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:
Jan. 08, 2002
Filed:
Jun. 27, 2000
Jin-seok Kwak, Suwon, KR;
Yong-ho Shim, Yongin, KR;
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Kyungki-do, JP;
Abstract
A semiconductor memory device having a write masking function and a write masking method are provided. The semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of write bit lines, a plurality of write word lines, a plurality of write drivers, a plurality of MOS transistors, a plurality of latch circuits, and a plurality of precharge controllers. Each of the write drivers receives input data, a write enable signal and a write masking signal, outputs the input data when the write enable signal is activated and the write masking signal is deactivated, and does not output the input data when the write masking signal is activated. Each of the latch circuits includes an inverter having a large driving capacity and an inverter having a small driving capacity. When a precharge signal is activated, each of the precharge controllers precharges a corresponding write bit line to the logic threshold voltage of the inverter having the large driving capacity. Accordingly, memory cells are reliably masked in a write masking mode.