Patent ID: 9373378
Filing Date: 2016-06-21
CPC Classification: G11C

Claim Text:
1. A semiconductor device, comprising: a selected sub word line driver having an input node connected to a selected main word line, an output node connected to a selected sub word line, a reference node supplied with a common reference voltage, and a power node; a first voltage switching circuit configured to selectively supply one of a first power voltage, a second power voltage, and the common reference voltage to the power node of the selected sub word line driver; wherein, in an active mode, the first voltage switching circuit supplies the first power voltage to the power node of the selected sub word line driver to pull the selected sub word line to a logic high level; wherein, in a precharge mode, the first voltage switching circuit supplies the common reference voltage to the power node of the selected sub word line driver and then supplies the second power voltage to the power node of the selected sub word line driver, thereby pulling the selected sub word line to a logic low level; and wherein a voltage level of the second power supply node is lower than a voltage level of the first power voltage and higher than a voltage level of the common reference voltage.