Patent ID: 6091655
Filing Date: 2000-07-18
Classification: G11C,H01L

Abstract:
A semiconductor memory comprising:an information memory cell comprising: a capacitor for storing electric charge as information stored in said information memory cell; and a transistor for performing operations of reading out said information, said information memory cell having a data retention time due to a leakage current and requiring a periodic refresh operation to maintain said information stored in said information memory cell;a word line coupled to said transistor for accessing said information memory cell; anda reference memory cell other than said information memory cell, said reference memory cell comprising: a reference cell capacitor for storing electric charge for producing a reference potential; and a reference cell transistor coupled to said word line or to a word line having the same address as said word line;wherein said reference memory cell stores reference information for use by a sense amplifier coupled to said information cell, said reference information being equivalent to said reference potential for reading out said information from said information memory cell.