Ram row decode circuitry that utilizes a precharge circuit that is deactivated by a feedback from an activated word line driver

• US 5,574,698 A
• Filed: 06/18/1996
• Issued: 11/12/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Raad, George B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelms, David C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hoang, Huan
• Application Number:
  US08/665,621
• Time in Patent Office: 147 Days
• Field of Search: 365/230.06, 365/203, 365/230.01, 365/189.11, 365/230.03, 326/106, 326/105
• US Class Current: 365/230.06
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 8/08 Word line control circuits, e.g. drivers, boosters, pull-up circuits, pull-down circuits, precharging circuits, for word lines
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 8/10 Decoders

Abstract

A precharge circuit which is deactivated once a word line driver is activated. Specifically, a low output signal created by the selected driver is fed back to the precharge circuit to deactivate the precharge circuit during activation of a chosen word line.

Claims

1. A memory system, comprising:

a) memory device for storing data in an array of memory cells;

b) a plurality of wordlines in electrical communication with the array;

c) a plurality of driver circuits, each of said driver circuits having an input node and an output node, each of said driver circuits in electrical communication, at its output node, with one of said wordlines, the input nodes of said driver circuits connected at a common node, a potential on said common node enabling said plurality of driver circuits to drive a select potential to a selected wordline and enabling said plurality of driver circuits to drive a non-select potential to non-selected wordlines when said wordlines of said plurality of wordlines are non-selected;

d) a plurality of serially connected transistors, each one of said serially connected transistors connected, at a control input, to the output node of a corresponding one of said driver circuits, said plurality of said serially connected transistors interposed between a supply node, connectable to a supply potential, and the common node;

e) a decode circuit electrically interposed between a second supply node, connectable to a second supply potential, and said common node, said decode circuit allowing said potential of said common node to be pulled toward said first supply potential when all of said wordlines of said plurality of wordlines are non-selected, said decode circuit allowing said potential of said common node to attain a potential different than said first supply potential when at least one of said plurality of said wordlines is selected; and

f) a means for sending decode signals to said driver circuits, said decode signals determining selected and non-selected said wordlines of said plurality.

2. A memory system, comprising:

a) memory device for storing data in an array of memory cells;

b) a plurality of wordlines in electrical communication with the array;

c) a plurality of driver circuits, each of said driver circuits having an input node and an output node, each of said driver circuits in electrical communication, at its output node, with one of said wordlines, the input nodes of said driver circuits connected at a common node, a potential on said common node enabling said plurality of driver circuits to drive a select potential to a selected wordline and enabling said plurality of driver circuits to drive a non-select potential to non-selected wordlines when said wordlines of said plurality of wordlines are non-selected;

d) a plurality of serially connected transistors, each one of said serially connected transistors connected, at a control input, to the output node of a corresponding one of said driver circuits, said plurality of said serially connected transistors interposed between a supply node, connectable to a supply potential, and the common node; and

e) a means for sending decode signals to said driver circuits, said decode signals determining selected and non-selected said wordlines of said plurality.

3. A method for selecting a select wordline in electrical communication with a memory cell to be accessed, comprising the following steps:

a) providing a plurality of driver circuits connected at a common node, each of said driver circuits having first and second select input nodes;

b) enabling said plurality of driver circuits at said common node;

c) coupling a supply potential to the first select input node of one of the driver circuits of said plurality;

d) driving a select potential to the select wordline in response to said step of coupling the supply potential to the first select input node;

e) coupling the supply potential to the second select input nodes in remaining said driver circuits of said plurality;

f) driving a non-select potential to non-selected wordlines in response to said step of coupling the supply potential to the second select input nodes of said remaining driver circuits;

g) deactuating a switching device with said select potential; and

h) interrupting a current flow between a source of said supply potential and the common node of the plurality of driver circuits in response to said step of deactuating.

4. A method for selecting a select wordline in electrical communication with a memory cell to be accessed, comprising the following steps:

a) providing a plurality of driver circuits connected at a common node, each of said driver circuits having first and second select input nodes;

b) enabling said plurality of driver circuits at said common node;

c) coupling a supply potential to the first select input node of one of the driver circuits of said plurality;

d) driving a select potential to the select wordline in response to said step of coupling the supply potential to the first select input node;

e) precharging the common node to the supply potential;

f) driving a non-select potential to non-selected wordlines;

g) deactuating a switching device with said select potential; and

h) interrupting a current flow between a source of said supply potential and the common node of the plurality of driver circuits in response to said step of deactuating.

5. A memory device for storing data in an array of memory cells, comprising:

a) a plurality of wordlines in electrical communication with the array;

b) a plurality of driver circuits, each of said driver circuits having an input node and an output node, each of said driver circuits in electrical communication, at its output node, with one of said wordlines, the input nodes of said driver circuits connected at a common node, a potential on said common node enabling said plurality of driver circuits to drive a select potential to a selected wordline and enabling said plurality of driver circuits to drive a non-select potential to non-selected wordlines when said wordlines of said plurality of wordlines are non-selected; and

c) a plurality of serially connected transistors, each one of said serially connected transistors connected, at a control input, to the output node of a corresponding one of said driver circuits, said plurality of said serially connected transistors interposed between a first supply node, connectable to a first supply potential, and the common node.

6. The memory device as specified in claim 5, further comprising a decode circuit electrically interposed between a second supply node, connectable to a second supply potential, and said common node, wherein said second supply potential is pumped to create said first supply potential, said decode circuit allowing said potential of said common node to be pulled toward said first supply potential when all of said wordlines of said plurality of wordlines are non-selected, said decode circuit allowing said potential of said common node to attain a potential different than said first supply potential when at least one of said plurality of said wordlines is selected.

7. The memory device as specified in claim 5, wherein each of said driver circuits of said plurality of driver circuits comprises a first and a second decode input node, said first and said second decode input nodes of each of said driver circuits receiving complementary signals, wherein when said decode circuit is activated one of said wordlines of said plurality of wordlines is selected by said complimentary signals on its said first and said second decode input nodes, said complementary signals on said first and said second decode input nodes of remaining wordlines of said plurality of wordlines determining that said remaining wordlines of said plurality are non-selected.

8. The memory device as specified in claim 7, wherein at least one of said complementary signals in an address signal.

9. A memory device for storing data in an array of memory cells comprising:

a plurality of wordlines in electrical communication with the array;

a plurality of driver circuits, each of said driver circuits having an input node and an output node, each of said driver circuits in electrical communication, at its output node, with one of said wordlines, the input nodes of said plurality of driver circuits connected at a common node; and

a plurality of serially connected transistors, each one of said serially connected transistors having a gate connected to the output node of a corresponding one of said driver circuits, said plurality of serially connected transistors interposed between a first supply node and the common node.

10. The memory device as specified in claim 9 wherein one of said serially connected transistors is deactuated by a potential of an active wordline.

11. The memory device as specified in claim 9 wherein said first supply node is connectable to a first supply potential, and wherein said memory device further comprises a decode circuit electrically interposed between a second supply node, connectable to a second supply potential, and said common node.

12. The memory device as specified in claim 11 wherein said decode circuit determines which of said wordlines are active and inactive.

13. The memory device as specified in claim 12 wherein one of said serially connected transistors is deactuated by a potential of an active wordline.

14. A memory device for storing data in an array of memory cells comprising:

a plurality of wordlines in electrical communication with the array;

a plurality of driver circuits, each of said driver circuits having an input node and an output node, each of said driver circuits in electrical communication, at its output node, with one of said wordlines, the input nodes of said plurality of driver circuits connected at a common node;

a plurality of serially connected transistors, each one of said serially connected transistors having a gate connected to the output node of a corresponding one of said driver circuits, said plurality of serially connected transistors interposed between a first supply node, connectable to a first supply potential, and the common node; and

a decode circuit electrically interposed between a second supply node connectable to a second supply potential and said common node.

15. The memory system as specified in claim 14 wherein said decode circuit determines which of said wordlines are active and inactive.

16. The memory device as specified in claim 15 wherein one of said serially connected transistors is deactuated by a potential of an active wordline of said plurality of wordlines.

17. A memory system, comprising:

a memory device for storing data in an array of memory cells;

a plurality of wordlines in electrical communication with the array;

a plurality of driver circuits, each of said driver circuits having an input node and an output node, each of said driver circuits in electrical communication, at its output node, with one of said wordlines, the input nodes of said plurality of driver circuits connected at a common node;

a plurality of serially connected transistors, each one of said serially connected transistors having a gate connected to the output node of a corresponding one of said driver circuits, said plurality of said serially connected transistors interposed between a supply node and the common node; and

a means for sending decode signals to said plurality of driver circuits, said decode signals determining selected and non-selected said wordlines of said plurality.

18. A memory device for storing data in an array of memory cells comprising:

a plurality of wordlines in electrical communication with the array;

a plurality of driver circuits, each of said driver circuits having an input node and an output node, each of said driver circuits in electrical communication, at its output node, with one of said wordlines, the input nodes of said plurality of driver circuits connected at a common node; and

a precharge circuit interposed between a supply node and the common node, said precharge circuit connected to the output nodes of the plurality of driver circuits.

19. The memory device as specified in claim 18 wherein said precharge circuit is deactivated by a potential of an activated one of said plurality of wordlines.

20. The memory device as specified in claim 18 wherein said precharge circuit is connected to the output nodes of the plurality of driver circuits at a plurality of precharge circuit control nodes.

21. A memory device for storing data in an array of memory cells comprising:

a plurality of wordlines in electrical communication with the array;

a plurality of driver circuits, each of said driver circuits having an input node and an output node, each of said driver circuits in electrical communication with one of said wordlines, the input nodes of said plurality of driver circuits connected at a common node;

a precharge circuit interposed between a first supply node connectable to a first supply potential and the common node, said precharge circuit connected to the output nodes of the plurality of driver circuits; and

a decode circuit electrically interposed between a second supply node, connectable to a second supply potential, and said common node, said decode circuit determining which of said wordlines are active and inactive.

22. The memory device as specified in claim 21, wherein said precharge circuit is deactivated by a potential on an activated one of said wordlines.

23. A memory system, comprising:

a memory device for storing data in an array of memory cells;

a plurality of wordlines in electrical communication with the array;

a plurality of driver circuits, each of said driver circuits having an input node and an output node, each of said driver circuits in electrical communication, at its output node, with one of said wordlines, the input nodes of said plurality of driver circuits connected at a common node; and

a precharge circuit interposed between a supply node connectable to a supply potential and the common node, said precharge circuit connected to the output nodes of the plurality of driver circuits; and

a means for sending decode signals to said plurality of driver circuits, said decode signals determining active and inactive wordlines of said plurality of wordlines, wherein said precharge circuit is deactivated by a potential on an activated one of said wordlines.