IP Library Granted Patent US 7,400,530
Granted Patent B2
US 7,400,530 · App. 11/882,877 · Granted Jul 15, 2008

Semiconductor memory

Assignee: Renesas Technology Corp.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,400,530
App. No.
11/882,877
Granted
Jul 15, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

A semiconductor memory is achieved which allows a reduction in the area of a memory array block without reducing the gate widths of floating gates. A plurality of select gates extend in straight lines in the X direction. Between the upper- and lower-side select gates, two rows' worth of floating gates are arranged. The plurality of floating gates are placed in a staggered arrangement (in other words, in a zigzag pattern). That is, looking at one floating gate in a specific column and another floating gate in a column adjacent to that specific column, those floating gates deviate from each other in the Y direction.

Claims (15)

1. A semiconductor memory comprising:

a select gate formed in a meandering pattern;

a plurality of floating gates coupled with said select gate, said plurality of floating gates including:

a first floating gate arranged to have its gate width defined along a first direction; and

a second floating gate arranged to be adjacent to said first floating gate and to have its gate width defined along a second direction perpendicular to said first direction;

a substrate having a major surface on which said select gate and said plurality of floating gates are formed respectively through gate insulating films;

a plurality of memory cells sharing said select gate and each having one of said plurality of floating gates; and

a potential supply circuit for supplying a potential to said plurality of memory cells,

wherein, for access to a memory cell selected from said plurality of memory cells, said potential supply circuit supplies to said selected memory cell a potential lower than a potential applied to said substrate.

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

a plurality of interconnect lines selectively serving as source or bit lines depending on a memory cell to be accessed.

3. The semiconductor memory according to claim 2 , wherein

said plurality of interconnect lines include:

a first interconnect line formed in a first interconnect layer; and

a second interconnect line formed adjacent to said first interconnect line in a second interconnect layer which is different from said first interconnect layer.

Assignments (2)
MERGER Recorded Aug 27, 2010
From: RENESAS TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
To: NEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 024892/0877 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 27, 2010
From: NEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
To: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 024944/0437 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2004-113752 · Apr 8, 2004 · national
Continuity (2)
Division 1109853300 · Apr 5, 2005
Related Publication 20070285991A1 · Dec 13, 2007