# US 5,708,620 A · Memory device having a plurality of bitlines between adjacent columns of sub-wordline drivers

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- Number: US 5,708,620 A
- Document ID: US5708620A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/649,564
- Filed: 1996-05-17
- Granted: 1998-01-13
- Earliest claimed: 1996-04-04
- Assignees: LG Semicon Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Jae-Hong Jeong
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5708620A

## CPC

- G11C 8/14: Word line organisation; Word line lay-out
- G11C 11/408: Address circuits
- G11C: STATIC STORES (semiconductor memory devices H10B)

## Abstract

A memory device of the present invention includes a plurality of bitlines and main wordlines formed in first and second directions, respectively, to form a matrix, and a plurality of memory cells coupled to each bitline. A first decoder decodes first address signals and provides first decoded signals to the plurality of main wordlines. A second decoder decodes second address signals and provides second decoded signals. The memory device also includes n-th number of groups of drivers, and each group has a plurality of sub-drivers formed in a third direction to receive a corresponding second decoded signal. Each sub-driver has a plurality of selection lines coupled to corresponding memory cells, and a plurality of sense amplifiers is coupled to said plurality of bitlines, wherein more than two bitlines are formed between adjacent groups of drivers.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A memory device comprising:
a plurality of bitlines and main wordlines formed in first and second directions, respectively, to form a matrix, and a plurality of memory cells coupled to each bitline;
a first decoder for decoding first address signals and providing first decoded signals to said plurality of main wordlines;
a second decoder for decoding second address signals and providing second decoded signals;
n-th number of groups of drivers, each group having a plurality of sub-drivers formed in a third direction and receiving a corresponding second decoded signal, each sub-driver having a plurality of selection lines coupled to corresponding memory cells; and
a plurality of sense amplifiers coupled to said plurality of bitlines,
wherein more than two bitlines are formed between adjacent groups of drivers.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The memory device of claim 1, wherein each sub-driver of 1st and n-th groups have selection lines coupled to two memory cells.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The memory device of claim 1, wherein each sub-driver of 2nd to (n-1)th groups have selection lines coupled to more than two memory cells.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The memory device of claim 1, wherein the first and third directions are column directions, and the second direction is a row direction.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The memory device of claim 1, wherein four bitlines are formed between adjacent groups of drivers.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The memory device of claim 1, wherein said four bitlines comprise two bitline pairs.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2)

The memory device of claim 2, wherein said selection lines of each sub-driver of 1st and n-th groups comprise a word strapline and first and second sub-word lines, said word strapline and first sub-word lines are coupled to said sub-driver and parallel to each other and said second sub-word line is coupled to said word strapline by a contact metallization, and said first and second sub-word lines are aligned with each other and each of said first and second sub-word lines being coupled to a memory cell.

### Claim 8 (depends on 3)

The memory device of claim 3, wherein said selection lines of each sub-driver of 2nd to (n-1)th groups comprises
a first word strapline and first and second sub-word lines formed at a first side of the sub-word driver, said first word strapline and first sub-word lines are coupled to said sub-driver and parallel to each other and said second sub-word line is coupled to said first word strapline by a first contact metallization, and said first and second sub-word lines are aligned with each other and each of said first and second sub-word lines being coupled to a memory cell; and
a second word strapline and third and fourth sub-word lines formed at a second side of the sub-word driver, said second word strapline and third sub-word lines are coupled to said sub-driver and parallel to each other and said fourth sub-word line is coupled to said second word strapline by a second contact metallization, and said third and fourth sub-word lines are aligned with each other and each of said third and fourth sub-word lines being coupled to a memory cell.

### Claim 9 (depends on 2)

The memory device of claim 2, wherein
selection lines of each odd sub-driver of said plurality of sub-drivers in 1st and n-th groups comprise a first word strapline and first and second sub-word lines, said first word strapline and first sub-word lines are coupled to said sub-driver and parallel to each other and said second sub-word line is coupled to said first word strapline by a first contact metallization, and said first and second sub-word lines are aligned with each other and each of said first and second sub-word lines being coupled to a memory cell; and
selection lines of each even sub-driver of said plurality of sub-drivers in 1st and n-th groups comprise a second word strapline and third and fourth sub-word lines, said third sub-word line is coupled said second word strapline and is laterally offset toward an adjacent odd sub-driver and said fourth sub-word line is coupled to said second word strapline by a second contact metallization, and said third and fourth sub-word lines are aligned with each other and each of said third and fourth sub-word lines being coupled to a memory cell.

### Claim 10 (depends on 3)

The memory cell of claim 3, wherein selection lines of each even sub-driver of said plurality of sub-drivers in 2nd and (n-1)th groups comprise:
a first word strapline and first and second sub-word lines formed at a first side of said even sub-word driver, said first word strapline and first sub-word lines are coupled to said even sub-driver and parallel to each other and said second sub-word line is coupled to said first word strapline by a first contact metallization, and said first and second sub-word lines are aligned with each other and each of said first and second sub-word lines being coupled to a memory cell; and
a second word strapline and third and fourth sub-word lines formed at a second side of the even sub-word driver, said second word strapline and third sub-word lines are coupled to said even sub-driver and parallel to each other and said fourth sub-word line is coupled to said second word strapline by a second contact metallization, and said third and fourth sub-word lines are aligned with each other and each of said third and fourth sub-word lines being coupled to a memory cell.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The memory device of claim 10, wherein said selection lines of each odd sub-driver of said plurality of sub-drivers in 2nd and (n-1)th groups comprise a first word strapline and first and second sub-word lines formed at a first side of said odd sub-word driver, and a second word strapline and third and fourth sub-word lines formed at a second side of said odd sub-word driver,
said third sub-word line and said second word strapline are coupled to said odd sub-driver and are laterally offset towards an adjacent even sub-driver and said fourth sub-word line is coupled to said second word strapline by a contact metallization, and said third and fourth sub-word lines are aligned with each other and each of said third and fourth sub-word lines being coupled to a memory cell, and
said first word strap line and first and second sub-word lines of said odd sub-driver having the same configuration as said second word strapline and third and fourth sub-word lines.

### Claim 12 (depends on 2)

The memory device of claim 2, wherein said selection lines of each sub-driver of 1st and n-th groups comprise a word strapline and first and second sub-word lines, said word strapline and first sub-word lines are coupled to said sub-driver and parallel to each other, and said first and second sub-word lines are coupled to said word strapline by a contact metallization, said first and second sub-word lines being aligned with each other and each of said first and second sub-word lines being coupled to a memory cell.

### Claim 13 (depends on 3)

The memory device of claim 3, wherein said selection lines of each sub-driver of 2nd to (n-1)th groups comprises:
a first word strapline and first and second sub-word lines formed at a first side of the sub-word driver, said first word strapline and first sub-word lines are coupled to said sub-driver and are parallel to each other, and said first and second sub-word lines are coupled to said first word strapline by a first contact metallization, said first and second sub-word lines being aligned with each other and each of said first and second sub-word lines being coupled to a memory cell; and
a second word strapline and third and fourth sub-word lines formed at a second side of the sub-word driver, said second word strapline and third sub-word lines are coupled to said sub-driver and are parallel to each other and said third and fourth sub-word lines are coupled to said second word strapline by a second contact metallization, each of said third and fourth sub-word lines being coupled to a memory cell.

### Claim 14 (depends on 3)

The memory device of claim 3, wherein
selection lines of each odd sub-driver of said plurality of sub-drivers in 1st and n-th groups comprise a first word strapline and first and second sub-word lines, said first word strapline and first sub-word lines are coupled to said sub-driver and are parallel to each other, and said first and second sub-word line are coupled to said first word strapline by a first contact metallization, said first and second sub-word lines being aligned with each other and each of said first and second sub-word lines being coupled to a memory cell; and
selection lines of each even sub-driver of said plurality of sub-drivers in 1st and n-th groups comprise a second word strapline and third and fourth sub-word lines, said third sub-word line is coupled to said second word strapline and is laterally offset towards an adjacent odd sub-driver, and said third and fourth sub-word line are coupled to said second word strapline by a second contact metallization, and said third and fourth sub-word lines being aligned with each other and each of said third and fourth sub-word lines being coupled to a memory cell.

### Claim 15 (depends on 3)

The memory cell of claim 3, wherein selection lines of each even sub-driver of said plurality of sub-drivers in 2nd and (n-1)th groups comprise:
a first word strapline and first and second sub-word lines formed at a first side of said even sub-word driver, said first word strapline and first sub-word lines are coupled to said even sub-driver and are parallel to each other, and said first and second sub-word line is coupled to said first word strapline by a first contact metallization, said first and second sub-word lines being aligned with each other, and each of said first and second sub-word lines being coupled to a memory cell; and
a second word strapline and third and fourth sub-word lines formed at a second side of the even sub-word driver, said second word strapline and third sub-word lines are coupled to said even sub-driver and are parallel to each other and said fourth sub-word line is coupled to said second word strapline by a second contact metallization, said third and fourth sub-word lines being aligned with each other and each of said third and fourth sub-word lines being coupled to a memory cell.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The memory device of claim 14, wherein said selection lines of each odd sub-driver of said plurality of sub-drivers in 2nd and (n-1)th groups comprise a first word strapline and first and second sub-word lines formed at a first side of said odd sub-word driver, and a second word strapline and third and fourth sub-word lines formed at a second side of said odd sub-word driver,
said third sub-word line and said second word strapline are coupled to said odd sub-driver and are laterally offset toward an adjacent even sub-driver and said third and fourth sub-word lines are coupled to said second word strapline by a second contact metallization, said third and fourth sub-word lines being aligned with each other and each of said third and fourth sub-word lines being coupled to a memory cell, and
said first word strap line and first and second sub-word lines of said odd sub-driver having the same configuration as said second word strapline and third and fourth sub-word lines.

### Claim 17 (depends on 2)

The memory device of claim 2, wherein said selection lines of each sub-driver of 1st and n-th groups comprise a word strapline and first and second sub-word lines, said word strapline is coupled to said sub-driver, and said first and second sub-word lines are coupled to said word strapline by a contact metallization, said first and second sub-word lines being aligned with each other and each of said first and second sub-word lines being coupled to a memory cell.

### Claim 18 (depends on 3)

The memory device of claim 3, wherein said selection lines of each sub-driver of 2nd to (n-1)th groups comprises:
a first word strapline and first and second sub-word lines formed at a first side of the sub-word driver, said first word strapline is coupled to said sub-driver, and said first and second sub-word lines are coupled to said first word strapline by a first contact metallization, each of said first and second sub-word lines being coupled to a memory cell; and
a second word strapline and third and fourth sub-word lines formed at a second side of the sub-word driver, said second word strapline is coupled to said sub-driver and said third and fourth sub-word line are coupled to said second word strapline by a second contact metallization, each of said third and fourth sub-word lines being coupled to a memory cell.

### Claim 19 (depends on 2)

The memory device of claim 2, wherein
selection lines of each odd sub-driver of said plurality of sub-drivers in 1st and n-th groups comprise a first word strapline and first and second sub-word lines, said first word strapline line is coupled to said sub-driver and said first and second sub-word line are coupled to said first word strapline by a first contact metallization, each of said first and second sub-word lines being coupled to a memory cell; and
selection lines of each even sub-driver of said plurality of sub-drivers in 1st and n-th groups comprise a second word strapline and third and fourth sub-word lines, said third and fourth sub-word line sub-word lines are coupled to said second word strapline by a second contact metallization and are laterally offset toward an adjacent odd sub-driver, each of said third and fourth sub-word lines being coupled to a memory cell.

### Claim 20 (depends on 3)

The memory cell of claim 3, wherein selection lines of each even sub-driver of said plurality of sub-drivers in 2nd and (n-1)th groups comprise:
a first word strapline and first and second sub-word lines formed at a first side of said even sub-word driver, said first word strapline is coupled to said even sub-driver, and said first and second sub-word lines are coupled to said first word strapline by a first contact metallization, said first and second sub-word lines being aligned with each other, and each of said first and second sub-word lines being coupled to a memory cell; and
a second word strapline and third and fourth sub-word lines formed at a second side of the even sub-word driver, said second word strapline is coupled to said even sub-driver, and said fourth sub-word line is coupled to said second word strapline by a second contact metallization, said third and fourth sub-word lines being aligned with each other, and each of said third and fourth sub-word lines being coupled to a memory cell.

### Claim 21 (depends on 19)

The memory device of claim 19, wherein said selection lines of each odd sub-driver of said plurality of sub-drivers in 2nd and (n-1)th groups comprise:
a first word strapline and first and second sub-word lines formed at a first side of said odd sub-word driver, and a second word strapline and third and fourth sub-word lines formed at a second side of said odd sub-word driver,
said third sub-word line is coupled to said odd sub-driver, and said third and fourth sub-word lines are laterally offset toward an adjacent even sub-driver, and are coupled to said second word strapline by a second contact metallization, each of said third and fourth sub-word lines being coupled to a memory cell, and
said first word strap line and first and second sub-word lines of said odd sub-driver having the same configuration as said second word strapline and third and fourth sub-word lines.
