Patent · US Expired

Semiconductor memory device and method of arranging signal and power lines thereof

US7161823B2 · kind B2 · utility

11Cited by
9References
47Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 19, 2005
Grant dateJan 9, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 12, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG11C11/4074
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Method and apparatus for use, e.g., with Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM) circuits are disclosed. In one described embodiment, three metal layers are deposited and patterned in turn overlying a memory array portion of an SDRAM. Relatively wide power conductors are routed on a third metal layer, allowing power conductors to be reduced in size, or in some cases eliminated, on first and second metal layers. The relatively wide power conductors thus can provide a more stable power supply to the memory array, and also free some space on first and/or second metal for routing of additional and/or more widely spaced signal conductors. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

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