Method and circuit for self-latching data read lines in the data output path of a semiconductor memory device
First Claim
1. A data read line latch circuit connected to a data read line of a semiconductor memory device for latching data that is read out of a memory array of the memory device prior to the data being latched in a data output register of the memory device, the data read line latch circuit being located physically in the proximity of the memory array.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and circuit for self-latching data read lines that are used to transfer data that is read from a memory array of a memory device to a data output register of the memory device, wherein a self-latching latch circuit is connected to each data read line. The latch circuits are located physically near the output of the memory array, for latching data that is read from the memory array as soon as the data is applied to the data read lines, and prior to the data being latched in the data output register, thereby minimizing the effects of propagation delay so that the memory cycle time can be decreased. In one embodiment wherein the memory is organized in a "x4" configuration, different groups of the data read lines are selected in alternate read cycles, and the data read lines of the non-selected data read group are equilibrated automatically during the read cycle using the conventional test circuits of the memory device.
20 Citations
19 Claims
- 1. A data read line latch circuit connected to a data read line of a semiconductor memory device for latching data that is read out of a memory array of the memory device prior to the data being latched in a data output register of the memory device, the data read line latch circuit being located physically in the proximity of the memory array.
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4. A data output path for a semiconductor memory device that includes a memory array for storing data, said data output path comprising:
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a plurality of data amplifier circuits located at the output of the memory array for amplifying data read from the memory array; a data output register for latching data read from the memory array; a plurality of data read lines coupled between the data amplifier circuits and the data output register for transferring data amplified by the data amplifier circuits to the data output register; and a plurality of data read line latch circuits, each of the data read line latch circuits being connected to a different one of the data read lines, the data read line latch circuits being located physically adjacent to the data amplifier circuits and being interposed between the data amplifier circuits and the data output register for latching data prior to the data being latched by the data output register. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A semiconductor memory device comprising:
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a memory array for storing data; a data output register for latching data read from the memory array; and a data output path for transferring data read from the memory array to the data output register;
the data output path includinga plurality of data amplifier circuits located at the output of the memory array for amplifying data read from the memory array; a plurality of data read lines coupled between the data amplifier circuits and the data output register for transferring data amplified by the data amplifier circuits to the data output register; and a plurality of data read line latch circuits, each of the data read line latch circuits being connected to a different one of the data read lines, the data read line latch circuits being located adjacent to the data amplifier circuits for latching data prior to the data being latched by the data output register. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A semiconductor memory device comprising:
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a memory array for storing data; a data output register for latching data read from the memory array; a plurality of data read lines for transferring data read from the memory array to the data output register; a plurality of data read line latch circuits, including a data read line latch circuit individually connected to each data read line for latching data applied to the data read lines prior to the data being latched by the data output register; memory access circuitry for selecting a first group of the data read lines for transferring data read from the memory array to the data output register during a first read cycle, and for selecting a second group of the data read lines for transferring data read from the memory array to the data output register during a second read cycle; and a plurality of equilibration circuits for equilibrating non-selected data read line pairs during read cycles. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A method for self-latching data read lines that transfer data read from a memory array of a semiconductor memory device to a data output register of the memory device, said method comprising:
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connecting a latch circuit to each of the data read lines in the proximity of the memory array; and causing the latch circuit to respond to data read from the memory array and latch the data into the latch circuit so that the data is latched into the latch circuit prior to being latched into the data output register.
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18. A method for transmitting data read from a memory array of a semiconductor memory device to a data output register of the memory device, wherein data read from the memory array is amplified by a data amplifier that is coupled to the data output register through a data read line, said method comprising:
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connecting a data read line latch circuit to the data read line at the output of the data amplifier circuit; latching the data amplified by the data amplifier circuit into the data read line latch circuit; and
subsequently latching the data latched in the data read line latch circuit into the data output register. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification