, the first control circuit maintains the first transfer switch in an off state and, in the second mode, turns on the first transfer switch, and

each of the plurality of memory chips includes:

a second transfer switch provided on the second transmission path;

a connection switch provided on the second transmission path and that electrically connects the external terminal to the second transfer switch; and

a second control circuit that, in the first mode, maintains at least the connection switch in the off state and, in the second mode, turns on the connection switch and the second transfer switch.

3. A storage device comprising:

a control chip; and

a plurality of memory chips;

wherein the control chip includes an input buffer common to the control chip and the plurality of memory chips and electrically connected to an external terminal,

a first transmission path going through the input buffer and a second transmission path not going through the input buffer are provided between the external terminal and the plurality of memory chips, and

in a first mode, the control chip enables the input buffer to activate the first transmission path and, in a second mode, disables the input buffer to activate the second transmission path,

the control chip includes a first control circuit that, in the first mode, enables the input buffer and that, in the second mode, disables the input buffer,

the control chip further includes a first transfer switch provided on the second transmission path,

in the first mode, the first control circuit maintains the first transfer switch in an off state and, in the second mode, turns on the first transfer switch, and

each of the plurality of memory chips includes:

a second transfer switch provided on the second transmission path;

a connection switch provided on the second transmission path and that electrically connects the external terminal to each of the first transfer switch and the second transfer switch; and

a second control circuit that, in the first mode, maintains at least the connection switch in the off state and, in the second mode, turns on each of the connection switch and the second transfer switch.

4. The storage device according to claim 1 , wherein

the first mode includes an operation mode in which a control signal is supplied from the external terminal to a control circuit in each of the control chip and the plurality of memory chips using the first transmission path, and

the second mode includes a test mode in which the operation of each of the control chip and the plurality of memory chips is checked using the second transmission path.

5. The storage device according to claim 2 , wherein

the first mode includes an operation mode in which a control signal is supplied from the external terminal to a control circuit in each of the control chip and the plurality of memory chips using the first transmission path, and

the second mode includes a test mode in which the operation of each of the control chip and the plurality of memory chips is checked using the second transmission path.

6. The storage device according to claim 3 , wherein

the first mode includes an operation mode in which a control signal is supplied from the external terminal to a control circuit in each of the control chip and the plurality of memory chips using the first transmission path, and

the second mode includes a test mode in which the operation of each of the control chip and the plurality of memory chips is checked using the second transmission path.

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 5, 2017
From: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
To: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 043088/0620 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 7, 2017
From: ITO, MIKIHIKO; KOYANAGI, MASARU; HAYASHI, SHINTARO
To: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
Reel/Frame 042630/0476 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20170286000A1 · Oct 5, 2017