MEMORY DEVICE
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A memory device comprising:
- a first memory cell; and
a second memory cell,the first memory cell comprising a first transistor and a first memory element,the first transistor comprising a first channel, a first gate electrode, and a first source and drain electrodes,wherein the first gate electrode is part of a first word line or is electrically connected to the first word line; and
wherein one of the first source and drain electrodes is part of a first bit line or is electrically connected to the first bit line and the other is electrically connected to the first memory element,the second memory cell comprising a second transistor and a second memory element,the second transistor comprising a second channel, a second gate electrode, and a second source and drain electrodes,wherein the second gate electrode is part of a second word line or is electrically connected to the second word line;
wherein the second channel is formed of an oxide semiconductor film; and
wherein one of the second source and drain electrodes is part of a second bit line or is electrically connected to the second bit line and the other is electrically connected to the second memory element,wherein a threshold voltage (V21) of the second transistor before ultraviolet ray irradiation is higher than a threshold voltage (V1) of the first transistor;
wherein a threshold voltage (V22) of the second transistor at the time of ultraviolet ray irradiation is lower than the voltage V21;
wherein a threshold voltage (V23) of the second transistor after ultraviolet ray irradiation is lower than the voltage V21 and higher than the voltage V22 and the voltage V1;
wherein data stored in the second memory element is read when a voltage (VG) is applied to the second gate electrode of the second transistor which is being irradiated with ultraviolet rays so that the second transistor is turned on; and
wherein V1≦
VG (the voltage VG is equal to or higher than the voltage V1), and V22≦
VG<
V23<
V21 (the voltage VG is equal to or higher than the voltage V22) are satisfied.
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Abstract
A memory device without additional logic circuits, including a memory cell which cannot be accessed by a third party and which is always accessible when needed. One embodiment is a memory device including a first memory cell and a second memory cell, and the second memory cell includes a second transistor having a second channel formed of an oxide semiconductor film. Data is read from the second memory cell when the second transistor is being irradiated with ultraviolet rays.
38 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A memory device comprising:
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a first memory cell; and a second memory cell, the first memory cell comprising a first transistor and a first memory element, the first transistor comprising a first channel, a first gate electrode, and a first source and drain electrodes, wherein the first gate electrode is part of a first word line or is electrically connected to the first word line; and wherein one of the first source and drain electrodes is part of a first bit line or is electrically connected to the first bit line and the other is electrically connected to the first memory element, the second memory cell comprising a second transistor and a second memory element, the second transistor comprising a second channel, a second gate electrode, and a second source and drain electrodes, wherein the second gate electrode is part of a second word line or is electrically connected to the second word line; wherein the second channel is formed of an oxide semiconductor film; and wherein one of the second source and drain electrodes is part of a second bit line or is electrically connected to the second bit line and the other is electrically connected to the second memory element, wherein a threshold voltage (V21) of the second transistor before ultraviolet ray irradiation is higher than a threshold voltage (V1) of the first transistor; wherein a threshold voltage (V22) of the second transistor at the time of ultraviolet ray irradiation is lower than the voltage V21; wherein a threshold voltage (V23) of the second transistor after ultraviolet ray irradiation is lower than the voltage V21 and higher than the voltage V22 and the voltage V1; wherein data stored in the second memory element is read when a voltage (VG) is applied to the second gate electrode of the second transistor which is being irradiated with ultraviolet rays so that the second transistor is turned on; and wherein V1≦
VG (the voltage VG is equal to or higher than the voltage V1), and V22≦
VG<
V23<
V21 (the voltage VG is equal to or higher than the voltage V22) are satisfied. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A memory device comprising:
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a first memory cell comprising a first transistor and a first memory element; a second memory cell comprising a second transistor and a second memory element; and a third transistor, the first transistor comprising a first channel, a first gate electrode, and a first source and drain electrodes, wherein the first gate electrode is part of a first word line or is electrically connected to the first word line; and wherein one of the first source and drain electrodes is part of a first bit line or is electrically connected to the first bit line and the other is electrically connected to the first memory element, the second transistor comprising a second channel, a second gate electrode, and a second source and drain electrodes, wherein the second gate electrode is part of a second word line or is electrically connected to the second word line; and wherein one of the second source and drain electrodes is part of a second bit line or is electrically connected to the second bit line and the other is electrically connected to the second memory element, the third transistor comprising a third channel, a third gate electrode, and a third source and drain electrodes, wherein the third channel is formed of an oxide semiconductor film; and wherein one of the third source and drain electrodes is electrically connected to the second word line and a selection signal to turn on the second transistor is input to the other of the third source and drain electrodes, wherein a threshold voltage of the third transistor before ultraviolet ray irradiation is V31; wherein a threshold voltage of the third transistor at the time of ultraviolet ray irradiation is V32; wherein a threshold voltage of the third transistor after ultraviolet ray irradiation is V33; wherein data is written to and read from the second memory element in the following manner;
a voltage (VG) is applied to the third gate electrode which is being irradiated with ultraviolet rays so that the third transistor is turned on, and the selection signal is input to the second gate electrode so that the second transistor is turned on; andwherein V32≦
VG<
V33<
V31 (the voltage VG is equal to or higher than the voltage V32) is satisfied. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. A memory device comprising:
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a first memory cell comprising a first transistor and a first memory element; a second memory cell comprising a second transistor and a second memory element; a third transistor; and a fourth transistor, the first transistor comprising a first channel, a first gate electrode, and a first source and drain electrodes, wherein the first gate electrode is part of a first word line or is electrically connected to the first word line; and wherein one of the first source and drain electrodes is part of a first bit line or is electrically connected to the first bit line and the other is electrically connected to the first memory element, the second transistor comprising a second channel, a second gate electrode, and a second source and drain electrodes, wherein the second gate electrode is part of a second word line or is electrically connected to the second word line; and wherein one of the second source and drain electrodes is part of a second bit line or is electrically connected to the second bit line and the other is electrically connected to the second memory element, the third transistor comprising a third channel, a third gate electrode, and a third source and drain electrodes, wherein one of the third source and drain electrodes is electrically connected to the second word line and a selection signal to turn on the second transistor is input to the other of the third source and drain electrodes, the fourth transistor comprising a fourth channel, a fourth gate electrode, and a fourth source and drain electrodes, wherein the fourth channel is formed of an oxide semiconductor film; and wherein one of the fourth source and drain electrodes is electrically connected to the third gate electrode and a selection signal to turn on the third transistor is input to the other of the fourth source and drain electrodes, wherein a threshold voltage of the fourth transistor before ultraviolet ray irradiation is V31; wherein a threshold voltage of the fourth transistor at the time of ultraviolet ray irradiation is V32; wherein a threshold voltage of the fourth transistor after ultraviolet ray irradiation is V33; wherein data is written to and read from the second memory element in the following manner;
a voltage (VG) is applied to the fourth gate electrode which is being irradiated with ultraviolet rays so that the fourth transistor is turned on and thus the third transistor is turned on, and a selection signal to turn on the second transistor is input to the second gate electrode so that the second transistor is turned on; andwherein V32≦
VG<
V33<
V31 (the voltage VG is equal to or higher than the voltage V32) is satisfied.
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9. A memory device comprising:
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a first memory cell; and a second memory cell, the first memory cell comprising a first transistor and a first memory element, the first transistor comprising a first channel, a first gate electrode, and a first source and drain electrodes; wherein the first channel is formed of silicon; and wherein one of the first source and drain electrodes is electrically connected to the first memory element, the second memory cell comprising a second transistor and a second memory element, the second transistor comprising a second channel, a second gate electrode, and a second source and drain electrodes, wherein the second channel is formed of an oxide semiconductor film; and wherein one of the second source and drain electrodes is electrically connected to the second memory element, wherein the first memory cell and the second memory cell are formed over a same substrate.
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Specification