IP Library Granted Patent US 9,552,867
Granted Patent B2
US 9,552,867 · App. 14/588,496 · Granted Jan 24, 2017

Semiconductor memory devices and memory systems including the same

Inventors: Young-Soo Sohn (Seoul, KR); Uk-Song Kang (Seongnam-si, KR); Kwang-Il Park (Yongin-si, KR); Chul-Woo Park (Yongin-si, KR); Hak-Soo Yu (Seongnam-si, KR); Jae-Youn Youn (Seoul, KR)
Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
G11C11/4087G11C5/025G11C7/02G11C11/4085
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,552,867
App. No.
14/588,496
Granted
Jan 24, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A semiconductor memory device includes a control logic and a memory cell array in which a plurality of memory cells are arranged. The memory cell array includes a plurality of bank arrays, and each of the plurality of bank arrays includes a plurality of sub-arrays. The control logic controls an access to the memory cell array based on a command and an address signal. The control logic dynamically sets a keep-away zone that includes a plurality of memory cell rows which are deactivated based on a first word-line when the first word-line is enabled. The first word-line is coupled to a first memory cell row of a first sub-array of the plurality of sub-arrays. Therefore, increased timing parameters may be compensated, and parallelism may be increased.

Claims (44)

1. A semiconductor memory device comprising:

a memory cell array in which a plurality of memory cells are arranged, the memory cell array including a plurality of bank arrays, each of the plurality of bank arrays including a plurality of sub-arrays; and

a control logic configured to control an access to the memory cell array based on a command and an address signal, the control logic being configured to calculate a distance from an activated first word-line based on a row address of the activated first word-line according to the address signal and dynamically set a region including a first memory cell row of a first sub-array among the plurality of sub-arrays within the distance from the activated first word-line as a keep-away zone,

wherein the keep-away zone includes a plurality of memory cell rows which are deactivated based on the first word-line when the first word-line is activated, and

wherein a first row cycle for the first word-line is at least partially overlapped with a second row cycle for a second word-line, the second word-line being coupled to a second memory cell row in a second sub-array among the plurality of sub-arrays, the second sub-array belonging to regions other than the keep-away zone.

2. The semiconductor memory device of claim 1 , wherein the control logic is configured to divide the plurality of sub-arrays into a plurality of sub-array groups based on at least one bit of the address signal, the plurality of sub-array groups including a first sub-array group, and

the control logic is configured to set sub-array groups adjacent to the first sub-array group including the first memory cell row as the keep-away zone.

3. The semiconductor memory device of claim 2 , wherein the control logic is configured to set the first sub-array group including the first memory cell row as an activated sub-array group.

4. The semiconductor memory device of claim 3 , wherein a size of each sub-array group is varied by a mode register set.

5. The semiconductor memory device of claim 3 , wherein a size of the activated sub-array group is varied by a mode register set.

6. The semiconductor memory device of claim 2 , wherein the at least one bit of the address signal is one or more upper bits of a row address of the address signal.

7. The semiconductor memory device of claim 1 , wherein a precharge time of the first row cycle is partially overlapped with a word-line enable time of the second row cycle.

8. The semiconductor memory device of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of row decoders, each of the plurality of row decoders being coupled to a corresponding bank array among the plurality of bank arrays, each of the plurality of row decoders including:

a decoder configured to decode a row address of the address signal to provide a decoded row address; and

a plurality of word-line drivers, each of the plurality of word-line drivers being connected to a corresponding sub-array among the plurality of sub-arrays,

wherein the decoder is configured to commonly apply the decoded row address to the plurality of word-line drivers, and

the control logic is configured to commonly apply an active signal that selects each of the plurality of sub-arrays to the plurality of word-line drivers, and is configured to individually apply to the plurality of word-line drivers precharge signals that reset the plurality of word-line drivers.

9. The semiconductor memory device of claim 8 , wherein the active signal and the decoded row address are pulse-type signals.

10. The semiconductor memory device of claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of word-line drivers comprises:

a first p-channel metal oxide semiconductor (PMOS) transistor coupled between a power supply voltage and a first node connected to a corresponding word-line;

a first n-channel metal oxide semiconductor (NMOS) transistor and a second NMOS transistor coupled in series between the first node and a ground voltage; and

a latch coupled to the corresponding word-line, the latch being configured to latch the active signal until the precharge signal is applied.

11. The semiconductor memory device of claim 10 , wherein the PMOS transistor has a gate that receives an inverted version of the precharge signal,

the first NMOS transistor has a gate that receives the active signal, and

the second NMOS transistor has a gate that receives the decoded row address.

12. A memory system comprising:

a semiconductor memory device configured to store data, the semiconductor memory device including:

a memory cell array including a plurality of bank arrays, each of the plurality of bank arrays including a plurality of sub-arrays; and

a control logic configured to control an access to the memory cell array based on a command and an address signal, the control logic being configured to calculate a distance from an activated first word-line based on a row address of the activated first word-line according to the address signal and dynamically set a region including a first memory cell row of a first sub-array among the plurality of sub-arrays within the distance from the activated first word-line as a keep-away zone; and

a memory controller configured to control the semiconductor memory device,

wherein the keep-away zone includes a plurality of memory cell rows which are deactivated based on the first word-line when the first word-line is activated.

13. The memory system of claim 12 , wherein a first row cycle for the first word-line is at least partially overlapped with a second row cycle for a second word-line, the second word-line being coupled to a second memory cell row in a second sub-array among the plurality of sub-arrays, the second sub-array belonging to regions other than the keep-away zone.

14. The memory system of claim 12 , wherein the semiconductor memory device is a dynamic random access memory (DRAM).

15. A memory device comprising:

a memory cell array including a plurality of bank arrays, each of the plurality of bank arrays including a plurality of sub-arrays;

an address register;

a row decoder;

a column decoder; and

a control logic configured to control an access to the memory cell array based on a command and an address signal, the control logic being configured to calculate a distance from an activated first word-line based on a row address of the activated first word-line according to the address signal and dynamically set a region including a first memory cell row of a first sub-array among the plurality of sub-arrays within the distance from the activated first word-line as a keep-away zone,

wherein the keep-away zone includes a plurality of memory cell rows which are deactivated based on the first word-line when the first word-line is activated, and

wherein the control logic is configured to access the first memory cell row and a second memory cell row by partially overlapping a first row cycle for the first word-line with a second row cycle for a second word-line, the second word-line being coupled to the second memory cell row of a second sub-array among the plurality of sub-arrays, the second sub-array being in an overlappable region other than the keep-away zone.

16. The memory device of claim 15 , wherein the control logic is configured to divide the plurality of sub-arrays into a plurality of sub-array groups, the plurality of sub-array groups including a first sub-array group, and

the control logic is configured to set sub-array groups adjacent to the first sub-array group including the first memory cell row as the keep-away zone.

17. The memory device of claim 15 , wherein a precharge time of the first row cycle is partially overlapped with a word-line enable time of the second row cycle.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 5, 2015
From: SOHN, YOUNG-SOO; KANG, UK-SONG; PARK, KWANG-IL; PARK, CHUL-WOO; YU, HAK-SOO; YOUN, JAE-YOUN
To: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD
Reel/Frame 034632/0300 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2014-0050659 · Apr 28, 2014 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20150309743A1 · Oct 29, 2015