Patent ID: 6396728
Filing Date: 2002-05-28
Classification: G11C

Abstract:
A synchronous flash memory device, comprising:a plurality of memory banks containing non-volatile flash memory cells; and a command execution logic coupled to the plurality of memory banks for receiving at least a system clock input signal and for generating commands to control operations performed on the plurality of memory banks, wherein the commands are synchronized to a system clock; wherein each memory bank comprises: a first number of memory sectors each having a second number of memory blocks, each memory block having a third number of columns of non-volatile flash memory cells with each column of non-volatile flash memory cells coupled to a main bit line, and each memory block having a plurality of rows of non-volatile flash memory cells with each row of non-volatile flash memory cells coupled to a word line; a fourth number of sector bit lines in each memory sector, wherein each sector bit line extends to each memory block in its associated memory sector and wherein the fourth number is one-half the third number; a plurality of block pass transistors, wherein one block pass transistor is coupled between each main bit line and a sector bit line to selectively couple each main bit line to a sector bit line, wherein each main bit line is coupled to only one sector bit line through a block pass transistor and each sector bit line is coupled to two main bit lines in each memory block, each through a block pass transistor; a plurality of sense amplifiers in each memory sector, wherein each sense amplifier has inputs coupled to two sector bit lines in its associated memory sector, further wherein each sense amplifier has at least one output; and a plurality of global bit lines, wherein each sense amplifier output is coupled to only one global bit line through a selective coupling device and each global bit line is coupled to an output of more than one sense amplifier in each memory sector of its associated memory bank, each through a selective coupling device.