Memory component with short access time

• US 6,388,944 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2001
• Issued: 05/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Northwestern University, Polaris Innovations Limited (Wi-LAN Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
• Inventors: Partsch, Torsten, Dietrich, Stefan, Hein, Thomas, Marx, Thilo, Schrögmeier, Peter, Heyne, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoang, Huan
• Application Number:
  US09/773,221
• Publication Number:
  US 20010038566A1
• Time in Patent Office: 468 Days
• Field of Search: 365/233, 365/63, 365/51, 365/205
• US Class Current: 365/233.1
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 7/1069 I/O lines read out arrangements

Abstract

A memory chip with a short data access time limits the propagation time of a bit on local data line strips which are far away from output amplifiers by centering switches with respect to a center of the cell array strips, wherein the switches are junction points between local data lines and main data lines.

Claims

1. A memory component, comprising:

a cell array having a plurality of memory cells disposed in said cell array, said cell array being configured such that n bits are synchronously accessible in a synchronous memory access, n being an integer number;

a plurality of bit lines connected to respective ones of said memory cells;

a plurality of preamplifiers connected to respective ones of said bit lines;

a plurality of local data lines connected to respective ones of said preamplifiers;

a plurality of switches connected to respective ones of said local data lines;

a plurality of main data lines connected to respective ones of said switches;

a plurality of output amplifiers connected to respective ones of said main data lines; and

said switches being disposed such that a longest possible propagation time of a bit in given ones of said local data lines used for the synchronous memory access is shorter, the further away from associated ones of said output amplifiers said given ones of said local data lines are relative to further ones of said local data lines which are simultaneously required for the synchronous memory access.

2. The memory component according to claim 1, wherein:

said cell array is formed of a plurality of cell array strips; and

local data line strips are disposed parallel to one another and adjacent on both sides of said cell array strips such that said cell array strips are separated from one another by said local data line strips.

3. The memory component according to claim 2, wherein said local data line strips include at least four of said local data lines.

4. The memory component according to claim 2, wherein said main data lines are disposed perpendicular to said cell array strips.

5. The memory component according to claim 4, wherein:

said cell array strips define an axis which is centrally centered with respect to said cell array strips and parallel to the main data lines; and

in each case two of said switches which lie on a same one of said local data line strips are disposed at a substantially identical distance from the axis.

6. The memory component according to claim 1, wherein said cell array is configured such that eight bits are accessed in the synchronous memory access.

7. The memory component according to claim 6, wherein said plurality of output amplifiers are eight output amplifiers.

8. The memory component according to claim 1, wherein said cell array is configured such that sixteen bits are accessed in the synchronous memory access.

9. The memory component according to claim 8, wherein said plurality of output amplifiers are sixteen output amplifiers.

10. The memory component according to claim 1, wherein said cell array is configured such that thirty-two bits are accessed in the synchronous memory access.

11. The memory component according to claim 10, wherein said plurality of output amplifiers are thirty-two output amplifiers.

12. The memory component according to claim 1, wherein said cell array is configured such that sixty-four bits are accessed in the synchronous memory access.

13. The memory component according to claim 12, wherein said plurality of output amplifiers are sixty-four output amplifiers.