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. 06, 2013
Filed:
Feb. 25, 2011
Yasuo Kobayashi, Kanagawa, JP;
Yasuo Kobayashi, Kanagawa, JP;
Renesas Electronics Corporation, Kanagawa, JP;
Abstract
A semiconductor memory device provided with a new bit line hierarchization method that enables further reduction of power consumption is provided. The semiconductor memory device includes multiple memory blocks provided in a matrix configuration and multiple main bit lines provided in correspondence with the memory blocks. Each of the memory blocks includes: multiple memory cells provided in a matrix configuration; multiple sub bit lines provided on a column-by-column basis; multiple word lines provided with respect to each of columns and rows and common to multiple memory blocks; and a switch circuit that couples a corresponding main bit line to any of the sub bit lines. In the operation of reading a target cell as the target of read, a main bit line corresponding to the target cell is selected, a sub bit line corresponding to the column of the target cell is selected through the switch circuit; and a word line corresponding to the column and the row of the target cell is selected from among the word lines.