IP Library Granted Patent US 8,259,495
Granted Patent B2
US 8,259,495 · App. 13/197,280 · Granted Sep 4, 2012

Semiconductor memory device and method for driving semiconductor memory device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,259,495
App. No.
13/197,280
Granted
Sep 4, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of memory cell transistors arranged in a matrix; a plurality of word lines commonly coupling the control gates of the plural memory cell transistors present in a identical first direction; a plurality of source lines commonly coupling the sources of the plural memory cell transistors present in the identical first direction; a plurality of bit lines commonly coupling the drains of the plural memory cell transistors present in a identical second direction intersecting the first direction; a first transistor having a drain coupled to the source line; a second transistor having a drain coupled to a source of the first transistor, a gate coupled to the word line and a source grounded; and a control line commonly coupling the gates of the plural first transistors.

Claims (27)

1. A method for driving a semiconductor memory device including a plurality of memory cell transistors arranged in a matrix;

a plurality of word lines coupling the control gates of the plural memory cell transistors present in the identical one direction;

a plurality of source lines coupling the sources of the plural memory cell transistors present in the identical one direction;

a plurality of bit lines coupling the drains of the plural memory cell transistors present in the identical other direction intersecting said one direction;

a first transistor having a drain coupled to the source line;

a second transistor having a drain coupled to a source of the first transistor, a gate coupled to the word line and a source grounded; and

control lines coupling the gates of the plural first transistors, said method comprising:

turning the plural first transistors on-states via the control line;

applying a first voltage to one of the bit lines coupled to the drain of one of the memory cell transistors and applying a second voltage selectively to one of the word lines coupled to the gate of said one memory cell transistor; and

reading information stored in said one memory cell transistor, based on a current flowing in said one of the bit lines.

2. The method for driving a semiconductor memory device according to claim 1 , wherein

said first voltage is incessantly applied to the plural bit lines including said one bit lines.

3. The method for driving a semiconductor memory device according to claim 1 ,

when the first voltage is applied to said one bit line, the first voltage is applied selective to said one bit line of the plural bit lines.

4. A method for driving a semiconductor memory device including a plurality of memory cell transistors arranged in a matrix;

a plurality of word lines coupling the control gates of the plural memory cell transistors present in the identical one direction;

a plurality of source lines coupling the sources of the plural memory cell transistors present in the identical one direction;

a plurality of bit lines coupling the drains of the plural memory cell transistors present in the identical other direction intersecting said one direction;

a first transistor having a drain coupled to the source line;

a second transistor having a drain coupled to a source of the first transistor, a gate coupling to the word line and a source grounded; and

a control line coupling the gates of the plural first transistors, said method comprising:

turning the plural first transistors off-states via the control line;

applying a third voltage to the plural word lines and applying a fourth voltage to the sources of the plural memory cell transistors to thereby erase information stored in the plural memory cell transistors.

5. The method for driving a semiconductor memory device according to claim 4 , wherein

when the fourth voltage is applied to the sources of the plural memory cell transistors, the fourth voltage is applied to the sources of the plural memory cell transistors via the wells where the plural memory cell transistors formed in.

6. The method for driving a semiconductor memory device according to claim 4 , wherein

when the fourth voltage is applied to the sources of the plural memory cell transistors, the fourth voltage is applied to the sources of the plural memory cell transistors via the source lines.

Assignments (6)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 17, 2025
From: FUJITSU LIMITED
To: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
Reel/Frame 073964/0516 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 27, 2024
From: FUJITSU LIMITED
To: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
Reel/Frame 069454/0333 →
MERGER Recorded May 24, 2023
From: FUJITSU SEMICONDUCTOR LIMITED
To: FUJITSU LIMITED
Reel/Frame 064221/0545 →
CHANGE OF NAME AND CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Jul 16, 2020
From: AIZU FUJITSU SEMICONDUCTOR LIMITED
To: FUJITSU SEMICONDUCTOR LIMITED
Reel/Frame 053481/0962 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 14, 2020
From: FUJITSU SEMICONDUCTOR LIMITED
To: AIZU FUJITSU SEMICONDUCTOR LIMITED
Reel/Frame 053209/0468 →
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Dec 23, 2016
From: FUJITSU SEMICONDUCTOR LIMITED
To: FUJITSU SEMICONDUCTOR LIMITED
Reel/Frame 041188/0401 →