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.

Date of Patent:
Sep. 10, 2002

Filed:

Mar. 27, 2001
Applicant:
Inventors:

Kazutami Arimoto, Hyogo, JP;

Hiroki Shimano, Hyogo, JP;

Takeshi Fujino, Hyogo, JP;

Takeshi Hashizume, Hyogo, JP;

Assignee:
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G11C 7/20 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
G11C 7/20 ;
Abstract

In a data holding mode, data storage in a one bit/one cell scheme in a normal operating mode are rearranged into data storage in a twin-cell mode in which data are stored in a one bit/two cell scheme. In the twin-cell mode, two sub word lines are simultaneously driven into a selected state, and storage data of memory cells are read out on both of bit lines in a pair, to perform a sense operation. Thus, the read-out voltage can be increased to improve the data retention characteristics for lengthening a refresh interval, resulting in a reduced power consumption in the data holding mode.


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