IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,573,460
Granted Patent B2
US 12,573,460 · App. 18/332,753 · Granted Mar 10, 2026

Semiconductor memory device

Inventors: Katsuaki Isobe (Yokohama Kanagawa, JP); Takeshi Hioka (Tokyo, JP); Mario Sako (Yokohama Kanagawa, JP)
Assignee: Kioxia Corporation
G11C16/26G11C16/0483
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,573,460
App. No.
18/332,753
Granted
Mar 10, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A semiconductor memory device includes a first memory cell transistor, a first bit line electrically coupled to the first memory cell transistor, a first sense amplifier, and a first latch circuit. The first sense amplifier includes a first node coupled to the first bit line, a first transistor including one end electrically coupled to the first latch circuit, a second node coupled to a gate of the first transistor, and a second transistor coupled between the first and second nodes. The second transistor is in an ON state during an operation of transferring a charge from the first bit line to the first and second nodes in accordance with data of the first memory cell transistor. The second transistor is in an OFF state during an operation of transferring data of the second node to the first latch circuit.

Claims (93)

1 . A semiconductor memory device comprising:

a first memory cell transistor;

a first bit line electrically coupled to the first memory cell transistor;

a first sense amplifier electrically coupled to the first bit line; and

a first latch circuit electrically coupled to the first sense amplifier,

wherein

the first sense amplifier includes:

a first node coupled to the first bit line;

a first transistor including one end electrically coupled to the first latch circuit;

a second node coupled to a gate of the first transistor;

a second transistor coupled between the first node and the second node,

a first conductor functioning as the first node; and

a second conductor coupled to the first latch circuit, being adjacent to the first conductor and functioning as a first wiring,

the second transistor is in an ON state during an operation of transferring a charge from the first bit line to the first node and the second node in accordance with data of the first memory cell transistor,

the second transistor is in an OFF state during an operation of transferring data of the second node to the first latch circuit, and

the second conductor has a first inter-wiring capacitance between the second conductor and the first conductor.

2 . The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1 , wherein

the first sense amplifier further includes:

a third conductor functioning as the second node; and

a fourth conductor coupled to one end of the second transistor, being adjacent to the third conductor and functioning as a second wiring, and

the fourth conductor has a second inter-wiring capacitance between the fourth conductor and the third conductor.

3 . The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1 , wherein

the first sense amplifier further includes:

a third conductor functioning as the second node;

a fourth conductor coupled to one end of the second transistor and functioning as a second wiring; and

a fifth conductor adjacent to the third conductor and functioning as a third wiring that receives a clock signal, and

the fifth conductor has a second inter-wiring capacitance between the fifth conductor and the third conductor.

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

a second sense amplifier adjacent to the first sense amplifier in a first direction,

wherein

the first sense amplifier and the second sense amplifier arranged in the first direction include seven wirings arranged in the first direction.

5 . The semiconductor memory device according to claim 4 , wherein at least one of the seven wirings is electrically coupled to the first latch circuit.

6 . The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1 , wherein a width of the first sense amplifier in a first direction corresponds to a width of 3.5 wirings arranged in the first direction.

7 . The semiconductor memory device according to claim 6 , further comprising:

a second sense amplifier adjacent to the first sense amplifier in the first direction,

wherein a width of the second sense amplifier in the first direction corresponds to a width of 3.5 wirings arranged in the first direction.

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

a second sense amplifier adjacent to the first sense amplifier in a first direction,

wherein the first sense amplifier and the second sense amplifier arranged in the first direction include six wirings arranged in the first direction.

9 . The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1 , wherein a width of the first sense amplifier in a first direction corresponds to a width of 3 wirings arranged in the first direction.

10 . The semiconductor memory device according to claim 9 , further comprising:

a second sense amplifier adjacent to the first sense amplifier in the first direction,

wherein a width of the second sense amplifier in the first direction corresponds to a width of 3 wirings arranged in the first direction.

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

a second sense amplifier adjacent to the first sense amplifier in a first direction;

a second latch circuit electrically coupled to the second sense amplifier;

a second bit line electrically coupled to the second sense amplifier; and

a second memory cell transistor electrically coupled to the second bit line,

wherein

the second sense amplifier includes:

a third node coupled to the second bit line;

a sixth transistor including one end electrically coupled to the second latch circuit;

a fourth node coupled to a gate of the sixth transistor; and

a seventh transistor coupled between the third node and the fourth node,

the seventh transistor is in an ON state during an operation of transferring a charge from the second bit line to the third node and the fourth node in accordance with data of the second memory cell transistor, and

the seventh transistor is in an OFF state during an operation of transferring data of the fourth node to the second latch circuit.

12 . The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1 , wherein the first sense amplifier further includes:

a first capacitance including one end coupled to the first node and another end coupled to a first wiring;

a second capacitance including one end coupled to the second node and another end coupled to a third wiring; and

a third transistor including one end coupled to the first node and another end coupled to a first power supply.

13 . A semiconductor memory device comprising:

a first memory cell transistor;

a first bit line electrically coupled to the first memory cell transistor;

a first sense amplifier electrically coupled to the first bit line; and

a first latch circuit electrically coupled to the first sense amplifier,

wherein

the first sense amplifier includes:

a first node coupled to the first bit line;

a first transistor including one end electrically coupled to the first latch circuit;

a second node coupled to a gate of the first transistor;

a second transistor coupled between the first node and the second node,

a first capacitance including one end coupled to the first node and another end coupled to a first wiring; and

a second capacitance including one end coupled to the second node and another end coupled to a second wiring,

the second transistor is in an ON state during an operation of transferring a charge from the first bit line to the first node and the second node in accordance with data of the first memory cell transistor, and

the second transistor is in an OFF state during an operation of transferring data of the second node to the first latch circuit.

14 . The semiconductor memory device according to claim 13 , wherein the first sense amplifier further includes a third transistor including one end coupled to the first node and another end coupled to a first power supply.

15 . A semiconductor memory device comprising:

a first memory cell transistor;

a first bit line electrically coupled to the first memory cell transistor;

a first sense amplifier electrically coupled to the first bit line;

a first latch circuit electrically coupled to the first sense amplifier; and

a second sense amplifier adjacent to the first sense amplifier in a first direction,

wherein

the first sense amplifier includes:

a first node coupled to the first bit line;

a first transistor including one end electrically coupled to the first latch circuit;

a second node coupled to a gate of the first transistor;

a second transistor coupled between the first node and the second node,

the second transistor is in an ON state during an operation of transferring a charge from the first bit line to the first node and the second node in accordance with data of the first memory cell transistor,

the second transistor is in an OFF state during an operation of transferring data of the second node to the first latch circuit,

the first sense amplifier further includes a fourth transistor,

the second sense amplifier includes a fifth transistor, and

the semiconductor memory device includes a source/drain region shared by the fourth transistor and the fifth transistor.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 23, 2023
From: ISOBE, KATSUAKI; HIOKA, TAKESHI; SAKO, MARIO
To: KIOXIA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 065312/0838 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2022-143205 · Sep 8, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240087656A1 · Mar 14, 2024
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