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:
Jul. 29, 2003
Filed:
Sep. 25, 2001
Mitsuaki Hayashi, Kyoto, JP;
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Osaka, JP;
Abstract
A semiconductor memory device capable of reading out data at a higher speed and occupying a decreased chip-area is provided. The device includes a bit line selection circuit including a plurality of first transistors for selecting a plurality of bit lines according to a plurality of column selection signals generated based on address signals, a bit line charging circuit including a plurality of second transistors for charging the plurality of bit lines, respectively, and a bit line grounding circuit including a plurality of third transistors for connecting the plurality of bit lines with a ground potential. This enables the decrease in a charging time during a bit line precharging operation and a discharging time during data reading-out operation. Further, by grounding adjacent bit lines that are not involved in a precharging or reading-out operation so that they have a ground potential, it is also possible to minimize bit line intervals without causing a malfunction due to an increase in capacitances between the bit lines.