Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Chul-woo Yi

Jung-bae Lee

Hoon Moo Choi

Seong-Jin Jang

Joung-Yeal Kim

Jin-seok Kwak

Sang-Yun Kim

Sang-kyun Park

Tai-Young Ko

Kyu-Chan Lee

Jae-hwan Yoo

A semiconductor memory device having an open bitline memory structure from which an edge dummy memory block is removed, the semiconductor memory device includes a memory block, an edge sense amplification block including a first sense amplifier having a first bitline, a first complementary bitline, and a first amplification circuit comprising a first transistor having a first size, a central sense amplification block including a second sense amplifier having a second bitline, a second complementary bitline, and a second amplification circuit comprising a second transistor having a second size different from the first size, a capacitor block electrically connected to the edge sense amplification block.

Memory device from which dummy edge memory block is removed

A semiconductor memory device is provided having reduced power consumption during a normal operation. The semiconductor memory device includes a sub word-line defined by segmenting a word-line and a driving signal generator for selectively driving the sub word-line according to a column address. The driving signal generator is controlled by a selection signal corresponding to the column address and a mode signal for specifying an operation mode of the semiconductor memory device. The semiconductor memory device enables part of the word-line according to the column address. The semiconductor memory device using a sub word-line driver to reduce the number of memory cells which are sensed, thereby reducing power consumption.

Semiconductor memory device and driving signal generator therefor

An integrated circuit memory device includes a two-dimensional memory array in which the first and second dimensions extend in first and second directions respectively. The memory device further includes a decoder for the first dimension and a plurality of fuses between the decoder and the memory array. Upon encountering a defective storage cell in the memory array, the appropriate fuse can be cut to physically segregate the decoder from the defective cell. This allows the memory to operate without any delay inserted for switching to a spare or redundant memory array of storage cells, thus maximizing the memory operating speed. In a preferred embodiment, the fuses are arranged such that the relative spacing between the fuses proceeds substantially along the second direction and the fuses are oriented lengthwise in the first direction. By following this arrangement, the impact on the layout area for the memory device is minimal.

Integrated circuit memories including fuses between a decoder and a memory array for disabling defective storage cells in the memory array

A redundant fuse circuit for enabling a redundant memory cell to replace a defective memory cell in a semiconductor memory device is shown where the redundant fuse circuit includes a selection fuse coupled between a precharging device of the redundant fuse circuit and a power supply terminal. When the redundant fuse circuit is unused, the selection fuse is configured to be cut by a laser beam thereby preventing precharging of the redundant fuse circuit and, consequently, preventing an instantaneous peak current from occurring responsive to input to the redundant fuse circuit of memory cell address information corresponding to normal memory cells.

Semiconductor memory device including a redundant memory cell circuit

An internal boosted voltage generator for a semiconductor memory device eliminates excessive increases in boosted voltage and reduces current consumption even though the power supply voltage increases. The internal boosted voltage generator includes a pumping portion for pumping a signal from an output node in response to a control signal, a precharging portion for precharging the output node of the pumping portion, and a controlling portion interposed between the pumping portion and the precharge portion. The controlling portion is a pulse generator that varies the precharge time of the precharging portion by varying the pulse with of an output signal according to the power supply voltage. The output signal of the controlling portion has a relatively narrow pulse width at high power supply voltages and a wider pulse width at low power supply voltages. Therefore, the device is not exposed to excessive stress even though the power supply voltage increases greatly.

Growing community of inventors

Hwaseong-si, South Korea

Chul-woo Yi