IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,482,970
Granted Patent B2
US 10,482,970 · App. 15/881,265 · Granted Nov 19, 2019

Semiconductor memory system including a plurality of semiconductor memory devices

Inventors: Noboru Shibata (Kawasaki, JP); Hiroshi Sukegawa (Minato-ku, JP)
Assignee: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
G11C16/10G11C11/5628G11C16/0483G11C16/08G11C16/16G11C16/26G11C16/3459G11C16/30
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,482,970
App. No.
15/881,265
Granted
Nov 19, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A communication line is connected to first and second chips, and held at a first signal level. A monitor circuit changes a signal level of the communication line from the first signal to a second signal level while one of the first and second chips uses a current larger than a reference current. When the signal level of the communication line is the second signal level, the other of the first and second chips is controlled to a wait state that does not transfer to an operating state of using a current larger than the reference current.

Claims (24)

1. A semiconductor memory system comprising:

a first semiconductor memory device; and

a signal line connected to the first semiconductor memory device,

wherein the first semiconductor memory device outputs a signal according to existence of a peak current to the signal line, and

wherein when the peak current is larger than a reference current, the first semiconductor memory device is in a waiting state that does not transfer to an operating state using the current larger than the reference current.

2. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a second memory device connected to the signal line.

3. A semiconductor memory system comprising:

a first semiconductor memory device;

a second semiconductor memory device;

a signal line connected to the first and second semiconductor memory devices,

wherein the first semiconductor memory device outputs a signal to the signal line according to a first peak current of the first semiconductor memory device, and

the second semiconductor memory device outputs a signal to the signal line according to a second peak current of the second semiconductor memory device,

when the first semiconductor memory device receives a first signal from the signal line, the first semiconductor memory device goes into a waiting state that does not transfer to an operating state using the current larger than the reference current, the first signal indicating peak current which is larger than a reference current, and

when the second semiconductor memory device receives a second signal from the signal line, the second semiconductor memory device goes into the waiting state, the second signal indicating peak current which is larger than the reference current.

4. The system according to claim 3 , wherein,

the signal line is a common communication line, the common communication line kept at the first level.

5. The system according to claim 4 , further comprising:

a control circuit:

connected to the common communication signal line,

configured to change a level of the common communication signal line from the first level to the second level while one of the first and second semiconductor memory devices uses a current larger than the reference current, and

configured to control the other of the first and second semiconductor memory devices to the waiting state that does not transfer to an operating state using a current larger than the reference current during when the level of the common communication signal line is the second level.

6. The system according to claim 2 , further comprising:

a third semiconductor memory device connected to the signal line.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME AND ADDRESS Recorded Jan 22, 2021
From: K.K. PANGEA
To: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 055669/0401 →
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 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2007-030789 · Feb 9, 2007 · national
Continuity (7)
Continuation 15430983 · Feb 13, 2017
Continuation 14539522 · Nov 12, 2014
Division 14073521 · Nov 6, 2013
Division 13598099 · Aug 29, 2012
Division 12645104 · Dec 22, 2009
Division 12027546 · Feb 7, 2008
Related Publication 20180151229A1 · May 31, 2018