IP Library Granted Patent US 10,658,044
Granted Patent B2
US 10,658,044 · App. 16/170,854 · Granted May 19, 2020

Semiconductor memory device and operating method thereof

Inventor: Hee Youl Lee (Gyeonggi-do, KR)
Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
G11C16/16G11C16/0483G11C16/08G11C16/24G11C16/32H01L27/11556H01L27/11582
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,658,044
App. No.
16/170,854
Granted
May 19, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

The semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array, an address decoder, a switch, and a control logic. The memory cell array includes a plurality of memory blocks having a plurality of memory cells. The address decoder is connected to the memory cell array through row lines. The switch is connected non-memory lines among the row lines. The control logic controls operations of the address decoder and the switch. During an erase operation on memory cells included in a selected memory block among the plurality of memory blocks, the control logic controls the switch to precharge non-memory lines connected to an unselected memory block among the plurality of memory blocks and then float the non-memory lines connected to the unselected memory block.

Claims (39)

1. A semiconductor memory device comprising:

a memory cell array including a plurality of memory blocks having a plurality of memory cells;

an address decoder connected to the memory cell array through row lines, the row lines including word lines and non-memory lines, each of the word lines being coupled to a gate terminal of a corresponding memory cell among the plurality of memory cells, each of the non-memory lines being at least one of a drain select line and a source select line;

a switch connected to the non-memory lines among the row lines; and

a control logic configured to control operations of the address decoder and the switch,

wherein, during an erase operation on memory cells in a selected memory block among the plurality of memory blocks, the control logic controls the switch to precharge non-memory lines connected to an unselected memory block among the plurality of memory blocks and then float the non-memory lines connected to the unselected memory block.

2. The semiconductor memory device of claim 1 , wherein the control logic controls the address decoder to erase the selected memory block after the non-memory lines connected to the unselected memory block are floated.

3. The semiconductor memory device of claim 1 , wherein the control logic controls the address decoder and the switch such that the non-memory lines are floated before the non-memory lines connected to the unselected memory block are precharged.

4. The semiconductor memory device of claim 1 ,

wherein the non-memory lines further include a pipe line.

5. The semiconductor memory device of claim 1 , wherein the address decoder includes a plurality of block select circuits each connected to a corresponding memory block among the plurality of memory blocks through the row lines,

wherein the switch includes a plurality of switching circuits each connected to non-memory lines connected to a corresponding memory block among the plurality of memory blocks.

6. The semiconductor memory device of claim 5 , wherein each of the plurality of block select circuits connects row lines connected to a corresponding memory block to global lines in response to a block select signal.

7. The semiconductor memory device of claim 6 , wherein each of the switching circuits precharges corresponding non-memory lines by connecting the non-memory lines to a precharge power source in response to a control signal.

8. The semiconductor memory device of claim 7 , wherein each of the plurality of switching circuits includes a first transistor connected between a corresponding drain select line and the precharge power source, a second transistor connected between a corresponding source select line and the precharge power source, and a third transistor connected between a corresponding pipe line and the precharge power source.

9. The semiconductor memory device of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the first transistor, the second transistor, and the third transistor includes an NMOS transistor.

10. The semiconductor memory device of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the first transistor, the second transistor, and the third transistor includes a PMOS transistor.

11. A method for operating a semiconductor memory device including a plurality of memory blocks, each of the plurality of memory blocks being coupled to row lines, the row lines including word lines and non-memory lines, each of the word lines being coupled to a gate terminal of a corresponding memory cell among the plurality of memory cells, each of the non-memory lines being at least one of a drain select line and a source select line, the method comprising:

precharging non-memory lines of an unselected memory block among the plurality of memory blocks;

floating the non-memory lines of the unselected memory block; and

applying an erase voltage to a selected memory block among the plurality of memory blocks.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the precharging of the non-memory lines of the unselected memory block comprises:

turning off a block select circuit connected to the unselected memory block; and

connecting the non-memory lines of the unselected memory block to a precharge power source by turning on a switching circuit connected to the non-memory lines of the unselected memory block.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the floating of the non-memory lines of the unselected memory block comprises:

maintaining a turn-off state of the block select circuit connected to the unselected memory block, and

turning off the switching circuit connected to the non-memory lines of the unselected memory block.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the applying of the erase voltage to the selected memory block among the plurality of memory blocks comprises:

applying an erase permission voltage to a word line connected to the selected memory block, and

applying the erase voltage to a bulk area in which the selected memory block is formed.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the precharging of the non-memory lines of the unselected memory block includes connecting the non-memory lines of the unselected memory block to global non-memory lines by turning on a block select circuit connected to the unselected memory block.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the floating of the non-memory lines of the unselected memory block includes cutting off connection between the non-memory lines of the unselected memory block and the global non-memory lines by turning off the block select circuit connected to the unselected memory block.

17. A semiconductor memory device comprising:

a memory cell array including a plurality of memory blocks;

an address decoder configured to select at least one of the plurality of memory blocks;

a plurality of row lines coupled between the address decoder and the plurality of memory blocks, the row lines including word lines and non-memory lines, each of the word lines being coupled to a gate terminal of a corresponding memory cell among a plurality of memory cells of the plurality of memory blocks, each of the non-memory lines being at least one of a drain select line and a source select line coupled to the plurality of memory blocks;

a switch configured to selectively couple the plurality of row lines to a power source; and

a control logic configured to control the switch such that the non-memory lines connected to at least one unselected memory block are coupled to the power source to be precharged, and then floated.

18. The semiconductor memory device of claim 17 , wherein, during an erase operation on memory cells included in a selected memory block among the plurality of memory blocks, the control logic controls the switch such that the non-memory lines connected to the selected memory block are coupled to the power source.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 7, 2024
From: SK HYNIX INC.
To: MIMIRIP LLC
Reel/Frame 067335/0246 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 25, 2018
From: LEE, HEE YOUL
To: SK HYNIX INC.
Reel/Frame 047314/0190 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2018-0025743 · Mar 5, 2018 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20190272880A1 · Sep 5, 2019
Cited By (2)
US 12,651,635 US 12,706,155