Patent · US Expired

Partitioned source line architecture for ROM

US7035129B1 · kind B1 · utility

9Cited by
4References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateApr 2, 2004
Grant dateApr 25, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 15, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG11C17/12
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A partitioned source line architecture for reducing leakage and power in a ROM. In one embodiment, a ROM includes of a plurality of storage cells organized as an array having M rows and N columns. Each column is associated with a precharged source line that is partitioned into a plurality of source line segments based on the number of row banks of the array. A plurality of local source line decoder circuits corresponding to the row banks are provided for decoding a selected source line segment based on the column address as well as a Bank Select signal generated from the row address of a particular cell. Local pull-down circuitry is provided with each bank for deactivating the selected source line segment upon commencing a memory access operation.

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