Patent · US Expired

Synchronous type semiconductor memory device operating in synchronization with an external clock signal

US5404338A · kind A · utility

165Cited by
3References
71Claims
0Family size

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Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 31, 1994
Grant dateApr 4, 1995
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 31, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF02B2075/027
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

In a synchronous semiconductor memory device, memory arrays (MA) forming activation units each are divided into a plurality of small memory arrays (MK). There are provided local I/O line pairs (LIO) each for two small memory arrays. The global I/O line pairs (GIO) crossing word lines are arranged in word line shunt regions (WS). The connection switches (BS) are arranged in the crossing between the local I/O line pairs and global I/O line pairs. Each small memory array in the activated memory array is connected to the corresponding global I/O line pair through the local I/O line pair. Thereby, a plurality of bits can be simultaneously read without increasing an area occupied by interconnections. The control of connection switch is made using a sense amplifier activation signal. Global I/O lines are precharged/equalized after data are transferred to read data registers provided for data output terminal for sequential data output or into selected memory cells. External clock signal is frequency-divided to produce phase-shifted internal clock signals which are used for producing internal voltage through charge operation.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.