Non volatile memory device with an asymmetric row decoder and method for selecting word lines

An electronic apparatus comprising:

• a controller;
• a bus coupled to the controller;
• and
• a non-volatile memory device communicatively coupled to the controller via the bus, the non-volatile memory device comprising:
• at least one first array of memory cells, arranged in rows and coupled to first word lines;
• and
• a row decoder comprising first and second pull-down stages, which are arranged on opposite sides of the first array and include, respectively, for each first word line, a corresponding first pull-down switching circuit and a corresponding second pull-down switching circuit, which are coupled to a first point and a second point, respectively, of the first word line;
• wherein the first pull-down switching circuit is electronically controllable to:
• couple the first point to a corresponding first node in a selection of the first word line;
• and
• decouple the first point from the corresponding first node in a deselection of the first word line;
• wherein the second pull-down switching circuit is electronically controllable to:
• couple the second point to a corresponding second node in the selection of the first word line;
• and
• decouple the second point from the corresponding second node in the deselection of the first word line;
• and
• wherein the row decoder further comprises a pull-up stage, which includes, for each first word line, a corresponding first pull-up switching circuit, which is electronically controllable to:
• couple the first point of the first word line to a supply node in the deselection of the first word line;
• and
• decouple the first point of the first word line from the supply node in the selection of the first word line.

A method for selecting word lines of a non-volatile memory device comprising a first array of memory cells, arranged in rows and coupled to first word lines, and a row decoder comprising first and second pull-down stages, which are arranged on opposite sides of the first array, and include, respectively, for each first word line, a corresponding first pull-down switching circuit and a corresponding second pull-down switching circuit, which are coupled, respectively, to a first point and a second point of the first word line;

• the first pull-down switching circuit being electronically controllable to:
• couple the first point to a corresponding first node;
• or else
• decouple the first point from the corresponding first node;
• the second pull-down switching circuit being electronically controllable to:
• couple the second point to a corresponding second node;
• or else
• decouple the second point from the corresponding second node;
• and
• the row decoder further comprising a pull-up stage, which includes, for each first word line, a corresponding first pull-up switching circuit, which is electronically controllable to:
• couple the first point of the first word line to a supply node;
• or else
• decouple the first point of the first word line from the supply node;
• the method comprising selecting a first word line, which selecting comprises:
• controlling the first and second pull-down switching circuits corresponding to the selected first word line to couple the first and second points of the selected first word line to the corresponding first node and to the corresponding second node, respectively;
• and
• controlling the first pull-up switching circuit corresponding to the selected first word line to decouple the first point of the selected first word line from the supply node;
• and
• the method further comprising deselecting the first word line, which deselecting comprises:
• controlling the first and second pull-down switching circuits corresponding to the deselected first word line to decouple the first and second points of the selected first word line from the corresponding first node and from the corresponding second node, respectively;
• and
• controlling the first pull-up switching circuit corresponding to the deselected first word line to couple the first point of the deselected first word line to the supply node.