Memory array having a programmable word length, and method of operating same
US7940559B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 13, 2009 |
| Grant date | May 10, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 11, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH10D30/62
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A memory cell array and device having a memory cell array (i.e., an integrated circuit device, for example, a logic device (such as, a microcontroller or microprocessor) or a memory device (such as, a discrete memory)) including electrically floating body transistors in which electrical charge is stored in the body of the transistor, and techniques for reading, controlling and/or operating such memory cell array and such device. The memory cell array and device include a variable and/or programmable word length. The word length relates to the selected memory cells of a selected row of memory cells (which is determined via address data). In one embodiment, the word length may be any number of memory cells of a selected row which is less than or equal to the total number of memory cells of the selected row of the memory array. In one aspect, write and/or read operations may be performed with respect to selected memory cells of a selected row of the memory array, while unselected memory cells of the selected row are undisturbed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.