Patent · US Active

Memory device and method of operating same

US9875774B1 · kind B1 · utility

3Cited by
5References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 16, 2017
Grant dateJan 23, 2018
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 16, 2037

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG11C2207/06
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A semiconductor device includes: a sense amplifier; a branched line selectively connectable to the sense amplifier; a recycling arrangement selectively connectable to the branched line; an array of bit lines connected to corresponding memory cells; a multiplexer configured to selectively connect the branched line to a selected one of the memory cells through a corresponding line amongst the array of bit lines; and a controller. The controller is configured to: permit, during a recovery phase in which a gleaned amount of charge (gleaned charge) is recovered, flow of charge (charge-flow) between the recycling arrangement and the branched line; interrupt, during a drainage phase in which the gleaned charge is preserved, charge-flow between the recycling arrangement and the branched line; and permit, during a reuse phase in which the gleaned charge is reused, charge-flow between the recycling arrangement and the branched line.

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