Memory for metal configurable integrated circuits

• US 8,159,265 B1
• Filed: 11/16/2010
• Issued: 04/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Raminda Udaya Madurawe
• Original Assignee: Raminda Udaya Madurawe
• Inventors: Madurawe, Raminda Udaya
• Primary Examiner(s): Ismail, Shawki
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, THIENVU V
• Application Number:
  US12/947,589
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• Field of Search: 326 37- 41, 326/47, 326/101
• US Class Current: 326/38
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 19/17732 Macroblocks

Abstract

Memory for a semiconductor device is disclosed. The memory array comprises: a memory cell replicated in rows and columns to form an array; and a plurality of first horizontal decode signals, each horizontal signal common to all the memory cells in a said row; and a plurality of first vertical decode signals, each vertical signal common to all the memory cells in a said column; wherein, said replicated memory cell further comprises: a storage device to store data; and a first decode device to receive a said first horizontal decode signal and a said first vertical decode signal and generate a first local decode signal to access a first unique memory cell in the array.

Claims

1. A memory array of a semiconductor device, comprising:

a memory cell replicated in rows and columns to form an array; and

a plurality of first horizontal decode signals, each horizontal signal common to all the memory cells in a said row; and

a plurality of first vertical decode signals, each vertical signal common to all the memory cells in said column;

wherein, said replicated memory cell further comprises;

a storage device to store data; and

a first decode device to receive said first horizontal decode signal and said first vertical decode signal and generate a first local decode signal to access a first unique memory cell in the array; and

a first select device coupled to the storage device and the first decode device, wherein the first local decode signal provides access to the first unique cell in the array from the plurality of first horizontal and first vertical decode signals.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the memory array comprises 2^2N memory cells arranged in N rows and N columns in the array, where N is an integer greater than one.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the memory array comprises 2^2N+1 memory cells arranged in N rows and (N+1) columns in the array, where N is an integer greater than one.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the storage device is one of:

latch, DRAM, SRAM, EPROM, EEPROM, ROM, Fuse, Anti-fuse, Optical, ferro-electric, Magnetic, Resistive, Capacitive, Phase-changing, carbon nano tube, and any other memory device.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the memory array comprises a physical memory array of a user specified logical memory block comprising a single bit wide data string.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the memory array further comprising:

a plurality of second horizontal decode signals, each second horizontal signal common to all the memory cells in a said row; and

a plurality of second vertical decode signals, each second vertical signal common to all the memory cells in a said column;

wherein, said replicated memory cell further comprises a second decode device to receive a said second horizontal decode signal and a said second vertical decode signal and generate a second local decode signal to access a second unique memory cell in the array.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the first unique memory cell and the second unique memory cell can be accessed simultaneously by the first and second decode signals respectively.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the memory array further comprises a common data read line coupled to every cell in the array, wherein the data state of the selected first unique memory cell is read from the common data read line.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the memory array further comprises a common data write line coupled to every cell in the array, wherein the data state of the common data write line is written to the selected first unique memory cell.

10. The device of claim 6, wherein the memory array further comprises:

a common data read line and a common data write line, each said data line coupled to every cell in the array;

wherein, the data state of common data write line is written to the first unique memory cell; and

wherein, the data state of the second unique memory cell is read from the common data read line.