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US5097441A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Interdigitated and twisted word line structure for semiconductor memories

Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
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Filing: 1990-03-30
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Granted: 1992-03-17
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Expires: 2010-03-30
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Abstract

Abstract A higher packing of cells in a memory circuit includes a plurality of word line drivers employing a plurality of word lines, a plurality of bit lines, and various decoders. Disclosed is the array method of the word line drivers, which can reduce the pitch between the word line drivers so that the layout of the semiconductor memory array may be easily accomplished. Moreover, the array method of other components of the memory array is suggested.

Inventors

  • 👤 Soo-In Cho
  • 👤 Dong-Il Shu
  • 👤 Dong-Sun Min
  • 👤 Young-Rae Kim

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-02 23:41
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11C; G11C5/00; G11C5/06; G11C5/063; G11C8/00; G11C8/14; H; H10; H10W; H10W20/00; H10W20/40; H10W20/41; H10W20/423; H10W20/43; H10W20/495

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim 122 words
In a semiconductor memory array having a plurality of word lines, a plurality of word line drivers for driving said word lines, and a plurality of row address decoders for driving said word line drivers, the improvement wherein: each of said plurality of word line drivers is connected to a group of at least fourth neighboring word lines of said plurality of word lines, wherein said four neighboring word lines of said group are twisted across each other so that each one of said four neighboring word lines is not continually adjacent to its adjacent neighboring word lines, and wherein said plurality of word line drivers are equally spaced and arranged in an alternating pattern on both sides of said memory array.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 122 words
In a semiconductor memory array having a plurality of word lines, a plurality of word line drivers for driving said word lines, and a plurality of row address decoders for driving said word line drivers, the improvement wherein: each of said plurality of word line drivers is connected to a group of at least fourth neighboring word lines of said plurality of word lines, wherein said four neighboring word lines of said group are twisted across each other so that each one of said four neighboring word lines is not continually adjacent to its adjacent neighboring word lines, and wherein said plurality of word line drivers are equally spaced and arranged in an alternating pattern on both sides of said memory array.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 21 words
The semiconductor memory array of claim 1, wherein said neighboring word lines are twisted across each other in a strapping area.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 26 words
The semiconductor memory array of claim 1, wherein said neighboring word lines are twisted across each other in at least two parts of said memory array.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 52 words
The semiconductor memory array of claim 1, wherein when said plurality of word line drivers are 2 N in number, said neightboring word lines within each of said plurality of word lines drivers are 2 K in number, wherein N is larger than K, and wherein N and K are positive integers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 52 words
The semiconductor memory array of claim 2, wherein when said plurality of word line drivers are 2 N in number, said neighboring word lines within each of said plurality of word line drivers are 2 K in number, wherein N is larger than K, and wherein N and K are positive integers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 52 words
The semiconductor memory array of claim 3, wherein when said plurality of word line drivers are 2 N in number, said neighboring word lines within each of said plurality of word line drivers are 2 K in number, wherein N is larger than K, and wherein N and K are positive integers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 108 words
In a semiconductor memory array having a plurality of word lines, a plurality of word line drivers for driving said word lines, and a plurality of row address decoders for driving said word line drivers, the improvement wherein: each of said plurality of word line drivers is connected to a group of at least four neightboring word lines of said plurality of word lines, wherein said four neighboring word lines of said group are twisted across each other in a strapping area so that each one of said four neighboring word lines is adjacent different ones of said neighboring word lines on opposite sides of said strapping area.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 108 words
In a semiconductor memory array having a plurality of word lines, a plurality of word line drivers for driving said word lines, and a plurality of row address decoders for driving said word line drivers, the improvement wherein: each of said plurality of word line drivers is connected to a group of at least four neightboring word lines of said plurality of word lines, wherein said four neighboring word lines of said group are twisted across each other in a strapping area so that each one of said four neighboring word lines is adjacent different ones of said neighboring word lines on opposite sides of said strapping area.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 75 words
The semiconductor memory array as claimed in claim 7, wherein when said plurality of word line drivers are 2 N in number, said neighboring word lines within each of said plurality of word line drivers are 2 K in number, wherein N is larger than K, and wherein N and K are positive integers, said word line drivers being equally spaced and arranged in an alternating pattern on both sides of said memory cell array.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4586171A Cited
US4916661A Cited
US4977542A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1995-03-17 1995-09-16 1996-03-17 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1999-03-17 1999-09-16 2000-03-17 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2003-03-17 2003-09-16 2004-03-17 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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