The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 15, 2000
Filed:
Sep. 27, 1999
Jong-ryeul Kim, Kyungki-do, KR;
Kyung-woo Kang, Kyungki-do, KR;
Abstract
Data masking is performed for an integrated circuit memory device, by generating a pulse in response to a data masking signal that is received on one of a plurality of data masking pins, equalizing a plurality of groups of input/output line pairs during the pulse and precharging the plurality of groups of input/output line pairs during the pulse. The group of input/output line pairs that correspond to the data masking signal then is precharged after the pulse in response to the data masking signal that is received on the one of the plurality of data masking pins. The input and output line drivers also preferably are deactivated during the pulse and the input and output line drivers, except for the group of input and output line drivers that correspond to the one of the plurality of data masking pins, preferably are activated after the pulse. Accordingly, the input and output line pairs that correspond to data input and output pins to be masked may be precharged during the pulse, and they may be continuously precharged after the pulse. Thus, even though the input and output line pairs may have a large resistance, they can be sufficiently precharged upon masking of write data.