IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,423,992
Granted Patent B2
US 11,423,992 · App. 17/172,730 · Granted Aug 23, 2022

Page buffer and semiconductor memory device having the page buffer

Inventor: Hyung Jin Choi (Icheon-si, KR)
Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
G11C16/24G11C16/26G11C16/0483
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,423,992
App. No.
17/172,730
Granted
Aug 23, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present technology relates to a page buffer and a semiconductor memory device including the page buffer. The page buffer includes a sensing node, a bit line controller connected between the sensing node and a bit line. The bit line controller is configured to first precharge and second precharge the sensing node.

Claims (44)

1. A page buffer comprising:

a sensing node;

a bit line controller connected between the sensing node and a bit line, and configured to, during a sensing node precharge operation, perform a first precharge of the sensing node to precharge the sensing node to a first potential level and then perform a second precharge of the sensing node to a second potential level; and

a sub latch for latching sensing data based on a potential level of the sensing node.

2. The page buffer of claim 1 , wherein the bit line controller first precharges the sensing node by forming a first current path and then second precharges the sensing node by forming a second current path during the sensing node precharge operation.

3. The page buffer of claim 1 , wherein the first potential level is lower than the second potential level.

4. The page buffer of claim 1 , wherein the bit line controller comprises:

a first transistor connected between a core voltage and a common sensing node and turned on in response to a first common sensing control signal;

a second transistor connected between the common sensing node and the sensing node and turned on in response to a sensing signal; and

third and fourth transistors connected in series between the core voltage and the sensing node.

5. The page buffer of claim 4 , wherein the third transistor is turned on in response to a potential of a node of the sub latch, and the fourth transistor is turned on in response to a precharge signal.

6. The page buffer of claim 4 , wherein the first and second transistors are NMOS transistors, and the third and fourth transistors are PMOS transistors.

7. The page buffer of claim 6 , wherein a first current path is formed through the first transistor and the second transistor, and

a second current path is formed through the third transistor and the fourth transistor.

8. The page buffer of claim 1 , wherein the first and second precharges are performed simultaneously to increase the potential level of the sensing node to the second potential level.

9. A semiconductor memory device comprising:

a memory cell array; and

a plurality of page buffers connected to a plurality of bit lines of the memory cell array, respectively,

wherein each of the plurality of page buffers comprises:

a sensing node;

a bit line controller connected between the sensing node and a bit line, and configured to, during a sensing node precharge operation, perform a first precharge of the sensing node to precharge the sensing node to a first potential level and then perform a second precharge of the sensing node to increase a potential level of the sensing node to a second potential level; and

a sub latch for latching sensing data based on a potential level of the sensing node.

10. The semiconductor memory device of claim 9 , wherein the bit line controller first precharges the sensing node by forming a first current path and then second precharges the sensing node by forming a second current path during the sensing node precharge operation.

11. The semiconductor memory device of claim 9 , wherein the first potential level is lower than the second potential level.

12. The semiconductor memory device of claim 9 , wherein the bit line controller comprises:

a first transistor connected between a core voltage and a common sensing node and turned on in response to a first common sensing control signal;

a second transistor connected between the common sensing node and the sensing node and turned on in response to a sensing signal; and

third and fourth transistors connected in series between the core voltage and the sensing node.

13. The semiconductor memory device of claim 12 , wherein the third transistor is turned on in response to a potential of a node of the sub latch, and the fourth transistor is turned on in response to a precharge signal.

14. The semiconductor memory device of claim 12 , wherein the first and second transistors are NMOS transistors, and the third and fourth transistors are PMOS transistors.

15. The semiconductor memory device of claim 14 , wherein a first current path is formed through the first transistor and the second transistor, and

a second current path is formed through the third transistor and the fourth transistor.

16. A page buffer comprising:

a sensing node;

a bit line controller connected between the sensing node and a bit line, and configured to, during a sensing node precharge operation, precharge the sensing node to a first potential level using a first current path, and, after the sensing node has been precharged to the first potential level using the first current path, precharging the sensing node to a second potential level using a second current path; and

a sub latch for latching sensing data based on a potential level of the sensing node.

17. The page buffer of claim 16 , wherein the second potential level is higher than the first potential level.

18. The page buffer of claim 16 , wherein the bit line controller comprises:

a first transistor connected between a core voltage and a common sensing node and turned on in response to a first common sensing control signal;

a second transistor connected between the common sensing node and the sensing node and turned on in response to a sensing signal; and

third and fourth transistors connected in series between the core voltage and the sensing node.

19. The page buffer of claim 18 , wherein the third transistor is turned on in response to a potential of a node of the sub latch, and the fourth transistor is turned on in response to a precharge signal.

20. The page buffer of claim 18 , wherein the first and second transistors are NMOS transistors, and the third and fourth transistors are PMOS transistors.

21. The page buffer of claim 20 , wherein the first current path is formed through the first transistor and the second transistor, and the second current path is formed through the third transistor and the fourth transistor.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 10, 2021
From: CHOI, HYUNG JIN
To: SK HYNIX INC.
Reel/Frame 055217/0340 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2020-0098786 · Aug 6, 2020 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220044734A1 · Feb 10, 2022