U.S. patent application number 14/830450 was filed with the patent office on 2015-12-10 for semiconductor memory device.
This patent application is currently assigned to SK hynix Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is SK hynix Inc.. Invention is credited to Byeong-Chan CHOI, Doo-Chan LEE, One-Gyun NA.
Application Number | 20150357051 14/830450 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 52776834 |
Filed Date | 2015-12-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150357051 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LEE; Doo-Chan ; et
al. |
December 10, 2015 |
SEMICONDUCTOR MEMORY DEVICE
Abstract
A semiconductor memory device includes: a memory cell array
region having a plurality of normal cell lines and a plurality of
repair cell lines; a plurality of normal cell line selection units
suitable for selecting the plurality of normal cell lines,
respectively, in response to a local address; a plurality of repair
cell line selection units suitable for selecting the plurality of
repair cell lines, respectively, in place of normal cell line
selection units corresponding to fail information of the local
address; a fuse driving unit comprising a fuse array in which the
fail information is programmed, suitable for disabling the normal
cell line selection units corresponding to the fail information,
and enabling normal cell line selection units unrelated to the fail
information; and an address determination unit suitable for
controlling the plurality of repair cell line selection units based
on the fail information.
Inventors: |
LEE; Doo-Chan; (Gyeonggi-do,
KR) ; CHOI; Byeong-Chan; (Gyeonggi-do, KR) ;
NA; One-Gyun; (Gyeonggi-do, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SK hynix Inc. |
Gyeonggi-do |
|
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
SK hynix Inc.
|
Family ID: |
52776834 |
Appl. No.: |
14/830450 |
Filed: |
August 19, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
14106831 |
Dec 15, 2013 |
9142325 |
|
|
14830450 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
365/96 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G11C 17/18 20130101;
G11C 17/16 20130101; G11C 29/808 20130101; G11C 29/785 20130101;
G11C 2029/4402 20130101; G11C 29/78 20130101; G11C 29/76 20130101;
G11C 29/765 20130101; G11C 29/04 20130101; G11C 11/408
20130101 |
International
Class: |
G11C 29/00 20060101
G11C029/00; G11C 17/16 20060101 G11C017/16; G11C 17/18 20060101
G11C017/18; G11C 11/408 20060101 G11C011/408 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 8, 2013 |
KR |
10-2013-0119722 |
Claims
1. A semiconductor memory device comprising: a memory cell array
region having a plurality of normal cell lines and a plurality of
repair cell lines; a plurality of normal cell line selection units
suitable for selecting the plurality of normal cell lines,
respectively, in response to a local address; a plurality of repair
cell line selection units suitable for selecting the plurality of
repair cell lines, respectively, in place of normal cell line
selection units corresponding to fail information of the local
address among the plurality of normal cell line selection units; a
fuse driving unit having a fuse array in which the fail information
is programmed, suitable for disabling the normal cell line
selection units corresponding to the fail information, and enabling
normal cell line selection units unrelated to the fail information;
and an address determination unit suitable for controlling the
plurality of repair cell line selection units based on the fail
information programmed in the fuse array.
2. The semiconductor memory device of claim 1, wherein the fuse
driving unit includes a control signal generator suitable for
generating a control signal for selectively controlling whether to
enable and disable the plurality of normal cell line selection
units based on the fail information programmed in the fuse
array.
3. The semiconductor memory device of claim 2, wherein the fuse
driving unit further includes a rupture operation controller
suitable for receiving a rupture signal and performing a rupture
operation on the fuse array.
4. The semiconductor memory device of claim 1, wherein the address
determination unit includes: an address latch suitable for
receiving the fail information programmed in the fuse array and
latching the fail information during a boot-up operation; an
address comparator suitable for comparing the latched fail
information with the local address; and a select signal generator
suitable for generating a repair select signal for controlling the
plurality of repair cell line selection units to select the
plurality of repair cell lines when the local address coincides
with the fail information.
5-19. (canceled)
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims priority of Korean Patent
Application No. 10-2013-0119722, filed on Oct. 8, 2013, which is
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field
[0003] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a
semiconductor design technology, and more particularly, to a
semiconductor memory device.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Generally, semiconductor memory devices such as a double
data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDR SDRAM),
have a large number of memory cells. Since the integration degree
has increased with the development of process technology, the
number of memory cells has further increased. When a fail occurs in
any one of the memory cells, a semiconductor memory device having
the memory cell must be discarded because the semiconductor memory
device cannot perform a desired operation. Recently with the
development of the process technology for semiconductor memory
devices, a defect occurs only in a small number of memory cells.
When a semiconductor memory device is discarded due to such a small
number of defects, it is very inefficient in terms of yield. Thus,
to solve such a concern, a semiconductor memory device additionally
includes redundancy memory cells as well as normal memory
cells.
[0006] A redundancy memory cell is provided to replace a normal
memory cell in which a fail occurred (hereinafter, referred to as a
"repair target memory cell"). Specifically, when the repair target
memory cell is accessed during a read/write operation, the
redundancy memory cell is accessed instead of the repair target
memory cell. Thus, when an address corresponding to the repair
target memory cell is inputted, the semiconductor memory device
performs an operation for accessing the redundancy memory cell
instead of the repair target memory cell hereinafter, referred to
as a "repair operation"). The repair operation may guarantee a
normal operation of the semiconductor memory device.
[0007] Generally, a redundancy circuit for the repair operation is
provided in each of a plurality of banks included in the
semiconductor memory device. The bank includes a cell mat having a
plurality of unit cells, a row control region having circuits for
controlling a row access, and a column control region having
circuits for controlling a column access. The redundancy circuit
may include a row redundancy circuit for storing a row address of a
unit cell having a defect and a column redundancy circuit for
storing a column address of a unit cell having a defect. The row
redundancy circuit and the column redundancy circuit are included
in the row control region and the column control region of the
bank, respectively.
[0008] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a conventional
semiconductor memory device for describing a repair operation of a
row control region.
[0009] Referring to FIG. 1, the semiconductor memory device 100
includes a normal mat 110, a repair mat 120, an address latch unit
130, a normal word line selection unit 140, a repair word line
selection unit 150, and a mat selection unit 160.
[0010] When an active command (not illustrated) is applied to the
semiconductor memory device 100, a row address XADD applied from
outside is compared with a fail address stored in the address latch
unit 130, and a first repair word line select signal XHIT0 is
generated when the row address XADD coincides with the fail
address. The address latch unit 130 may include a plurality of
latches 130_1 to 130_N that may compare the row address XADD with
the fail address and generate a plurality of repair word line
select signals. The address latch unit 130 may activate a first
control signal NXKILL when all of the repair word line select
signals are activated. At this tune, the activated first control
signal NXKILL is transmitted to the mat selection unit 160 to
deactivate a mat select signal MATENB. Thus, in response to the
deactivated mat select signal MATENB, the normal word line
selection unit 140 does not perform a word line decoding operation
for selecting a normal word line within the normal mat 110, and the
repair word line selection unit 150 performs a word line decoding
operation for selecting a repair word line within the repair mat
120. The first repair word line select signal XHIT0 is transmitted
to the mat selection unit 160 and the repair word line selection
unit 150. That is, after the first control signal NKKILL which is
used to determine whether the row address XADD applied from outside
is identical to the fail address or not is generated, the mat
selection unit 160 may operate in response to a bank select signal
BKSEL. Therefore, tRCD (Row to Column Access Strobe Delay "RAS to
CAS Delay") and tAA (Column Address Access Time) are delayed by a
delay time of the first control signal NXKILL and the bank select
signal BKSEL.
[0011] Although not illustrated, a column control region is
configured in a similar manner to the row control region. That is,
fail information F_DATA is stored in an address latch unit, and
then compared with a column address inputted from outside so as to
generate a plurality of signals, and the plurality of signals are
used to generate a second control signal. When the column address
coincides with the fail information F_DATA, the second control
signal does not operate a normal column line selection unit for
generating a column select signal. Similar to the row control
region, after the second control signal is generated, which is used
to determine whether or not the column address is identical to the
fail information F_DATA, the mat selection unit may operate in
response to a strobe signal. Thus, a delay time of the second
control signal and the strobe signal inevitably occurs.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a timing diagram describing a repair operation of
the conventional semiconductor memory device.
[0013] Referring to FIG. 2, when an address A applied after an
active command ACT is identical to a fail address, the first
control signal NXKILL is generated to determine whether or not a
repair operation is required. Then, a repair word line Red.WL is
activated in response to the bank select signal BKSEL to be applied
afterwards. When an address B applied after a read command RD or
write command WT is identical to a fail address, the second control
signal NYKILL is generated to determine whether or not a repair
operation is required. Then, a repair column select signal Red.YI
is activated in response to the strobe signal STROBE to be applied
afterwards. Thus, tRCD and tAA are delayed by a delay time t1
between the first control signal NXKILL and the bank select signal
BKSEL and a delay time t2 between the second control signal NYKILL
and the strobe signal STROBE.
SUMMARY
[0014] Various exemplary embodiments are directed to a
semiconductor memory device which advances an enable time of a
repair cell line for a repair operation using a fuse array, thereby
improving tRCD (RAS to CAS Delay) and tAA (a column address access
time).
[0015] In an exemplary embodiment, a semiconductor memory device
may include: a memory cell array region having a plurality of
normal cell lines and a plurality of repair cell lines; a plurality
of normal cell line selection units suitable for selecting the
plurality of normal cell lines, respectively, in response to a
local address; a plurality of repair cell line selection units
suitable for selecting the plurality of repair cell lines,
respectively, in place of normal cell line selection units
corresponding to fail information of the local address among the
plurality of normal cell line selection units; a fuse driving unit
having a fuse array in which the fail information is programmed,
suitable for disabling the normal cell line selection units
corresponding to the fail information, and enabling normal cell
line selection units unrelated to the fail information; and an
address determination unit suitable for controlling the plurality
of repair cell line selection units based on the fail information
programmed in the fuse array.
[0016] In an exemplary embodiment, a semiconductor memory device
may include: a plurality of normal mats determined to be selected
by a plurality of normal main word lines, respectively; a plurality
of repair mats determined to be selected by a plurality of repair
main word lines, respectively; a plurality of normal main word line
selection units suitable for selecting the plurality of normal main
word lines, respectively, in response to a local row address; a
plurality of repair main word line selection units suitable for
selecting the plurality of repair main word lines, respectively, in
place of normal main word line selection units corresponding to
fail information of the local row address among the plurality of
normal main word line selection units; a fuse driving unit
comprising a fuse array in which the fail information is
programmed, suitable for disabling the normal main word line
selection units corresponding to the fail information, and enabling
normal main word line selection units unrelated to the fail
information; and an address determination unit suitable for
controlling the plurality of repair main word line selection units
based on the fail information programmed in the fuse array.
[0017] In an exemplary embodiment, a semiconductor memory device
may include: a memory cell array region having a plurality of
normal column lines and a plurality of repair column lines; a
plurality of normal column line selection units suitable for
selecting the plurality of normal column lines, respectively, in
response to a local column address; a plurality of repair column
line selection units suitable for selecting the plurality of repair
column lines, respectively, in place of normal column line
selection units corresponding to fail information of the local
column address among the plurality of normal column line selection
units; a fuse driving unit comprising a fuse array in which the
fail information is programmed, suitable for disabling the normal
column line selection units corresponding to the fail information,
and enabling normal column line selection units unrelated to the
fail information; and an address determination unit suitable for
controlling the plurality of repair column line selection units
based on the fail information programmed in the fuse array.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a conventional
semiconductor memory device for describing a repair operation of a
row control region;
[0019] FIG. 2 is a timing diagram describing a repair operation of
the conventional semiconductor memory device;
[0020] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a semiconductor
memory device in accordance with a first embodiment of the present
invention;
[0021] FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a semiconductor
memory device in accordance with a second embodiment of the present
invention;
[0022] FIG. 5 is a detailed circuit diagram illustrating a
semiconductor memory device of FIG. 4;
[0023] FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a semiconductor
memory device in accordance with a third embodiment of the present
invention; and
[0024] FIG. 7 is a timing diagram describing a repair operation of
the semiconductor memory device shown in FIGS. 4 and 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0025] Various exemplary embodiments will be described below in
more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The
present invention may, however, be embodied in different forms and
should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth
herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this
disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the
scope of the present invention to those skilled in the art. The
drawings are not necessarily to scale and in some instances,
proportions may have been exaggerated in order to clearly
illustrate features of the embodiments. Throughout the disclosure,
reference numerals correspond directly to the like numbered parts
in the various figures and embodiments of the present invention. It
is also noted that in this specification, "connected/coupled"
refers to one component not only directly coupling another
component but also indirectly coupling another component through an
intermediate component. In addition, a singular form may include a
plural form as long as it is not specifically mentioned in a
sentence.
[0026] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a semiconductor
memory device in accordance with a first embodiment of the present
invention.
[0027] Referring to FIG. 3, the semiconductor memory device 300 in
accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention
includes a memory cell array region 310, a fuse driving unit 320, a
plurality of normal cell line selection units 330, a plurality of
repair cell line selection units 340, and an address determination
unit 350. The fuse driving unit 320 includes a rupture operation
controller 321, a fuse array 323, and a control signal generator
325. Furthermore, the address determination unit 350 includes an
address latch 351, an address comparator 353, and a select signal
generator 355.
[0028] The memory cell array region 310 includes a plurality of
normal cell lines and a plurality of repair cell lines. The
plurality of normal cell line selection units 330 select and drive
the plurality of normal cell lines within the memory cell array
region 310 in response to a local address ADD, and the plurality of
repair cell line selection units 340 select and drive the plurality
of repair cell lines. The plurality of repair cell line selection
units 340 select the plurality of repair cell lines, instead of
normal cell line selection units corresponding to fail information
F_DATA of the local address ADD among the plurality of normal cell
line selection units 330.
[0029] Furthermore, among the components of the fuse driving unit
320, the rupture operation controller 321 performs a rupture
operation on the fuse array 323 in response to a rupture signal RUP
applied when the semiconductor memory device 300 is booted. That
is, the fail information F_DATA is programmed into the fuse array
323 through the rupture operation of the rupture operation
controller 321. Then, as a boot-up signal BOOTUP is applied to the
fuse array 323, a boot-up operation is performed. As a result, the
fail information F_DATA programmed in the fuse array 323 is
transferred to the address latch 351. After the boot-up operation,
the control signal generator 325 generates a control signal
CTRL_SIG for selectively controlling whether to enable and disable
the plurality of cell line selection units 330 in response to the
fail information F_DATA programmed in the fuse array 323. At this
time, when the plurality of normal cell line selection units 330 is
enabled, it may indicate that an operation of selecting and driving
the normal cell lines is performed when the local address ADD is
applied. Furthermore, when the plurality of normal cell line
selection units 330 are disabled, it may indicate that an operation
of selecting and driving the normal cell lines is not performed
regardless of the local address ADD. Thus, among the plurality of
normal cell line selection units 330, normal cell line selection
units corresponding to the fail information F_DATA are disabled in
response to the control signal CTRL_SIG. Furthermore, normal cell
line selection units unrelated to the fail information F_DATA are
enabled in response to the control signal CTRL_SIG.
[0030] The address latch 351 of the address determination unit 350
receives the fail information F_DATA programmed in the fuse array
323 within the fuse driving unit 320 and latches the received fail
information F_DATA as latched fail information LF_DATA during the
boot-up operation. When a command is applied from a memory
controller (not illustrated), the address comparator 353 compares
the local address ADD inputted from outside with the latched fail
information LF_DATA, and outputs a comparison result COMP. Based on
the comparison result COMP, the select signal generator 355
generates a repair select signal HIT. The repair select signal HIT
is used to control the plurality of repair cell line selection
units 340 to select the repair cell lines, depending on whether or
not the local address ADD coincides with the latched fail
information LF_DATA.
[0031] Therefore, the fuse driving unit 320 may recognize which of
the normal cell line selection units 330 is selected based on the
fail information F_DATA programmed in the fuse array 323 during the
boot-up operation. That is, the control signal generator 325
generates the control signal CTRL_SIG having a low level to disable
normal cell line selection units selected by the fail information
F_DATA among the plurality of normal cell line selection units 330.
The control signal generator 325 generates the control signal
CTRL_SIG having a high level to enable normal cell line selection
units which are not selected by the fail information F_DATA among
the plurality of normal cell line selection units 330. For
reference, the low and high levels may be changed by a
designer.
[0032] Specifically, an operating method of the semiconductor
memory device 300 will be described as follows.
[0033] First, during a boot-up operation, fail information F_DATA
is transferred to the address latch 351 from the fuse array 323 in
which the fail information F_DATA is programmed. At this time,
while the fail information F_DATA is latched as latched fail
information LF_DATA in the address latch 351, the control signal
generator 325 outputs a control signal CTRL_SIG to enable and
disable the plurality of normal cell line selection units 330 in
response to the fail information F_DATA stored in the fuse array
323. Thus, among the plurality of normal cell line selection units
330, normal cell selection line units corresponding to the fail
information F_DATA stored in the fuse array 323 are disabled in
response to the control signal CTRL_SIG, and normal cell line
selection units unrelated to the fail information F_DATA are
enabled in response to the control signal CTRL_SIG.
[0034] Then, when a command (not illustrated) for data input/output
is applied from a memory controller (not illustrated), a local
address ADD is inputted from outside. The address comparator 353
compares the local address ADD with the latched fail information
LF_DATA latched in the address latch 351, and determines whether or
not the local address ADD is identical to the latched fail
information LF_DATA. When the local address ADD coincides with the
latched fail information LF_DATA, the select signal generator 355
generates a repair select signal HIT for controlling an operation
of selecting a plurality of repair cell lines. At this time, since
the normal cell line selection units corresponding to the fail
information F_DATA are disabled in response to the control signal
CTRL_SIG, the repair cell line selection units 340 are driven
immediately at the time at which the repair select signal HIT is
generated. When the local address ADD does not coincide with the
latched fail information LF_DATA, the repair select signal HIT is
deactivated. At this time, the normal cell line selection units
which do not correspond to the fail information F_DATA are enabled
in response to the control signal CTRL_SIG. Thus, the normal cell
line selection units 330 are driven to select the normal cell lines
in response to the local address ADD.
[0035] In the semiconductor memory device 300 in accordance with
the first embodiment of the present invention, the fuse driving
unit 320 having the fail information F_DATA programmed therein may
control the drive of the plurality of normal cell line selection
units 330. Thus, the semiconductor memory device 300 may determine
whether or not the local address ADD applied from outside after a
command is identical to a fail address, and may perform a repair
operation immediately when the repair select signal HIT is
activated. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the time required
for the repair operation.
[0036] FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a semiconductor
memory device in accordance with a second embodiment of the present
invention.
[0037] Referring to FIG. 4, the semiconductor memory device 400 in
accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention
includes a plurality of normal mats 410, a plurality of repair mats
420, a fuse driving unit 430, a plurality of normal main word line
selection units 440, a plurality of repair main word line selection
units 450, a mat selection unit 460, and an address determination
unit 470. The fuse driving unit 430 includes a rupture operation
controller 431, a fuse array 433, and a control signal generator
435. The address determination unit 470 includes an address latch
471, an address comparator 473 and a select signal generator
475.
[0038] The plurality of normal mats 410 are selected by a plurality
of normal main word lines, respectively, and the plurality of
repair mats 420 are selected by a plurality of repair main word
lines, respectively. For reference, although not illustrated, each
of the normal mats includes a normal main word line and a plurality
of sub word lines corresponding to the normal main word line. The
word lines within the normal mat are controlled by sub word line
driving units (not shown) arranged in the mat region. The sub word
line driving unit determines whether to enable or disable a sub
word line signal according to a normal main word line signal MWLB
outputted from the normal main word line selection unit 440 and a
sub word line driving signal. For example, when the sub word line
driving signal and the normal main word line signal MWLB are
enabled during an active operation, the sub word line signal is
enabled.
[0039] The plurality of normal main word line selection units 440
select the plurality of normal main word lines respectively, in
response to a local row address XADD. The local row address XADD is
an address for selecting normal main word lines corresponding to
the respective normal mats 410.
[0040] Furthermore, the plurality of repair main word line
selection units 450 select the plurality of repair main word lines,
instead of normal main word line selection units corresponding to
fail information F_DATA of the local row address XADD,
respectively, among the plurality of normal main word line
selection units 440.
[0041] Among the components of the fuse driving unit 430, the
rupture operation controller 431 performs a rupture operation on
the fuse array 433 in response to a rupture signal RUP that is
applied when the semiconductor memory device 400 is booted. Through
the rupture operation of the rupture operation controller 431, the
fail information F_DATA is programmed into the fuse array 433.
Then, as a boot-up signal BOOTUP is applied to the fuse array 433,
a boot-up operation is performed. As a result, the fail information
F_DATA programmed in the fuse array 433 is transferred to the
address latch 471. After the boot-up operation, the control signal
generator 435 generates a control signal CTRL_SIG for selectively
controlling whether to enable and disable the plurality of normal
main word line selection units 440 in response to the fail
information F_DATA programmed in the fuse array 433. As described
above, when the plurality of normal main word line selection units
440 are enabled, it may indicate that an operation of selecting and
driving normal main word lines is performed when the local row
address XADD is applied. Furthermore, when the plurality of normal
main word line selection units 440 are disabled, it may indicate
that an operation of selecting and driving normal main word lines
is not performed regardless of the local row address XADD. Thus,
among the plurality of normal main word line selection units 440,
normal main word line selection units corresponding to the fail
information F_DATA are disabled in response to the control signal
CTRL_SIG. Furthermore, normal main word line selection units
unrelated to the fail information F_DATA are enabled in response to
the control signal CTRL_SIG.
[0042] The address latch 471 of the address determination unit 470
receives the fail information F_DATA programmed in the fuse array
433 within the fuse driving unit 430 and latches the received
information as latched fail information LF_DATA during the boot-up
operation. When an active command (not illustrated) is applied, the
address comparator 473 compares a local row address XADD inputted
from outside with the latched fail information LF_DATA, and outputs
a comparison result COMP. Based on the comparison result COMP, the
select signal generator 475 generates a repair word line select
signal XHIT. The repair word line select signal XHIT is used to
control the plurality of repair main word line selection units 450
to select repair main word lines depending on whether or the local
row address XADD coincides with the latched fail information
LF_DATA.
[0043] As described above, the fuse driving unit 430 may recognize
which of the normal main word line selection units 440 is selected
by the fail information F_DATA programmed in the fuse array 433
during the boot-up operation. That is, the control signal generator
435 generates the control signal CTRL_SIG having a low level to
disable normal main word line selection units selected by the fail
information F_DATA among the plurality of normal main word line
selection units 440. The control signal generator 435 generates the
control signal CTRL_SIG having a high level to enable normal main
word line selection units which are not selected by the fail
information F_DATA, among the plurality of normal main word line
selection units 440. For reference, high and low levels may be
changed by a designer.
[0044] The mat selection unit 460 controls whether or not to drive
the normal main word line selection units 440 and the repair word
line word line selection units 450 in response to the repair word
line select signal XHIT, a bank select signal BKSEL, and the local
low address XADD. For this operation, the mat selection unit 460
generates a mat select signal MATENB in response to the bank select
signal BKSEL and the repair main word line select signal XHIT. The
mat select signal MATENB is a control signal for driving the normal
main word line selection units 440 and the repair main word line
selection units 450. When the mat select signal MATENB is
deactivated in response to the repair main word line select signal
XHIT, normal main word line selection units unrelated to the fail
information F_DATA are driven, and when the mat select signal
MATENB is activated, normal main word line selection units
corresponding to the fail information F_DATA are driven. For
reference, the number of address latches 471 may be set to
correspond to the numbers of normal mats 410 and repair mats 420.
Thus, a plurality of repair word line select signals may be
outputted. The plurality of repair word line select signals is
applied to the corresponding mat selection units 460,
respectively.
[0045] Specifically, an operation of the semiconductor memory
device 400 in accordance with the second embodiment of the present
invention will be described as follows.
[0046] First, during a boot-up operation, fail information F_DATA
is transferred to the address latch 471 from the fuse array 433 in
which the fail information F_DATA is programmed. At this time,
while the fail information F_DATA is latched as latched fail
information LF_DATA in the address latch 471, the control signal
generator 435 outputs a control signal CTRL_SIG to enable and
disable the plurality of normal main word line selection units 440
in response to the fail information F_DATA stored in the fuse array
433. Thus, among the plurality of normal main word line selection
units 440, normal main word line selection units corresponding to
the fail information F_DATA stored in the fuse array 433 are
disabled in response to the control signal CTRL_SIG, and normal
main word line selection units unrelated to the fail information
F_DATA are enabled in response to the control signal CTRL_SIG.
[0047] Then, an active command (not illustrated) for data
input/output is applied from a memory controller (not illustrated)
and a local row address XADD is inputted from outside. The address
comparator 473 compares the local low address XADD with the latched
fail information LF_DATA latched in the address latch 471, and
determines whether or not the local row address XADD is identical
to the latched fail information LF_DATA. When the local row address
XADD does not coincide with the latched fail information LF_DATA,
the repair word line select signal XHIT is deactivated. Then, the
mat select signal MATENB is transferred to the normal main word
line selection units 440 and the repair main word line selection
units 450 in response to a bank select signal BKSEL. The repair
main word line selection units 450 are not driven since the repair
word line select signal XHIT is deactivated, and the normal main
word line selection units 440 are enabled by the control signal
CTRL_SIG outputted from the fuse driving unit 430. Thus, the normal
main word line selection units 440 are driven in response to the
mat select signal MATENB, and the normal main word line signal MWLB
is activated.
[0048] When the local row address XADD coincides with the latched
fail information LF_DATA, the repair main word line selection units
450 are driven by the repair word line select signal XHIT since the
normal main word line selection units 440 corresponding to the fail
information F_DATA are disabled. Thus, the repair main word line
selection units 450 are driven, and a repair main word line signal
RMWLB is activated.
[0049] As described above, the semiconductor memory device 400
includes a plurality of sub word lines corresponding to one main
word line in each of the normal mats 410. In the semiconductor
memory device 400 in accordance with the second embodiment of the
present invention, a repair operation is performed on a repair mat
including sub word lines in which a fail occurred, when the fail
occurred in a part of the plurality of sub word lines provided in
one normal mat 410.
[0050] Referring to FIG. 5 which is a detailed circuit diagram of
the semiconductor memory device 400, the operation of the
semiconductor memory device 400 will be described.
[0051] FIG. 5 is a detailed circuit diagram illustrating a
semiconductor memory device of FIG. 4.
[0052] Referring to FIG. 5, the semiconductor memory device 500
includes a fuse driving unit 530, a normal main word line selection
unit 540, a repair main word line selection unit 550, a mat
selection unit 560, and an address determination unit 570. The fuse
driving unit 530 includes a rupture operation controller 531, a
fuse array 533, and a control signal generator 535. FIG. 5
illustrates detailed circuits of the normal main word line
selection unit 540, the repair main word line selection unit 550,
and the mat selection unit 560. The normal main word line selection
unit 540 includes a normal current sink 541, a normal sink
controller 543, and a normal current source 545. The repair main
cord line selection unit 550 includes a repair current sink 551, a
repair sink controller 553, and a repair current source 555.
[0053] Among the components of the fuse driving unit 530, the
rupture operation controller 531 performs a rupture operation on
the fuse array 533 in response to a rupture signal RUP applied when
the semiconductor memory device 500 is booted. That is, fail
information F_DATA is programmed into the fuse array 533 through
the rupture operation of the rupture operation controller 531.
Then, as a boot-up signal BOOTUP is applied to the fuse array 533,
a boot-up operation is performed. As a result, the fail information
F_DATA programmed in the fuse array 533 is transferred to the
address determination unit 570. Among the components of the fuse
driving unit 530, the control signal generator 535 generates a
control signal CTRL_SIG based on the fail information F_DATA
programmed in the fuse array 533. The control signal CTRL_SIG is
applied to the normal main word line selection unit 540. A local
row address XADD applied from outside after an active command (not
illustrated) is applied to the address determination unit 570. The
address determination unit 570 compares the local row address XADD
with the fail information F_DATA so as to generate a repair word
line select signal XHIT. The repair word line select signal XHIT is
applied to the mat selection unit 560 and the repair main word line
selection unit 550.
[0054] The mat selection unit 560 receives local row addresses
LAX9A, LAXBC, and LAXDE, the bank select signal BKSEL, and the
repair word line select signal XHIT, and generates the mat select
signal MATENB. The local row addresses LAX9A, LAXBC, and LAXDE are
addresses obtained by decoding mat information for selecting a mat.
Thus, the mat selection unit 560 outputs the mat select signal
MATENB having a high or low logic level in response to the repair
word line select signal XHIT outputted from the address
determination unit 570.
[0055] When an active command (not illustrated) is applied and the
local row address XADD inputted from outside is not identical to
the fail information F_DATA, the repair word line select signal
XHIT having a low logic level is outputted to the mat selection
unit 560 and the repair main word line selection unit 550.
Regardless of logic values of the local row addresses LAX9A, LAXBC,
and LAXDE having mat information for selecting a mat from the local
row address XADD, and the bank select signal BKSEL generated in a
predetermined time after the active command is applied, the mat
selection unit 560 outputs the mat select signal MATENB having a
high logic level in response to the repair word line select signal
XHIT having a low logic level. The mat select signal MATENB having
a high logic level is applied to the normal main word line
selection unit 540 and the repair main word line selection unit
550. At this time, the mat select signal MATENB is applied to a
corresponding mat according to information decoded in the local row
addresses LAX9A, LAXBC, and LAXDE having mat information among the
plurality of normal main word line selection units and the
plurality of repair main word line selection units.
[0056] Hereinafter, configurations of the normal main word line
selection unit 540 and the repair main word line selection unit 550
will be described.
[0057] The normal main word line selection unit 540 and the repair
main word line selection unit 550 are configured in a current
mirror type.
[0058] The normal current sink 541 within the normal main word line
selection unit 540 performs a current sinking operation for
selecting a corresponding normal main word line in response to the
local row address XADD, between the normal main word line, i.e., a
normal main word line signal (MWLB) output node, and a ground
voltage VSS. Furthermore, the normal sink controller 543 receives
the control signal CTRL_SIG and controls the sinking operation of
the normal current sink 541. The normal current source 545 supplies
a current to the normal current sink 541 and the normal sink
controller 543 in response to the mat select signal MATENB, between
a power supply voltage VDD and the normal main word line.
[0059] The repair current sink 551 within the repair main word line
selection unit 550 receives the power supply voltage VDD and
performs a current sinking operation, between a repair main word
line, i.e., a repair main word line signal (RMWLB) output node, and
the ground voltage VSS. Furthermore, the repair sink controller 533
controls the sinking operation of the repair current sink
controller 551 in response to the repair word line select signal
XHIT. Furthermore, the repair current source 555 supplies a current
to the repair current sink 551 and the repair sink controller 553
in response to the mat select signal MATENB, between the power
supply voltage VDD and the repair main word line.
[0060] Specifically, the normal sink controller 543 of the normal
main word line selection unit 540 includes a first n-channel
metal-oxide semiconductor "NMOS" transistor MN1 having a gate
receiving the control signal CTRL_SIG outputted from the fuse
driving unit 530. The normal current sink 541 includes a second
NMOS transistor MN2 connected to the first NMOS transistor MN1 and
having a gate receiving a specific local low address LAX34, a third
NMOS transistor MN3 having a gate receiving a specific local row
address LAX56, and a fourth NMOS transistor MN4 having a gate
receiving a specific local row address LAX78. The normal current
source 545 includes fifth and sixth NMOS transistors MN5 and MN6,
each having a gate receiving the mat select signal MATENB, a first
p-type metal-oxide semiconductor "PMOS" transistor MP1 having a
source-drain path between the power supply voltage VDD and a first
node N1, and a second PMOS transistor MP2 having a source-drain
path between the power supply voltage VDD and a second node N2. At
this time, the fifth NMOS transistor MN5 has a drain-source path
between the power supply voltage VDD and a common node of the
second and third NMOS transistors MN2 and MN3. Furthermore, a
source of the sixth NMOS transistor MN6 and a drain of the first
NMOS transistor MN1 are connected to the first node N1. The first
PMOS transistor MP1 has a gate connected to the second node N2, and
the second PMOS transistor MP2 has a gate connected to the first
node N1.
[0061] The normal main word line selection unit 540 further
includes a seventh NMOS transistor MN7 having a drain-source path
between the second node N2 and the ground voltage VSS and a gate
receiving the mat select signal MATENB, and an eighth NMOS
transistor MN8 having a drain-source path between the second node
N2 and the ground voltage VSS and a gate receiving an output signal
passing through an inverter from the second node N2. For reference,
the local row addresses LAX34, LAX56, and LAX78 are addresses
obtained by decoding information for driving word lines within a
mat from the local row address XADD applied from outside.
[0062] The repair main word line selection unit 550 is configured
in a current mirror type, like the normal main word line selection
unit 540.
[0063] Specifically, the repair current sink 551 within the repair
main word line selection unit 550 includes a ninth NMOS transistor
MN9 having a gate receiving the power supply voltage VDD, and a
tenth NMOS transistor MN10 having a gate receiving the power supply
voltage VDD. Furthermore, the repair sink controller 553 includes
an 11th NMOS transistor MN11 having a gate receiving the repair
word line select signal XHIT outputted from the address
determination unit 570. The repair current source 555 includes 12th
and 13th NMOS transistors MN12 and MN13 having a gate receiving the
mat select signal MATENB, a third PMOS transistor MP3 having a
source-drain path between the power supply voltage VDD and a third
node N3, and a fourth PMOS transistor MP4 having a source-drain
path between the power supply voltage VDD and a fourth node N4. At
this time, the 12th NMOS transistor has a drain-source path between
the power supply voltage VDD and a common node of the ninth and
tenth NMOS transistors MN9 and MN10. Furthermore a source of the
13th NMOS transistor MN13 and a drain of the ninth NMOS transistor
MN9 are connected to the third node N3. The third PMOS transistor
MP3 has a gate connected to the fourth node N4, and the fourth PMOS
transistor MP4 has a gate connected to the third node N3.
[0064] The repair main word line selection unit 550 further
includes a 14th NMOS transistor MN14 having a drain-source path
between the fourth node N4 and the ground voltage VSS and a gate
receiving the mat select signal MATENB, and a 15th NMOS transistor
MN15 having a drain-source path between the fourth node N4 and the
ground voltage VSS and a gate receiving an output signal passing
through an inverter from the fourth node N4.
[0065] The sinking timing of the repair current sink 551 is
synchronized with the sinking timing of the normal current sink
541.
[0066] The control signal generator 535 generates the control
signal CTRL_SIG for controlling normal main word line selection
units corresponding to the fail information F_DATA programmed in
the fuse array 533. That is, the control signal CTRL_SIG having a
low logic level is outputted to normal main word line selection
units corresponding to the fail information F_DATA, and the control
signal CTRL_SIG having a high logic level is outputted to the other
normal main word line selection units. For reference, the rupture
operation controller 531 programs the fail information F_DATA into
the fuse array 533 based on local addresses LAX34, LAX56, LAX78,
LAX9A, LAXBC, and LAXDE obtained by decoding an existing row
address. Thus, the fuse array 533 does not need to be provided for
each mat, and an additional area is not required. That is, the
existing address decoding logic of the normal main word line
selection unit 540 may be utilized to rupture the fail information
F_DATA in the fuse array 533.
[0067] Hereinafter, an operation of the semiconductor memory device
500 will be described.
[0068] First, fail information F_DATA is ruptured and programmed
into the fuse array 533 of the fuse driving unit 530.
[0069] Among the components of the fuse driving unit 530, the
rupture operation controller 531 performs a rupture operation on
the fuse array 533 in response to a rupture signal RUP applied when
the semiconductor memory device 500 is booted. That is, through the
rupture operation of the rupture operation controller 531, the fail
information F_DATA is programmed into the fuse array 533. Then, as
a boot-up signal BOOTUP is applied to the fuse array 533, a boot-up
operation is performed. As a result, the fail information F_DATA
programmed in the fuse array 533 is transferred to the address
determination unit 570.
[0070] The fuse driving unit 530 generates a control signal
CTRL_SIG according to the fail information F_DATA programmed in the
fuse array 533. The generated control signal CTRL_SIG is applied to
the plurality of normal main word line selection units 540. Each of
normal main word line selection units 540 having the fail
information F_DATA receives the control signal CTRL_SIG having a
low level. As the first NMOS transistor MN1 of the normal main word
line selection unit 540 is deactivated in response to the control
signal CTRL_SIG having a low level, a current path between the
first node N1 and the ground voltage VSS is blocked.
[0071] In response to the control signal CTRL_SIG having a high
level, the first NMOS transistor MN1 of the normal main word line
selection unit 540 may be enabled to form a current path between
the first node N1 and the ground voltage VSS. As such, the normal
main word line selection unit 540 to which the control signal
CTRL_SIG having a low level is applied is disabled, and the normal
main word line selection unit 540 to which the control signal
CTRL_SIG having a high level is applied is enabled and the normal
main word line signal MWLB having a low level is outputted.
[0072] At this time, the local row address XADD is applied from
outside and the address determination unit 570 determines whether
or not the local row address XADD is identical to the fail
information F_DATA.
[0073] When the address XADD applied from outside is identical to
the fail information F_DATA, the address determination unit 570
activates the repair word line select signal XHIT having a high
level. The activated repair word line select signal XHIT is applied
to the mat selection unit 560 and the repair main word line
selection unit 550. The 11th NMOS transistor MN11 of the repair
main word line selection unit 550 may be enabled in response to the
repair word line select signal XHIT having a high level, and then
form a current path between the repair current sink 551 and the
ground voltage VSS. The mat selection unit 560 outputs the mat
select signal MATENB having a low level to the normal main word
line selection unit 540 and the repair main word line selection
unit 550 in response to the repair word line select signal XHIT
having a high level and the bank select signal BKSEL. Since the
fifth and sixth NMOS transistors MN5 and MN6 and the 12th and 13th
NMOS transistors MN12 and MN13 are disabled, the current path
between the power supply voltage VDD and the first node N1 within
the normal main word line selection unit 540 is blocked, and the
current path between the power supply voltage VDD and the third
node N3 within the repair main word line selection unit 550 is
blocked. Therefore, a current path between the third node N3 and
the ground voltage VSS is formed in response to the repair word
line select signal XHIT having a high level, and the repair main
word line signal RMWLB having a low level is outputted.
[0074] The normal main word line selection unit 540 having the fail
information F_DATA is disabled in response to the control signal
CTRL_SIG having a low level. Thus, when the applied local row
address XADD is identical to the fail information F_DATA, the
repair main word line signal RMWLB is outputted to select a
corresponding repair main word line in response to the repair word
line select signal XHIT.
[0075] The semiconductor memory device in accordance with the
second embodiment of the present invention compares the local row
address XADD with the fail information F_DATA, and generates the
repair word line select signal XHIT to determine redundancy. At
this time, since a normal main word line selection unit
corresponding to the fail information F_DATA does not operate, the
semiconductor memory device enables a repair main word line using
the repair word line select signal XHIT. Since a delay time does
not occur until a repair operation is performed, tRCD and tAA in
the semiconductor memory device may be improved.
[0076] FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a semiconductor
memory device in accordance with a third embodiment of the present
invention.
[0077] Referring to FIG. 6, the semiconductor memory device 600
includes a memory cell array region 610, a fuse driving unit 620, a
plurality of normal column line selection units 630, a plurality of
repair column line selection units 640, an address determination
unit 650, and a strobe signal generation unit 660. The fuse driving
unit 620 includes a rupture operation controller 621, a fuse array
623, and a control signal generator 625. Furthermore, the address
determination unit 650 includes an address latch 651, an address
comparator 653, and a select signal generator 655.
[0078] The third embodiment of the present invention relates to a
column region which controls a bit line to load data into a bit
line when a read or write command is applied from a memory
controller (not shown).
[0079] The memory cell array region 610 includes a plurality normal
column lines and a plurality of repair column lines.
[0080] The plurality of normal column line selection units 630
select the plurality of normal column lines respectively, within
the memory cell array region 610 in response to a local column
address YADD. The plurality of repair column line selection units
640 select the plurality of repair column lines, respectively,
instead of normal column line selection units corresponding to fail
information F_DATA of the local column address YADD among the
plurality of normal column line selection units 630.
[0081] Furthermore, among the components of the fuse driving unit
620, the rupture operation controller 621 performs a rupture
operation on the fuse array 623 in response to a rupture signal RUP
applied when the semiconductor memory device 600 is booted. That
is, through the rupture operation of the rupture operation
controller 621, the fail information F_DATA is programmed into the
fuse array 623. Then, as a boot-up signal BOOTUP is applied to the
fuse array 623, a boot-up operation is performed. As a result, the
fail information F_DATA programmed in the fuse array 623 is
transferred to the address latch 651. After the boot-up operation,
the control signal generator 625 generates a control signal
CTRL_SIG to selectively control whether to enable and disable the
plurality of column line selection units 630 in response to the
fail information F_DATA programmed in the fuse array 623. At this
time, when the plurality of normal column line selection units 630
are enabled, it may indicate that an operation of outputting a
normal column select signal YI for selecting normal column lines
corresponding to the local column address YADD is performed.
Furthermore, when the plurality of normal column line selection
units 630 are disabled, it may indicate that the operation of
outputting the normal column select signal YI is not performed.
Thus, normal column line selection units corresponding to the fail
information F_DATA among the plurality of normal column line
selection units 630 are disabled in response to the control signal
CTRL_SIG. Furthermore, normal column line selection units unrelated
to the fail information F_DATA are enabled in response to the
control signal CTRL_SIG.
[0082] The address latch 651 of the address determination unit 650
receives the fail information F_DATA programmed in the fuse array
623 within the fuse driving unit 620, and latches the fail
information F_DATA as latched fail information LF_DATA during the
boot-up operation. When a read or write command is applied, the
address comparator 653 compares the local column address YADD
inputted from outside with the latched fail information LF_DATA,
and outputs a comparison result COMP. Based on the comparison
result COMP, the select signal generator 655 generates a repair
column line select signal YHIT. The repair column line select
signal YHIT is used to control the plurality of repair column line
selection units 640 to select repair column lines when the local
row address YADD coincides with the latched fail information
LF_DATA. The repair column line select signal YHIT is applied to
the normal column line selection units 630 and the repair column
line selection units 640.
[0083] As such, the fuse driving unit 620 may recognize which of
the normal column line selection units 630 is selected based on the
fail information F_DATA programmed in the fuse array 623 during the
boot-up operation. That is, the control signal generator 625
generates the control signal CTRL_SIG having a low level to disable
normal column line selection units selected by the fail information
F_DATA among the plurality of normal column line selection units
630. The control signal generator 625 generates the control signal
CTRL_SIG having a high level to enable normal column line selection
units which are not selected by the fail information F_DATA among
the plurality of normal column line selection units 630. For
reference, the low and high levels may be changed by a
designer.
[0084] The strobe signal generation unit 660 generates a strobe
signal STROBE after a read or write command is applied, and selects
whether to enable and disable the normal column line selection
units 630 and the repair column line selection units 640.
Furthermore, since the normal column selection signal YI may
control a plurality of banks (not illustrated) included in the
memory cell array region 610, column lines of a corresponding bank
are selected through the strobe signal STROBE and a bank address
(not illustrated).
[0085] Specifically, an operation of the semiconductor memory
device 600 will be described as follows.
[0086] First, during a boot-up operation, fail information F_DATA
is transferred to the address latch 651 from the fuse array 623 in
which the fail information F_DATA is programmed. At this time,
while the fail information F_DATA is latched as latched fail
information LF_DATA in the address latch 651, the control signal
generator 615 outputs a control signal CTRL_SIG to enable and
disable the plurality of normal column line selection units 630 in
response to the fail information F_DATA stored in the fuse array
623. Thus, among the plurality of normal column line selection
units 630, normal column line selection units corresponding to the
fail information F_DATA stored in the fuse array 623 are disabled
in response to the control signal CTRL_SIG, and the other normal
column line selection units unrelated to the fail information
F_DATA are enabled by the control signal CTRL_SIG.
[0087] Then, when a read or write command (not illustrated) for
data input/output is applied from a memory controller (not
illustrated), the local column address YADD is inputted from
outside. The address comparator 653 compares the local column
address YADD to the latched fail information LF_DATA latched in the
address latch 651, and determines whether or not the local column
address is identical to a fail address. When the local column
address YADD coincides with the latched fail information LF_DATA,
the select signal generator 655 generates a repair column select
signal YHIT to control the plurality of repair column line
selection units 640. At this time, since the normal column line
selection units corresponding to the fail information F_DATA are
disabled in response to the control signal CTRL_SIG the repair
column line selection units 640 are driven immediately at the time
at which the repair column select signal YHIT is generated. When
the local column address YADD does not coincide with the fail
information, the repair column select signal YHIT is deactivated.
At this time, the normal column line selection units which do not
correspond to the fail information F_DATA are enabled in response
to the control signal CTRL_SIG. Thus, the normal column line
selection units are driven to select normal column lines
corresponding to the local column address YADD.
[0088] FIG. 7 is a timing diagram describing a repair operation of
the semiconductor memory devices shown in FIGS. 4 and 6.
[0089] Referring to FIG. 7, when an address A applied after an
active command ACT, is identical to a fail address, a repair main
word line Red.WL is enabled by the bank select signal BKSEL which
is applied in a predetermined time after the active command ACT is
applied. Furthermore, when an address B applied after a read or
write command RD and WT is identical to a fail address, a repair
column select signal Red.YI is activated by the strobe signal
STROBE to be applied afterwards. Thus, the semiconductor memory
devices in accordance with the exemplary embodiments of the present
invention do not require first and second control signals NXKILL
and NYKILL for determining whether to perform a repair operation in
the conventional semiconductor device. The repair main word line
signal Red.WL and the repair column select signal Red YI are not
delayed by a predetermined time, but the repair operation may be
performed immediately. Thus, it is possible to reduce the time
required for the repair operation.
[0090] The semiconductor memory device in accordance with the
exemplary embodiments of the present invention may control the
plurality of normal cell line selection units for selecting normal
cell lines using the fuse array having the fail information
programmed therein. Thus, whether or not the local address applied
from outside after a command is applied from the memory controller
is identical to a fail address may be determined, and the repair
operation is performed immediately when the repair select signal is
activated. Therefore, it is possible to improve the time required
for the repair time.
[0091] Furthermore, the positions and types of the logic gates and
transistors included in the above-described embodiments may be set
differently according to the polarity of input signals.
[0092] Although various embodiments have been described for
illustrative purposes, it will be apparent to those skilled in the
art that various changes and modifications may be made without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in
the following claims.
* * * * *