Back to results
US 9,286,974 B2Granted
Memory devices
AssigneeTaiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
InventorsChih-Yang Chang, Chia-Fu Lee, Wen-Ting Chu, Yue-Der Chih
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device is disclosed that includes an I/O memory block. The I/O memory block includes memory cells, bit lines and a source line. The number of the formed bit lines is at least 4. The bit lines and the source line are electrically connected to the memory cells. In the I/O memory block, the source line and the bit lines are configured to provide logical data to the memory cells.
Claims16
A device, comprising:
- an input/output (I/O) memory block comprising:
- a plurality of memory cells arranged in a matrix of a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns;
- at least four bit lines electrically connected to the plurality of memory cells and configured to provide logical data to the plurality of memory cells;
- and
- a source line connected to the plurality of memory cells and configured to provide logical data to the plurality of memory cells, the source line having:
- a main portion;
- and
- a plurality of branch portions connected to the main portion, each of the plurality of branch portions being electrically connected to the memory cells in one of the plurality of rows of the matrix;
- and
- a periphery circuit configured to allow the logical data to be applied through the main portion of the source line to each of the plurality of branch portions of the source line,
- wherein the periphery circuit comprises:
- a multiplexer electrically connected to the at least four bit lines to select one of the at least four bit lines,
- a first switch electrically connected to the multiplexer to allow a ground voltage to be applied on the selected bit line in accordance with a first switching signal,
- a second switch electrically connected to the source line to allow the ground voltage to be applied on the source line in accordance with a second switching signal;
- a voltage source for providing a writing voltage, the voltage source having a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein the second terminal is grounded;
- a third switch electrically connected between the multiplexer and the first terminal of the voltage source to electrically connect the selected bit line to the voltage source in accordance with a third switching signal;
- and
- a fourth switch electrically connected between the source line and the first terminal of the voltage source to electrically connect the source line to the voltage source in accordance with a fourth switching signal.
15 more elements
A device, comprising:
- a plurality of input/output (I/O) memory blocks, a gap being provided at one edge of each of the plurality of I/O memory blocks, each of the plurality of I/O memory blocks comprising:
- a plurality of memory cells arranged in a matrix of a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns;
- at least four bit lines electrically connected to the plurality of memory cells and configured to provide logical data to the plurality of memory cells;
- and
- a source line connected to the plurality of memory cells and configured to provide the logical data to the plurality of memory cells, the source line having a main portion located in the gap and a plurality of branch portions connected to the main portion, each of the plurality of branch portions being electrically connected to the memory cells in one of the plurality of rows of the matrix;
- and
- a periphery circuit configured to allow the logical data to be applied through the main portion of the source line to each of the plurality of branch portions of the source line,
- wherein the periphery circuit comprises:
- a multiplexer electrically connected to the at least four bit lines to select one of the at least four bit lines;
- a first switch electrically connected to the multiplexer to allow a ground voltage to be applied on the selected bit line in accordance with a first switching signal;
- a second switch electrically connected to the source line to allow the ground voltage to be applied on the source line in accordance with a second switching signal;
- a voltage source for providing a writing voltage to the selected bit line or the source line, the voltage source having a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein the second terminal is grounded;
- a third switch electrically connected between the multiplexer and the first terminal of the voltage source to electrically connect the selected bit line to the voltage source in accordance with a third switching signal;
- and
- a fourth switch electrically connected between the source line and the first terminal of the voltage source to electrically connect the source line to the voltage source in accordance with a fourth switching signal.
12 more elements
A method, comprising:
- forming a plurality of memory cells of an input/output (I/O) memory block arranged in a matrix of a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns;
- forming at least four bit lines to electrically connect the plurality of memory cells;
- and
- forming a source line to electrically connect the plurality of memory cells of the I/O memory block together, the source line having:
- a main portion;
- and
- a plurality of branch portions connected to the main portion, each of the plurality of branch portions electrically connected to the memory cells in one of the plurality of rows of the matrix, wherein each of the plurality of branch portions of the source line is applied with logical data through the main portion of the source line;
- and
- forming a periphery circuit configured to allow the logical data to be applied through the main portion of the source line to each of the plurality of branch portions of the source line,
- wherein the periphery circuit comprises:
- a multiplexer electrically connected to the at least four bit lines to select one of the at least four bit lines;
- a first switch electrically connected to the multiplexer to allow a ground voltage to be applied on the selected bit line in accordance with a first switching signal;
- a second switch electrically connected to the source line to allow the ground voltage to be applied on the source line in accordance with a second switching signal;
- a voltage source for providing a writing voltage to the selected bit line or the source line, the voltage source having a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein the second terminal is grounded;
- a third switch electrically connected between the multiplexer and the first terminal of the voltage source to electrically connect the selected bit line to the voltage source in accordance with a third switching signal;
- and
- a fourth switch electrically connected between the source line and the first terminal of the voltage source to electrically connect the source line to the voltage source in accordance with a fourth switching signal.
14 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.