Data strobe signal output driver for a semiconductor memory apparatus

• US 8,441,870 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2010
• Issued: 05/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Incorporated (SK Hynix Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
• Inventors: Kim, Mi Hye
• Primary Examiner(s): YOHA, CONNIE C
• Application Number:
  US12/846,358
• Publication Number:
  US 20110249520A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,020 Days
• Field of Search: 365/193, 365/189.15, 365/189.07, 365/230.06, 365/221, 365/220, 326/30, 326/26, 326/81, 326/83, 327/108
• US Class Current: 365/193
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 7/04 with means for avoiding disturbances due to temperature effects
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 7/22 Read-write [R-W] timing or clocking circuits; Read-write [R-W] control signal generators or management
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 7/222 Clock generating, synchronizing or distributing circuits within memory device

Abstract

A data strobe signal output driver includes a trigger block, a predriver block, and a main driver block. The trigger block is configured to receive a first signal, a second signal, a first clock and a second clock, and to output a predrive signal based thereon. The predriver block is configured to receive the predrive signal, a driver off signal and a termination enable signal, and to output a first main drive signal and a second main drive signal based thereon. The main driver block is configured to output a data strobe signal based on the first and second main drive signals.

Claims

1. A data strobe signal output driver comprising:

a trigger block configured to receive a first signal, a second signal, a first clock and a second clock, and to output a predrive signal based thereon;

a predriver block configured to receive the predrive signal, a driver off signal and a termination enable signal, and to output a first main drive signal and a second main drive signal based thereon and configured to determine an operation mode in response to the driver off signal and the termination enable signal; and

a main driver block configured to output a data strobe signal based on the first and second main drive signals.

2. The data strobe signal output driver according to claim 1, wherein the trigger block is configured to output the first signal as the predrive signal based on the first clock and outputs the second signal as the predrive signal based on the second clock.

3. The data strobe signal output driver according to claim 1, wherein the predriver block comprises:

a driving unit configured to receive the predrive signal and generate a driving predrive signal based thereon; and

an option unit configured to provide one of;

the driving predrive signal as the first main drive signal and the second main drive signal based on the driver off signal and the termination enable signal; and

at least one predetermined voltage as the first main drive signal and the second main drive signal.

4. The data strobe signal output driver according to claim 3, wherein the option unit is configured to output the driving predrive signal as the first main drive signal and the second main drive signal when the drive off signal is deactivated, and to provide the at least one predetermined voltage as the first main drive signal and the second main drive signal based on the termination enable signal when the driver off signal is activated.

5. The data strobe signal output driver according to claim 4,

wherein the main driver block comprises a pull-up driver unit and a pull-down driver unit, and

wherein the first main drive signal and the second main drive signal activate the pull-up driver unit and the pull-down driver unit when the driver off signal is activated and the termination enable signal is activated.

6. The data strobe signal output driver according to claim 4,

wherein the main driver block comprises a pull-up driver unit and a pull-down driver unit, and

wherein the first main drive signal and the second main drive signal deactivate the pull-up driver unit and the pull-down driver unit when the driver off signal is activated and the termination enable signal is deactivated.

7. The data strobe signal output driver according to claim 4,

wherein the main driver block comprises a pull-up driver unit and a pull-down driver unit, and

wherein the option unit comprises:

an operation mode determining section configured to generate an operation mode determining signal based on the driver off signal and the termination enable signal;

a first output portion configured to output the driving predrive signal as the first main drive signal and the second main drive signal in response to the operation mode determining signal;

a second output portion configured to provide the first main drive signal and the second main drive signal in response to the operation mode determining signal, wherein the first main drive signal and the second main drive signal activate the pull-up driver unit and the pull-down driver unit; and

a third output portion configured to provide the first main drive signal and the second main drive signal in response to the operation mode determining signal, wherein the first main drive signal and the second main drive signal deactivate the pull-up driver unit and the pull-down driver unit.

8. A data strobe signal output driver comprising:

an operation mode determining section configured to output an operation mode determining signal in response to a driver off signal and a termination enable signal, wherein the operation mode determining signal includes information indicating an operation mode corresponding to at least one of;

a data strobe signal output mode, a floating mode, and a termination mode;

a mode performing section configured to, in response to the operation mode determining signal, provide one of;

a driving predrive signal as a first main drive signal and second main drive signal, and at least one predetermined voltage as the first main drive signal and the second main drive signal; and

a main driver block configured to output a data strobe signal in response to the first main drive signal and the second main drive signal.

9. The data strobe signal output driver according to claim 8, wherein the mode performing section provides the driving predrive signal as the first main driving signal and the second main drive signal when the operation mode corresponds to the data strobe signal output mode.

10. The data strobe signal output driver according to claim 8, wherein the mode performing section provides the at least one predetermined voltage as the first main driving signal and the second main driving signal when the operation mode corresponds to at least one of:

the floating mode and the termination enable mode.

11. The data strobe signal output driver according to claim 10, wherein the main driver block is deactivated when the operation mode corresponds to the floating mode.

12. The data strobe signal output driver according to claim 10, wherein the main driver block is activated when the operation mode corresponds to the termination mode.

13. The data strobe signal output driver according to claim 10,

wherein the main driver block includes pull-up and pull-down driver units, and wherein both the pull-up and pull-down driver units are turned off when the operation mode corresponds to the floating mode and wherein both the pull-up and pull-down driver units are turned on when the operation mode corresponds to the termination mode.