Mitigating external influences on long signal lines

This application is related to U.S. Pat. No. 7,649,762, entitled “Area Efficient High Performance Memory Cell,” assigned to the assignee of the present invention and having a common inventor, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Embodiments of the present invention relate to the field of integrated circuit design and manufacture. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention relate to systems and methods for mitigating external influences on long signal lines.

A variety of integrated circuits comprise substantially parallel long lines coupling similar circuits. For example, many memory arrays comprise long bit lines coupling a plurality of memory cells in parallel that are physically close to one another. The physical characteristics of such lines, e.g., physical proximity and parallel layout, may lead to unwanted electrical coupling between and among such lines.

FIG. 1 (conventional art) illustrates an exemplary memory array 100 , in accordance with the conventional art. Memory array 100 comprises a plurality of word lines, e.g., WL 0 through WL 255 . Word line 170 (WL 255 ) is one exemplary word line. Memory array 100 also comprises a plurality of bit lines, e.g., BL 0 through BL 255 . Bit lines 110 (BL 0 ) and 130 (BL 1 ) are exemplary bit lines. Memory array 100 further comprises a plurality of inverted bit lines, e.g., BLB 0 (“bit line bar”) through BLB 255 . Inverted bit lines 120 (BLB 0 ) and 140 (BLB 1 ) are exemplary inverted bit lines.

Located at the intersection of each word line and bit line is a memory cell, e.g., memory cell 150 and memory cell 160 . In exemplary memory array 100 , a cell ( 150 , 160 ) may be considered to include both a bit line and an inverted bit line, although that is not required. In the case of exemplary memory array 100 , a word line, e.g., word line 170 is asserted and the value of the plurality of memory cells is read on the bit lines, e.g., bit lines 110 and 130 , and read on the inverted bit lines, e.g., inverted bit lines 120 and 140 . For example, exemplary memory array 100 is illustrated to produce a b‘00’ as the first two bits of word line 170 (WL 255 ). Similarly, exemplary memory array 100 stores b‘10’ as the first two bits of word line 180 (WL 0 ).

It is to be appreciated that bit lines 110 and 130 and inverted bit lines 120 and 140 are not required to operate as binary signals, although that is possible. The bit lines and inverted bit lines may operate as differential pairs, with a signal value determined by a voltage difference between a bit line and inverted bit line of the same column. It is to be further appreciated that the voltage difference may have greater than a single bit of resolution, e.g., the single memory cell may store more than a single bit of information.

The discharge speed, and hence access time of a bit line is a function of the voltage and current waveforms on the bit line and/or inverted bit line, and in turn depends on the loading on the bit line and inverted bit line. The bit lines and inverted bit lines comprise long, parallel structures, and are susceptible to undesirable influences from one another, including, for example, capacitive coupling between a bit line and inverted bit line within a cell, e.g., 110 and 120 , as well as coupling between lines of one cell and lines of a nearby cell, e.g., between inverted bit line 120 and bit line 130 . Other factors, including, for example, ground bounce, may also unduly influence bit lines and/or inverted bit lines.

Unfortunately, such influences may cause a memory array to function undesirably slowly, e.g., to allow sufficient duration for such influences to settle, or cause disadvantageous erroneous operation, e.g., reading an incorrect value.

Therefore, what is needed are systems and methods for mitigating external influences on long signal lines. What is additionally needed are systems and methods for mitigating external influences on long signal lines that mitigate interference originating within a column of long signal lines. A further need is for systems and methods for mitigating external influences on long signal lines that mitigate interference originating from a nearby -a column of long signal lines. A still further need exists for systems and methods for mitigating external influences on long signal lines that are compatible and complementary with existing systems and methods of integrated circuit design, manufacturing and test. Embodiments of the present invention provide these advantages.

In accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, an electronic circuit includes a first transistor configured to selectively pull up a bit line of a memory array responsive to a clamp signal and a second transistor configured to selectively couple the bit line and an inverted bit line of a same cell of the memory array responsive to the clamp signal. The electronic circuit may include a third transistor configured to selectively pull up the inverted bit line responsive to the clamp signal.

In accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, an electronic circuit includes a first transistor configured to selectively pull up a bit line of a memory array responsive to a level of an inverted bit line of a same cell of the memory array and a second transistor configured to selectively pull up the inverted bit line of the memory array responsive to a level of the inverted bit line of the same cell.

In accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention, an integrated circuit memory includes a plurality of memory cells for storing a value. The plurality of memory cells are configured as a plurality of columns of memory cells. The memory cells of each column are coupled by a bit line and an inverted bit line.

At least one of the plurality of columns further includes a first transistor configured to pull up the bit line of the column and a second transistor configured to pull up the inverted bit line of the column. The column also includes a third transistor configured to selectively pull up the bit line of the column responsive to a level of the inverted bit line of the column and a fourth transistor configured to selectively pull up the inverted bit line of the column responsive to a level of the bit line of the column. The column further includes a fifth transistor configured to selectively pull up the bit line of the column responsive to a clamp signal, a sixth transistor configured to selectively pull up the inverted bit line of the column responsive to the clamp signal and a seventh transistor configured to selectively couple the bit line of the column and the inverted bit line of the column responsive to the clamp signal.

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. Unless otherwise noted, the drawings are not drawn to scale.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary memory array, in accordance with the conventional art.

FIG. 2 illustrates a pull up circuit, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross coupling circuit, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a precharge/clamping circuit, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of the invention, mitigating external influences on long signal lines, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the invention will be described in conjunction with these embodiments, it is understood that they are not intended to limit the invention to these embodiments. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Furthermore, in the following detailed description of the invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be recognized by one of ordinary skill in the art that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known methods, procedures, components, and circuits have not been described in detail as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the invention.

Notation and Nomenclature

Some portions of the detailed descriptions which follow are presented in terms of procedures, steps, logic blocks, processing, and other symbolic representations of operations on data bits that may be performed on computer memory. These descriptions and representations are the means used by those skilled in the data processing arts to most effectively convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. A procedure, computer executed step, logic block, process, etc., is here, and generally, conceived to be a self-consistent sequence of steps or instructions leading to a desired result. The steps are those requiring physical manipulations of physical quantities. Usually, though not necessarily, these quantities take the form of electrical or magnetic signals capable of being stored, transferred, combined, compared, and otherwise manipulated in a computer system. It has proven convenient at times, principally for reasons of common usage, to refer to these signals as bits, values, elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbers, or the like.

It should be borne in mind, however, that all of these and similar terms are to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and are merely convenient labels applied to these quantities. Unless specifically stated otherwise as apparent from the following discussions, it is appreciated that throughout the present invention, discussions utilizing terms such as “attaching” or “processing” or “processing” or “forming” or “roughening” or “filling” or “accessing” or “performing” or “generating” or “adjusting” or “creating” or “executing” or “calculating” or “determining” or “measuring” or “gathering” or “running” or the like, refer to the action and processes of a computer system, or similar electronic computing device, that manipulates and transforms data represented as physical (electronic) quantities within the computer system's registers and memories into other data similarly represented as physical quantities within the computer system memories or registers or other such information storage, transmission or display devices.

Embodiments in accordance with the present invention are illustrated by p-channel metal oxide field effect transistors, pMOSFETs, also known as PMOS devices. Embodiments in accordance with the present invention are well suited to NMOS embodiments, and such embodiments are considered within the scope of the present invention.

Embodiments in accordance with the present invention are illustrated in terms of a read only memory (ROM) array, e.g., as illustrated in FIG. 1 (conventional art). Embodiments in accordance with the present invention are well suited to use in conjunction with the disclosures of U.S. Pat. No. 7,649,762, entitled “Area Efficient High Performance Memory Cell,” incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. It is to be appreciated that embodiments in accordance with the present invention are also well suited to a variety of other circuit types, including other types of memory, e.g., random access memory (RAM), programmable read only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM), “flash” memory, and the like. Embodiments in accordance with the present invention are further well suited to a variety of non-memory circuits.

Mitigating External Influences on Long Signal Lines

FIG. 2 illustrates a pull up circuit 200 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. Pull up circuit 200 comprises p-type metal oxide semiconductor (PMOS) device 210 coupled to bit line 110 (BL 0 ) and PMOS device 220 coupled to inverted bit line 120 (BLB 0 ). PMOS devices 210 and 220 should be duplicated for every pair of bit line and inverted bit line, e.g., every “column” of a memory array. PMOS devices 210 and 220 are weak devices which pull up the bit line pair. PMOS devices 210 and 220 are always on. They operate to compensate for leakage current and stabilize a bit line and/or inverted bit line subject to undesirable influences from one or more adjacent lines.

The source of PMOS device 210 is coupled to a power supply voltage, e.g., Vdd. The drain of PMOS device 210 is coupled to bit line 110 (BL 0 ). The source of PMOS device 220 is coupled to a power supply voltage, e.g., Vdd. The drain of PMOS device 220 is coupled to inverted bit line 120 (BLB 0 ). The gates of PMOS devices 210 and 220 are coupled to a ground reference, e.g., Vss, rendering such devices always on (when power is applied).

PMOS devices 210 and 220 should be substantially weaker, e.g., be characterized as having less drive current, than standard devices that make up the circuitry of the memory array. For example, PMOS devices 210 and 220 should be overcome by the actions of a memory cell. PMOS devices 210 and 220 may be constructed for their desired strength by any suitable technique, e.g., patterned with a decreased width to length (W/L) ratio. PMOS devices 210 and 220 may also represent a stack of multiple devices that results in a cumulative “weak” drive current.

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross coupling circuit 300 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. Cross coupling circuit 300 comprises p-type metal oxide semiconductor (PMOS) device 310 and PMOS device 320 . PMOS devices 310 and 320 should be duplicated for every bit line and inverted bit line pair, e.g., every “column” of a memory array.

The source of PMOS device 310 is coupled to a power supply voltage, e.g., Vdd. The source of PMOS device 320 is coupled to a power supply voltage, e.g., Vdd. The drain of PMOS device 310 is coupled to bit line 110 (BL 0 ) and to the gate of PMOS device 320 . The drain of PMOS device 320 is coupled to inverted bit line 120 (BLB 0 ) and to the gate of PMOS device 310 . In this manner, a level on bit line 110 (BL 0 ) controls PMOS device 320 , while a level on inverted bit line 120 (BLB 0 ) controls PMOS device 310 . PMOS devices 310 and 320 may be of “normal” strength.

Cross coupling circuit 300 operates to compensate for coupling between an asserted bit line (or inverted bit line) and an inverted bit line (or bit line) in the same column. For example, inverted bit line 120 (BLB 0 ) may be influenced by the discharge of bit line 110 (BL 0 ), e.g., due to capacitive coupling and other factors.

Cross coupling circuit 300 operates to compensate for such coupling. In response to bit line 110 (BL 0 ) being discharged below Vdd minus the threshold voltage of PMOS device 320 , PMOS device 320 will turn on and pull inverted bit line 120 (BLB 0 ) back up to Vdd. Meanwhile, the high level on inverted bit line 120 (BLB 0 ) will keep PMOS device 310 off, allowing bit line 110 (BL 0 ) to operate normally. A similar operation occurs when inverted bit line 120 (BLB 0 ) is discharged.

FIG. 4 illustrates a precharge/clamping circuit 400 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. Precharge/clamping circuit 400 comprises p-type metal oxide semiconductor (PMOS) device 410 , PMOS device 420 and PMOS device 430 . Precharge/clamping circuit 400 should be duplicated for every pair of bit line and inverted bit line, e.g., every “column” of a memory array. FIG. 4 also illustrates logic circuit 490 for decoding precharge signals 440 (PCHGB 0 ) and 450 (PCHGB 1 ), where “ADR 0 _FF” is an address line of a column, and “pchgbi” is a global precharge signal.

The source of PMOS device 410 is coupled to a power supply voltage, e.g., Vdd. The drain of PMOS device 410 is coupled to bit line 110 (BL 0 ). The source of PMOS device 420 is coupled to a power supply voltage, e.g., Vdd. The drain of PMOS device 420 is coupled to inverted bit line 120 (BLB 0 ). The source and drain of PMOS device 430 are coupled to bit line 110 (BL 0 ) and inverted bit line 120 (BLB 0 ). The gates of PMOS devices 410 , 420 and 430 are coupled to precharge signal 440 (PCHGB 0 ). Logic circuit 490 illustrates the generation of precharge signal 440 (PCHGB 0 ). PMOS devices 410 , 420 and 430 should be relatively strong devices, e.g., they should be characterized as having a high drive current.

Similarly, PMOS devices 460 , 470 and 480 form a second precharge/clamping circuit for a second column, e.g., a column comprising bit line 130 (BL 1 ) and inverted bit line 140 (BLB 1 ). It is appreciated that the gates of PMOS devices 460 , 470 and 480 are not coupled to precharge signal 440 (PCHGB 0 ). Rather, the gates of PMOS devices 460 , 470 and 480 are coupled to a different precharge signal, precharge signal 450 (PCHGB 1 ). Logic circuit 490 illustrates the generation of precharge signal 450 (PCHGB 1 ).

Precharge/clamping circuit 400 has two principal functions: to precharge the selected bit lines/inverted bit lines, and to clamp the bit lines/inverted bit lines of columns that are not selected. During a precharge cycle, the precharge signals 440 (PCHGB 0 ) and 450 (PCHGB 1 ) are low, and PMOS devices 410 and 420 will pull bit line 110 (BL 0 ) and inverted bit line 120 (BLB 0 ), respectively, to Vdd.

During a read operation, responsive to a selection of column 0, precharge signal 440 (PCHGB 0 ) will go high. Since column 0 is selected, column 1 is not selected, and consequently precharge signal 450 (PCHGB 1 ) is low. Thus the precharge devices for column 1 (PMOS devices 460 and 470 ) are on and they will clamp bit line 130 (BL 1 ) and inverted bit line 140 (BLB 1 ) to Vdd, reducing interference to the adjacent columns, e.g., column 0.

PMOS devices 430 and 480 serve to equalize charge on a bit line and inverted bit line within a column. They have the same logic control sense as the precharge devices. When a column is not selected, e.g., the corresponding precharge signal is low, PMOS device 430 or 480 will turn on, forming a conductive path between a bit line and inverted bit line within a column. It is to be appreciated that an equalization device, e.g., PMOS device 430 or 480 , should never be on when its column is selected.

In summary, during read operations, precharge/clamping circuit 400 , including logic circuit 490 , operates to pull up all bit lines, e.g., bit line 130 , and inverted bit lines, e.g., inverted bit line 140 , in all columns that are not selected. During read operations, Precharge/clamping circuit 400 also operates to equalize charge between a bit line and inverted bit line within a column, for all columns that are not selected. When precharging, precharge/clamping circuit 400 operates to pre-charge bit lines and inverted bit lines, governed by a global precharge signal, e.g., “pchgbi.”

It is to be appreciated that pull up circuit 200 ( FIG. 2 ), cross coupling circuit 300 ( FIG. 3 ) and precharge/clamping circuit 400 ( FIG. 4 ) are compatible and complementary, and well suited to use together. For example, pull up circuit 200 ( FIG. 2 ) may reduce an effect of leakage current on bit lines and inverted bit lines. Cross coupling circuit 300 ( FIG. 3 ) may reduce interference among bit lines and inverted bit lines within a memory cell. Precharge/clamping circuit 400 (FIG. 4 ) may reduce interference among bit lines and inverted bit lines among different memory cells. In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a circuit may benefit by the addition of any two or all three such circuits, and such combinations are considered within the scope of the present invention.

Embodiments in accordance with the present invention are well suited to multi-level memory circuits, for example memory circuits that store more than two levels of charge and/or current that correspond to more multiple bits. For example, a memory circuit that is capable of storing and detecting, or reading, four different voltage levels in a single cell may store two bits of information in a single such cell. Due in part to the reductions in external interference facilitated by the present invention, the operation of such multi-level memory circuits may be enabled and/or improved.

Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide systems and methods for mitigating external influences on long signal lines. In addition, embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide systems and methods for mitigating external influences on long signal lines that mitigate interference originating within a column of long signal lines. Further, embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide systems and methods for mitigating external influences on long signal lines that mitigate interference originating from a nearby a column of long signal lines. Still further, embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide systems and methods for mitigating external influences on long signal lines that are compatible and complementary with existing systems and methods of integrated circuit design, manufacturing and test.

Various embodiments of the invention are thus described. While the present invention has been described in particular embodiments, it should be appreciated that the invention should not be construed as limited by such embodiments, but rather construed according to the following claims.