Patent · US Active

Word line driver for DRAM embedded in a logic process

US7447104B2 · kind B2 · utility

24Cited by
67References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateNov 14, 2006
Grant dateNov 4, 2008
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 14, 2026

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH10B12/50
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A word line driver is provided for accessing a DRAM cell embedded in a conventional logic process. The DRAM cell includes a p-channel access transistor coupled to a cell capacitor. The word line driver includes an n-channel transistor located in a p-well, wherein the p-well is located in a deep n-well. The deep n-well is located in a p-type substrate. A word line couples the drain of the n-channel transistor to the gate of the p-channel access transistor. A negative boosted voltage supply applies a negative boosted voltage to the p-well and the source of the n-channel transistor. The negative boosted voltage is less than ground by an amount equal to or greater than the threshold voltage of the p-channel access transistor. The deep n-well and the p-type substrate are coupled to ground. The various polarities can be reversed in another embodiment.

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