Tree decoder structure particularly well-suited to interfacing array lines having extremely small layout pitch
First Claim
1. An integrated circuit comprising:
- a memory sub-array having a plurality of array lines on at least one layer of the memory sub-array, at least some of the array lines exiting to one side of the memory sub-array;
a tree decoder circuit associated with the memory sub-array, said tree decoder circuit comprising a top level responsive to a plurality of top-level control signals, and comprising at least a second level responsive to a plurality of second-level control signals, and further comprising a plurality of intermediate nodes between the top-level and second level each extending along the one side of the sub-array;
wherein each of the plurality of top-level control signals has a range of control which is substantially less than the extent of each intermediate node.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A tree decoder organization particularly useful for a three-dimensional memory array or any array having very small array line pitch is configured to provide a plurality of top-level decode nodes, each of which, when selected, simultaneously selects a block of array lines and couples each array line of a selected block to a respective intermediate node. Each of the top-level decode signals has a range of control which is substantially less than the extent of the intermediate nodes. In some embodiments each selected block includes more than one array line on each of at least two memory layers having array lines which exit to one side of the memory array. As a result, the large layout area requirement to generate each top-level decode node is supported by a contiguous block of array lines of the memory array.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. An integrated circuit comprising:
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a memory sub-array having a plurality of array lines on at least one layer of the memory sub-array, at least some of the array lines exiting to one side of the memory sub-array;
a tree decoder circuit associated with the memory sub-array, said tree decoder circuit comprising a top level responsive to a plurality of top-level control signals, and comprising at least a second level responsive to a plurality of second-level control signals, and further comprising a plurality of intermediate nodes between the top-level and second level each extending along the one side of the sub-array;
wherein each of the plurality of top-level control signals has a range of control which is substantially less than the extent of each intermediate node. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 17, 18, 19)
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11. An integrated circuit comprising:
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a memory sub-array comprising a plurality of array lines on at least one layer of the memory sub-array having at least some of the array lines exiting to one side of the memory sub-array;
a tree decoder circuit associated with the memory sub-array, said tree decoder comprising a first plurality of selection circuits, each responsive to an associated one of a first plurality of decode signals, for coupling, when selected, a respective array line to an associated one of a plurality of intermediate nodes of the tree decoder, said intermediate nodes each having a respective extent along the one side of the sub-array;
a second plurality of selection circuits, each responsive to an associated one of a second plurality of decode signals, for coupling, when selected, a respective intermediate node to an associated other node of the tree decoder;
wherein each of the first plurality of decode signals has a range of control that extends a distance along the one side of the sub-array which is substantially less than the extent of the intermediate nodes. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An integrated circuit comprising:
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a memory sub-array having a plurality of array lines on at least one layer of the memory sub-array, at least some of the array lines exiting to one side of the memory sub-array;
a first decoder circuit responsive at least to address signals, for generating a first plurality of decode signals, and for generating a second plurality of decode signals;
a first plurality of array line coupling circuits, each responsive to an associated one of the first plurality of decode signals, for coupling, when selected, a respective array line to an associated one of a plurality of intermediate nodes, said intermediate nodes each having a respective extent along the one side of the sub-array;
a first plurality of intermediate node coupling circuits, each responsive to an associated one of the second plurality of decode signals, for coupling, when selected, a respective intermediate node to an associated other node;
wherein each of the first plurality of decode signals is associated with a respective group of the array line coupling circuits, each respective array line coupling circuit within a given group for coupling, when selected, a respective array line to a respective intermediate node;
wherein each of the first plurality of decode signals has a range of control that extends a distance along the one side of the sub-array which is substantially less than the extent of the intermediate nodes. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. An integrated circuit comprising:
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a three-dimensional memory array having a respective plurality of array lines for at least two respective memory array layers exiting to one side of the memory array;
means for simultaneously coupling, in response to a single selected decode node, at least two array lines exiting to the one side of the memory array, on each of at least two memory array layers, to respective intermediate nodes. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41)
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Specification