IP Library Granted Patent US 11,211,905
Granted Patent B2
US 11,211,905 · App. 16/553,717 · Granted Dec 28, 2021

Semiconductor device and memory system

Inventors: Yohei Yasuda (Yokohama Kanagawa, JP); Hidefumi Kushibe (Kamakura Kanagawa, JP); Toshihiro Yagi (Yokohama Kanagawa, JP)
Assignee: Toshiba Memory Corporation
H03F3/16H03F3/45376H03F3/45632
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,211,905
App. No.
16/553,717
Granted
Dec 28, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

According to one embodiment, in a first differential amplifier circuit of a semiconductor device, a first transistor receives an input signal at the gate. A second transistor forms a differential pair with the first transistor. The second transistor receives a reference signal at the gate. A third transistor is connected in series with the first transistor. A fourth transistor is connected in series with the second transistor. A fifth transistor is disposed on the output side. The fifth transistor forms a first current mirror circuit with the fourth transistor. A sixth transistor is connected to the drain of the second transistor in parallel with the fourth transistor. The sixth transistor forms a second current mirror circuit with the fifth transistor. A first discharge circuit is connected to the source of the sixth transistor.

Claims (66)

1. A semiconductor device comprising:

a first differential amplifier circuit including:

a first transistor configured to receive a first input signal at a gate of the first transistor;

a second transistor connected in parallel between a source and a drain of the first transistor and configured to receive a first reference signal at a gate of the second transistor;

a third transistor, forming a differential pair with the second transistor, configured to receive the first reference signal at a gate of the third transistor;

a fourth transistor connected in parallel between a source and a drain of the third transistor and configured to receive a second reference signal at a gate of the fourth transistor, the second reference signal lower than the first reference signal;

a fifth transistor having a source connected to a power supply voltage and a drain connected to the drain of the first transistor and the second transistor at a first node; and

a sixth transistor having a source connected to the power supply voltage and a drain connected to the drain of the third transistor, a drain of the fourth transistor, and a gate of the fifth transistor at a second node.

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

a second differential amplifier circuit, which forms a differential pair with the first differential amplifier circuit, including:

a fifth transistor configured to receive a second input signal at a gate of the fifth transistor;

a sixth transistor connected in parallel between a source and a drain of the fifth transistor and configured to receive a third reference signal at a gate of the sixth transistor; and

a seventh transistor, forming a differential pair with the sixth transistor, configured to receive the third reference signal at a gate of the seventh transistor.

3. The semiconductor device according to claim 2 , wherein

the second differential amplifier circuit further includes an eighth transistor connected in parallel between a source and a drain of the seventh transistor and configured to receive the second reference signal at a gate of the eighth transistor.

4. The semiconductor device according to claim 2 , wherein

the first differential amplifier circuit further includes:

a ninth transistor connected in series with the second transistor;

a tenth transistor, disposed on an output side of the first differential amplifier circuit, configured as a first current mirror circuit with the ninth transistor;

an eleventh transistor, connected in parallel with the ninth transistor, configured as a second current mirror circuit with the tenth transistor; and

a first discharge circuit connected to a source of the eleventh transistor; and

the second differential amplifier circuit further includes:

a thirteenth transistor connected in series with the sixth transistor;

a fourteenth transistor, disposed on an output side of the second differential amplifier circuit, configured as a third current mirror circuit with the thirteenth transistor;

a fifteenth transistor, connected in parallel with the thirteenth transistor, configured as a fourth current mirror circuit with the fourteenth transistor; and

a second discharge circuit connected to a source of the fifteenth transistor.

5. The semiconductor device of claim 1 , wherein the semiconductor device is configured as a receiver of at least one of a semiconductor memory or a memory interface configured to receive a signal.

6. The semiconductor device of claim 4 , wherein the first discharge circuit is configured to discharge a charge at an intermediate node connected between the eleventh transistor and the first discharge circuit.

7. The semiconductor device of claim 4 , wherein the second discharge circuit is configured to discharge a charge at an intermediate node connected between the fifteenth transistor and the second discharge circuit.

8. The semiconductor device of claim 1 , wherein the second transistor and the third transistor at least form part of a discharge circuit configured to discharge charge on the first node to a ground by turning on the second transistor in a timing with which the first input signal transitions from a first level to a second level.

9. The semiconductor device of claim 8 , wherein the first transistor and the fourth transistor at least form part of a differential circuit in parallel with the discharge circuit.

10. The semiconductor device of claim 1 , wherein the power supply voltage, first reference voltage, and second reference voltage meet the following conditions:

the second reference voltage≈½×the power supply voltage; and

the first reference voltage=the second reference voltage+ΔV,

wherein 0<ΔV<½×the power supply voltage.

11. A memory controller comprising:

a host interface circuit configured to receive a command from a host;

a processing circuit configured to control the controller; and

a memory interface circuit configured to transmit the command to a semiconductor memory and receive data from the semiconductor memory, wherein the memory interface includes:

a first transistor configured to receive a first input signal at a gate of the first transistor;

a second transistor connected in parallel between a source and a drain of the first transistor and configured to receive a first reference signal at a gate of the second transistor;

a third transistor, forming a differential pair with the second transistor, configured to receive the first reference signal at a gate of the third transistor;

a fourth transistor connected in parallel between a source and a drain of the third transistor and configured to receive a second reference signal at a gate of the fourth transistor, the second reference signal lower than the first reference signal;

a fifth transistor having a source connected to a power supply voltage and a drain connected to the drain of the first transistor and the second transistor at a first node; and

a sixth transistor having a source connected to the power supply voltage and a drain connected to the drain of the third transistor, a drain of the fourth transistor, and a gate of the fifth transistor at a second node.

12. The memory controller of claim 11 , wherein the second transistor and the third transistor at least form part of a discharge circuit configured to discharge charge on the first node to a ground by turning on the second transistor in a timing with which the first input signal transitions from a first level to a second level.

13. The memory controller of claim 12 , wherein the first transistor and the fourth transistor at least form part of a differential circuit in parallel with the discharge circuit.

14. The memory controller of claim 11 , wherein the power supply voltage, first reference voltage, and second reference voltage meet the following conditions:

the second reference voltage≈½×the power supply voltage; and

the first reference voltage=the second reference voltage+ΔV,

wherein 0<ΔV<½×the power supply voltage.

15. A memory system comprising:

a controller; and

a semiconductor memory connected to the controller,

wherein the controller includes:

a host interface circuit configured to receive a command from a host;

a processing circuit configured to control the controller; and

a memory interface circuit configured to transmit the command to a semiconductor memory and receive data from the semiconductor memory, wherein the memory interface includes:

a first transistor configured to receive a first input signal at a gate of the first transistor;

a second transistor connected in parallel between a source and a drain of the first transistor and configured to receive a first reference signal at a gate of the second transistor;

a third transistor, forming a differential pair with the second transistor, configured to receive the first reference signal at a gate of the third transistor;

a fourth transistor connected in parallel between a source and a drain of the third transistor and configured to receive a second reference signal at a gate of the fourth transistor, the second reference signal lower than the first reference signal;

a fifth transistor having a source connected to a power supply voltage and a drain connected to the drain of the first transistor and the second transistor at a first node; and

a sixth transistor having a source connected to the power supply voltage and a drain connected to the drain of the third transistor, a drain of the fourth transistor, and a gate of the fifth transistor at a second node.

16. The memory controller of claim 15 , wherein the second transistor and the third transistor at least form part of a discharge circuit configured to discharge charge on the first node to a ground by turning on the second transistor in a timing with which the first input signal transitions from a first level to a second level.

17. The memory controller of claim 16 , wherein the first transistor and the fourth transistor at least form part of a differential circuit in parallel with the discharge circuit.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 17, 2022
From: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
To: KIOXIA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 058751/0379 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 12, 2019
From: YASUDA, YOHEI; KUSHIBE, HIDEFUMI; YAGI, TOSHIHIRO
To: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 050986/0007 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP JP2019-027849 · Feb 19, 2019 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20200266774A1 · Aug 20, 2020