Data processing circuit and semiconductor memory divided into segments

A data processing circuit includes a primary transmission path, multiple secondary transmission paths and multiple storage arrays which share the primary transmission path. Each storage array includes at least two sub-arrays, and the secondary transmission path is formed between each sub-array and the primary transmission path, and the sub-array transmits a signal through the secondary transmission path and the primary transmission path.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202111638471.1 filed on Dec. 29, 2021, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

With the continuous development of semiconductor technology, the demand for signal quality of memory devices is getting higher and higher. In a Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), a large number of storage arrays are arranged to store data, a signal is transmitted from the outside to the storage array through a set data transmission path, or a signal is transmitted from the storage array to the outside through the set data transmission path. However, in the data transmission process, there is a problem that a data signal transmitted early conflicts with a data signal transmitted later, which adversely affects a signal margin and other performance.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates to the technical field of integrated circuits, and in particular to a data processing circuit and a semiconductor memory.

The present disclosure provides a data processing circuit and a semiconductor memory, which can improve signal transmission quality and improve a signal margin.

A technical solution of the present disclosure is implemented as follows.

A first aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a data processing circuit. The data processing circuit includes a primary transmission path, multiple secondary transmission paths and multiple storage arrays. The multiple storage arrays share the primary transmission path. Each storage array includes at least two sub-arrays, and the secondary transmission path is formed between each sub-array and the primary transmission path, and the sub-array transmits a signal through the secondary transmission path corresponding to the sub-array and the primary transmission path.

A second aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a semiconductor memory, which may include the data processing circuit.

The data processing circuit includes a primary transmission path, multiple secondary transmission paths and multiple storage arrays. The multiple storage arrays share the primary transmission path. Each storage array includes at least two sub-arrays, and the secondary transmission path is formed between each sub-array and the primary transmission path, and the sub-array transmits a signal through the secondary transmission path corresponding to the sub-array and the primary transmission path.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention are clearly and completely described below in combination with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. It is understandable that the specific embodiments described here are used only to explain the present disclosure and not to limit it. It is to be noted that for ease of description, only those parts relevant to the present disclosure are shown in the accompanying drawings.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms in the specification have the same meaning as those skilled in the art, belonging to the present disclosure, usually understand. Terms used in the specification are only used for describing the purpose of the embodiments of the present disclosure, but not intended to limit the present disclosure.

“Some embodiments” involved in the following descriptions describes a subset of all possible embodiments. However, it can be understood that “some embodiments” may be the same subset or different subsets of all the possible embodiments, and may be combined without conflicts.

It should be pointed out that term “first/second/third” involved in the embodiments of the present disclosure is only used for distinguishing similar objects and does not represent a specific sequence of the objects. Understandably, “first/second/third” may be interchanged to specific sequences or orders if permitted, to implement the embodiments of the present disclosure described herein in sequences except the illustrated or described sequence herein.

In addition, in the embodiments of the present disclosure, the concepts of “row” and “column” are relative and do not form a limit to the embodiments of the present disclosure. In other words, row and column can be switched from each other in the subsequent description of matrix.

Referring toFIG.1which a schematic diagram of an application scenario of a signal transmission path, the application scenario includes two parts arranged symmetrically. The first part includes a first data port for receiving a lower-byte signal (denoted as DQ<7:0>), a storage array B0, a storage array B1, a storage array B2, a storage array B3and a signal transmission path. The second part includes a second data port for receiving an upper-byte signal (denoted as DQ<15:8>), a storage array B4, a storage array B5, a storage array B6, a storage array B7and a signal transmission path. Here, each storage array includes two sub-arrays, that is, a first sub-array and a second sub-array. The signal transmission path includes a first transmission module (for example, the first transmission module111-1or the first transmission module111-2inFIG.1), a second transmission module (for example, the second transmission module112-1or the first transmission module112-2inFIG.1), a third transmission module (for example, the third transmission module113-1or the third transmission module113-2inFIG.1), a fourth transmission module114, a first data bus (for example, the first data bus121-1or the second data bus121-2inFIG.1), a second data bus (for example, the second data bus122-1or the second data bus122-2inFIG.1), a third data bus (for example, the third data bus123-1or the third data bus123-2inFIG.1), and a fourth data bus (for example, the fourth data bus124-1or the fourth data bus124-2inFIG.1). InFIG.1, the first part and the second part arranged symmetrically share a fourth transmission module114, and the third data bus123-1in the first part and the third data bus123-2in the second part are both connected to the fourth transmission module114. In addition, the first transmission module is configured to realize connection and control of two second data buses in the part, the second transmission module is configured to realize connection and control of two third data buses in the part, and the third transmission module is configured to realize connection and control of the second data bus and the third data bus in the part. It is to be understood that some duplicate data buses and duplicate control modules inFIG.1are not shown with labels, but may be understood by the filled patterns and specific shapes inFIG.1.

A signal to be transmitted may be a 8-byte signal (which is received from only one data port) or a 16-byte signal (which is received from both the first data port and the second data port). Exemplarily, according to industry standards, a 8-byte data signal DQ<7:0> may be transmitted from the outside to the first sub-array or the second sub-array, or transmitted from the first sub-array or the second sub-array to the outside. For a 16-byte data signal DQ<15:0>, the lower-byte signal DQ<7:0> is transmitted from the outside to the first sub-array of a storage array, and the upper-byte signal DQ<15:8> is transmitted from the outside to the second sub-array of the storage array. Alternatively, the lower-byte signal DQ<7:0> is transmitted from the first sub-array of a storage array to the outside, and the upper-byte signal DQ<15:8> is transmitted from the second sub-array of the storage array to the outside.

In the first scenario, assuming that the 16-byte data signal (denoted as DQ<15:0>) is transmitted from the outside to the storage array B2. As shown inFIG.2A, the transmission path of the lower-byte signal DQ<7:0> includes the fourth data bus124-1, the second data bus122-1, the first data bus121-1and the first sub-array in the storage array B2, and the transmission path of the upper-byte signal DQ<15:8> includes the fourth data bus124-2, the third data bus123-2, the fourth transmission module114, the third data bus123-1, the first data bus121-1and the second sub-array in the storage array B2. As shown inFIG.2A, the transmission path of the lower-byte signal DQ<7:0> is apparently shorter than that of the high-level signal DQ<15:8>.

In the second scenario, assuming that the 16-byte data signal (denoted as DQ<15:0>) is transmitted from the outside to the storage array B5. As shown inFIG.2B, the transmission path of the lower-byte signal DQ<7:0> includes the fourth data bus124-1, the third data bus123-1, the fourth transmission module114, the third data bus123-2, the first data bus121-2and the first sub-array in the storage array B5, and the transmission path of the upper-byte signal DQ<15:8> includes the fourth data bus124-2, the second data bus122-2, the first data bus121-2and the second sub-array in the storage array B5. As shown inFIG.2B, the transmission path of the lower-byte signal DQ<7:0> is apparently longer than that of the high-level signal DQ<15:8>.

With reference toFIG.2AandFIG.2B, assuming that the signal transmission path experiences the first scenario and then the second scenario, it is needed to receive the upper-byte signal DQ<15:8> of the first signal and the lower-byte signal DQ<7:0> of the second signal successively at any position at one side of the fourth transmission module114on the third data bus123-1. However, taking the second part on the right ofFIG.2AandFIG.2Bas an example, the upper-byte signal DQ<15:8> of the first signal received by the third data bus123-1of this part is transmitted through a long path, while the lower-byte signal DQ<7:0> of the second data signal is transmitted through a short path. Therefore, the upper-byte signal DQ<15:8> of the first signal will be truncated by the lower-byte signal DQ<7:0> of the second data signal, affecting the signal margin of the first data signal.

The defect of signal truncation occurring in a data writing operation is described above, and a similar defect also occurs in a data reading operation, which can be understood by reference with that in the data writing operation and will not be repeated here. It is to be noted that in a data transmission process, a certain interval should be formed between different data signals that are transmitted adjacently, to avoid the influence of the later data transmission on the data transmitted early. In other words, in order to ensure the validity of the data signal transmitted earlier, different data signals transmitted adjacently are controlled to have a certain time interval between them, so as to ensure that the earlier data sampled at any time of a transmission period of the data signal transmitted early is valid data. If the earlier data signal is affected by the later data signal, an error may occur in the latter part of the transmission period of the earlier data signal. If the earlier data signal is transmitted into a target structure in the latter part of the transmission period, the target structure may actually receive the prior data signal with an error. The above mentioned influence of the data signal transmitted later on the data signal transmitted earlier is called truncation.

In short, for the current semiconductor memory, a sub-array may transmit signals to the outside through multiple paths with different lengths, which causes the previous signal to be truncated by the next signal, affecting the signal margin.

Based on this, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a data processing circuit. The data processing circuit includes a primary transmission path, multiple secondary transmission paths and multiple storage arrays. The multiple storage arrays share the primary transmission path. Each storage array includes at least two sub-arrays, and the secondary transmission path is formed between each sub-array and the primary transmission path. The sub-array transmits a signal through the secondary transmission path corresponding to the sub-array and the primary transmission path. In this way, the time at which a signal reaches a location in the transmission path is fixed, which can improve the problem that the signal is truncated during transmission and improve the signal margin.

The embodiments of the present disclosure are elaborated below in combination with the accompanying drawings.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure,FIG.3is a schematic structural diagram of a data processing circuit20provided by the embodiment of the present disclosure. As illustrated inFIG.3, the data processing circuit20may include a primary transmission path21, multiple secondary transmission paths (such as the secondary transmission path22-1a, the secondary transmission path22-1b, the secondary transmission path22-2a, the secondary transmission path22-2binFIG.3), and multiple storage arrays (such as the storage array23-1, the storage array23-2inFIG.3).

Each storage array includes at least two sub-arrays. For example, the storage array23-1inFIG.3may include at least the sub-array231-1aand the sub-array231-1b, and the storage array23-2inFIG.3may include at least the sub-array231-2aand the sub-array231-2b. In this way, the secondary transmission path is formed between each sub-array and the primary transmission path, so that the sub-array transmits a signal through the secondary transmission path corresponding to the sub-array and the primary transmission path. For example, a secondary transmission path22-1ais formed between the sub-array231-1aand the primary transmission path21, so that the sub-array231-1atransmits a signal to the primary transmission path21through the secondary transmission path22-1acorresponding to the sub-array231-1a. A secondary transmission path22-1bis formed between the sub-array231-1band the primary transmission path21, so that the sub-array231-1btransmits a signal through the secondary transmission path22-1bcorresponding to the sub-array231-1band the primary transmission path21.

It is to be noted that the data processing circuit20provided by the embodiment of the present disclosure is applied to a semiconductor memory, for example, a DRAM, a Static Random-Access Memory (SRAM), a Synchronous Dynamic Random-Access Memory (SDRAM), which is no limited in the embodiments of the present disclosure.

As shown inFIG.3, the primary transmission path, the secondary transmission paths and the storage arrays are comprised in the data processing circuit20in which one primary transmission path (the primary transmission path21inFIG.3), multiple secondary transmission paths (the secondary transmission path22-1a, the secondary transmission path22-1b, the secondary transmission path22-2a, the secondary transmission path22-2band so on inFIG.3), and multiple storage arrays (the storage array23-1, the storage array23-2and so on inFIG.3) are arranged. Each storage array may consist of multiple sub-arrays, and a sub-array is connected to the primary transmission path through a secondary transmission path. That is, each sub-array has a separate secondary transmission path, but these sub-arrays share the primary transmission path.

It is to be noted that in the embodiments of the present disclosure, all secondary transmission paths should have the same length, but this is not a limitation. That is because a transmission speed of a signal in the transmission path is very high, even if the lengths of different secondary transmission paths are different, it can be considered that the time taken for transmitting the signal in the secondary transmission paths with different lengths is identical. In addition, when the length of the secondary transmission path is shorter than that of the primary transmission path, the transmission time in the secondary transmission path may be ignored compared with that in the primary transmission path. In addition, some buffers may be arranged on both the primary transmission path and the secondary transmission path to ensure a high signal transmission speed.

In this way, for the data writing operation, a signal is transmitted to the sub-array from the outside and through the primary transmission path and the secondary transmission path. According to the above structure of the data processing circuit, the time taken for transmitting a signal to a fixed location in the primary transmission path from the outside is fixed, and the time taken for transmitting the signal to a fixed location in the secondary transmission path from the outside is also fixed, so there is no defect of signal truncation in the primary transmission path or the secondary transmission path.

For the data reading operation, a signal is transmitted to the outside from the sub-array and through the secondary transmission path and the primary transmission path. According to the above structure of the data processing circuit, the time taken for transmitting a signal to a fixed location in the secondary transmission path from the sub-array is fixed, so there is no defect of signal truncation in the secondary transmission path. Further, because transition points of the primary transmission path corresponding to different sub-arrays in the same storage array are close to each other, the time taken for transmitting a signal to reach a fixed location in the primary transmission path from different sub-arrays may also be considered fixed approximately, and there is no defect of signal truncation in the primary transmission path.

In short, in the embodiments of the present disclosure, different sub-arrays in the same storage array transmit data signals with the outside through the transmission paths with approximately the same length, which can improve the problem of signal truncation and improve the signal margin.

It is to be noted thatFIG.3shows 4 secondary transmission paths and 2 storage arrays, but in actual application scenarios, there may be more or less secondary transmission paths and storage arrays. Also, inFIG.3, one storage array consists of two sub-arrays, but there may be more or less sub-arrays in actual application scenarios. In addition, inFIG.3, all sub-arrays are arranged on one side of the primary transmission path, but there is no limitation on the location of the sub-array231, for example, the sub-arrays may be arranged on different sides of the primary transmission path. In other words,FIG.3illustrates only a specific structure for facilitating the understanding of the above technical solution, and all characteristics inFIG.3that are not defined by the above description do not play a limiting role.

Based onFIG.3, as illustrated inFIG.4, taking a case that each storage array includes a first sub-array and a second sub-array as an example, another structure diagram of the data processing circuit20is given.

As illustrated inFIG.4, each storage array includes the first sub-arrays (such as the first sub-array301-1, the first sub-array301-2inFIG.3) and the second sub-arrays (such as the second sub-array302-1, the second sub-array302-2inFIG.3), and the primary transmission path21passes through an intermediate area between the first sub-array and the second sub-array.

The primary transmission path21may include a first primary transmission path211and a second primary transmission path212. The first primary transmission path211is close to the first sub-array, and the second primary transmission path212is close to the second sub-array.

Correspondingly, the secondary transmission paths may include first secondary transmission paths (such as the first secondary transmission path221-1a, the first secondary transmission path221-1b, the first secondary transmission path221-2a, the first secondary transmission path221-2binFIG.4) and second secondary transmission paths (such as the second secondary transmission path222-1a, the second secondary transmission path222-1b, the second secondary transmission path222-2a, the second secondary transmission path222-2binFIG.4). The first sub-array forms the first secondary transmission path with the first primary transmission path211, and the first sub-array also forms the second secondary transmission path with the second primary transmission path. The second sub-array forms the first secondary transmission path with the first primary transmission path, and the second sub-array also forms the second secondary transmission path with the second primary transmission path.

That is, in the storage array23-1, the first sub-array301-1forms the first secondary transmission path221-1awith the first primary transmission path211, and forms the second secondary transmission path222-1awith the second primary transmission path212. The second sub-array302-1forms the first secondary transmission path221-1bwith the first primary transmission path211, and forms the second secondary transmission path222-1bwith the second primary transmission path212. Similarly, in the storage array23-2, the first sub-array301-2forms the first secondary transmission path221-2awith the first primary transmission path211, and forms the second secondary transmission path222-2awith the second primary transmission path212. The second sub-array302-2forms the first secondary transmission path221-2bwith the first primary transmission path211, and forms the second secondary transmission path222-2bwith the second primary transmission path212.

Here, although a sub-array has different distances from two primary transmission paths, a difference between different distances may be ignored compared with the whole transmission path of the internal and external interaction of signals, and it may be considered that a time difference of signal transmission caused by the difference may be ignored.

In this way, the first sub-array may transmit a signal to the outside through the first secondary transmission path and the first primary transmission path, or the first sub-array may transmit a signal to the outside through the second secondary transmission path and the second primary transmission path. Here, although a sub-array may transmit signal to the outside through different transmission paths, the time at which a signal reaches a specific location in the transmission path is fixed. Therefore, there is no defect of signal truncation occurring in the signal transmission process, and the signal margin can be improved.

In some embodiments, the first primary transmission path211has multiple connection points (such as the connection point24-1aand the connection point24-2ainFIG.4), and the second primary transmission path212has multiple connection points (such as the connection point24-1band the connection point24-2binFIG.4).

At least two sub-arrays in each of the storage arrays form the first secondary transmission paths relative to a connection point in the first primary transmission path211.

At least two sub-arrays in each of the storage arrays form the second secondary transmission paths relative to a connection point in the second primary transmission path212.

That is, for the storage array23-1, the first sub-array301-1and the second sub-array302-1form the first secondary transmission paths221-1aand221-1brelative to the connection point24-1a, respectively, and the first sub-array301-1and the second sub-array302-1form the second secondary transmission paths222-1aand222-1brelative to the connection point24-1b, respectively. For the storage array23-2, the first sub-array301-2and the second sub-array302-2form the first secondary transmission paths221-2aand221-1brelative to the connection point24-2a, respectively, and the first sub-array301-2and the second sub-array302-2form the second secondary transmission path222-2aand the second secondary transmission path222-2brelative to the connection point24-2b, respectively.

In this way, less number of connection points can be arranged, and the rationality of circuit layout can be improved. Also, the length of the secondary transmission path between the first sub-array and one of the first primary transmission path and the second primary transmission path may be equal to the length of the secondary transmission path between the second sub-array and the other of the first primary transmission path and the second primary transmission path. For example, the first secondary transmission path221-1ahas the same length as the second secondary transmission path222-1b, and the first secondary transmission path221-1bhas the same length as the second secondary transmission path222-1a. In this way, in a data writing or reading process, when the first primary transmission path is used to transmit one of upper-byte data and lower-byte data, and the second primary transmission path is used to transmit the other of the upper-byte data and the lower-byte data, the lengths of the secondary transmission paths may be the identical in the data transmission, thus further reducing or even eliminating the problem of signal truncation caused by the different lengths of the secondary transmission paths and improving the signal margin.

In some embodiments, based onFIG.4, as illustrated inFIG.5, the data processing circuit20may also include an address processing circuit25, and the address processing circuit25is connected with a starting point of the first primary transmission path211and a starting point of the second primary transmission path212respectively.

The address processing circuit25is configured to perform signal transmission relative to the first sub-array through the first primary transmission path211and the first secondary transmission path corresponding to the first sub-array. Alternatively, the address processing circuit25is configured to perform signal transmission relative to the second sub-array through the second primary transmission path212and the second secondary transmission path corresponding to the second sub-array. Alternatively, the address processing circuit25is configured to perform signal transmission relative to the second sub-array through the first primary transmission path211and the first secondary transmission path corresponding to the second sub-array. Alternatively, the address processing circuit25is configured to perform signal transmission relative to the first sub-array through the second primary transmission path212and the second secondary transmission path corresponding to the first sub-array. Alternatively, the address processing circuit25is configured to perform signal transmission relative to the second sub-array through the first primary transmission path211and the first secondary transmission path corresponding to the second sub-array, and perform signal transmission relative to the second sub-array through the second primary transmission path212and the second secondary transmission path corresponding to the second sub-array. Alternatively, the address processing circuit25is configured to perform signal transmission relative to the second sub-array through the first primary transmission path211and the first secondary transmission path corresponding to the second sub-array, and perform signal transmission relative to the first sub-array through the second primary transmission path212and the second secondary transmission path corresponding to the first sub-array.

In the above process, the time that a signal is transmitted from a fixed location to another location is approximately fixed, thereby effectively improving the problem of signal truncation. In addition, the address processing circuit25may perform signal transmission relative to the first sub-array/the second sub-array by multiple flexible combinations, which can thus be applied to various data transmission situations and improve the commonality and flexibility of the data processing circuit.

It is to be noted that there are two types of signal transmission in the embodiments of the present disclosure. For the first type of signal transmission, the address processing circuit25performs signal transmission with only one sub-array, for example, the transmission of an 8-byte data signal. In this case, the address processing circuit25may perform data transmission with either the first sub-array or the second sub-array. For the second type of signal transmission, the address processing circuit25perform signal transmission relative to both the two sub-arrays in a storage array, for example, the transmission of a 16-byte data signal. In this case, the upper 8-byte data is transmitted to one of the first sub-array and the second sub-array, and the lower 8-byte data is transmitted to the other of the first sub-array and the second sub-array.

It is to be understood that signal transmission includes two different processes, that is, the data reading operation and the data writing operation. To facilitate illustration, the data writing operation is taken as an example. The data reading operation may be understood as an inverse process of the data writing operation, and may be understood by referring to the data writing operation.

Taking the data writing operation as an example, the address processing circuit25is further described below.

As illustrated inFIG.5, in some embodiments, the address processing circuit25is connected with a first data port261and a second data port262.

The address processing circuit25is further configured to transmit a signal received from the first data port261to one of the first primary transmission path211and the second primary transmission path212, and/or transmit a signal received from the second data port262to the other of the first primary transmission path211and the second primary transmission path212.

In this way, for the first type of data writing operation, the address processing circuit25may receive a signal from the first data port261, and transmit the signal to the first primary transmission path211or the second primary transmission path212. In practice, according to the different settings in the actual application scenarios, the address processing circuit25may also receive a signal from the second data port262, and transmit the signal to the first primary transmission path211or the second primary transmission path212.

For the second type of data writing operation, the address processing circuit25receives signals from both the first data port261and the second data port262, transmits the signal received from the first data port261to the first primary transmission path211, and transmits the signal received from the second data port262to the second primary transmission path212. In practice, according to the different settings in the actual application scenarios, the address processing circuit25may also transmit the signal received from the first data port261to the second primary transmission path212, and transmit the signal received from the second data port262to the first primary transmission path211.

The signal from the first data port261and the signal from the second data port262is selected by the address processing circuit25, and then may be distributed to any of the first sub-array and the second sub-array, which can thus be applied to various data transmission situations and improve the commonality and flexibility of the data processing circuit.

FIG.6is a schematic structural diagram of an address processing circuit25provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG.6, the address processing circuit25may include a selection output circuit251and a buffer output circuit252.

The selection output circuit251is configured to receive a data selection signal, and perform, according to the data selection signal, selectively output to the signal received from the first data port261and the signal received from the second data port262to obtain a first intermediate signal and a second intermediate signal.

The buffer output circuit252is configured to receive a first enabling signal and a second enabling signal, transmit the first intermediate signal to the first primary transmission path211according to the first enabling signal, and transmit the second intermediate signal to the second primary transmission path212according to the second enabling signal.

It is to be noted that the selection output circuit251is configured to perform selectively output to the signal of the first data port261and/or the signal of the second data port262, to transmit the received signal to the first primary transmission path211and/or the second primary transmission path212.

The buffer output circuit252is configured to perform buffered output.

Specifically, if the primary transmission path21is in a writing stage, the primary transmission path21is idle, and the buffer output circuit252directly sends the first intermediate signal/the second intermediate signal to the primary transmission path21. If the primary transmission path21is in a reading stage, the primary transmission path21is occupied, and the buffer output circuit252does not output the received first intermediate signal/second intermediate signal, and outputs a high-impedance state, to block the received signal.

In an embodiment, based onFIG.6, as illustrated inFIG.7, the selection output circuit251includes a first selection circuit2511and a second selection circuit2512.

The first selection circuit2511is configured to perform, according to the data selection signal, selectively output to the signal received from the first data port261and the signal received from the second data port262to obtain the first intermediate signal.

The second selection circuit2512is configured to perform, according to the data selection signal, selectively output to the signal received from the first data port261and the signal received from the second data port262to obtain the second intermediate signal.

It is to be noted that the first intermediate signal may be received from the first data port261or from the second data port262. Also, the second intermediate signal may be received from the second data port262or from the first data port261. In addition, in most cases, the first intermediate signal and the second intermediate signal are different data signals received from different data ports at the same time, that is, the first intermediate signal is a data signal received from one of the first data port and the second data port, and the second intermediate signal is a data signal received from the other of the first data port and the second data port.

In some embodiments, the first selection circuit2511is configured to output the signal received from the first data port261to obtain the first intermediate signal when the data selection signal is in a first level state, or output the signal received from the second data port262to obtain the first intermediate signal when the data selection signal is in a second level state.

The second selection circuit2512is configured to output the signal received from the second data port262to obtain the second intermediate signal when the data selection signal is in a first level state, or output the signal received from the first data port261to obtain the second intermediate signal when the data selection signal is in a second level state.

The first level state is different from or opposite to the second level state.

It is to be noted that in the first type of data writing operation, signals may be received from one of the first data port261and the second data port262, and the other of the first data port261and the second data port262is idle. In the second type of data writing operation, the lower-byte signal is received from the first data port261, and the upper-byte signal is received from the second data port262.

Further, for the first type of data writing operation, the level state of the data selection signal may be determined according to an operation instruction, and then the signal from the first data port261is transmitted through the first intermediate signal or the second intermediate signal, to transmit the signal from the first data port261to the first primary transmission path211or the second primary transmission path212. For the second type of data writing operation, the level state of the data selection signal may be fixed, and then the signal from the first data port261is received by the first intermediate signal, and the signal from the second data port262is received by the second intermediate signal.

In another embodiment, based onFIG.6, as illustrated inFIG.8, the selection output circuit251may also include an inverter2513, a first selection circuit2511and a second selection circuit2512.

The inverter2513is configured to invert the data selection signal to obtain an inverted data selection signal.

The first selection circuit2511is configured to perform, according to the data selection signal and the inverted data selection signal, selectively output to the signal received from the first data port261and the signal received from the second data port262to obtain the first intermediate signal.

The second selection circuit2512is configured to perform, according to the inverted data selection signal and the data selection signal, selectively output to the signal received from the first data port261and the signal received from the second data port262to obtain the second intermediate signal.

It is to be noted that the selection output circuit251may further include an inverter2513configured to obtain the inverted data selection signal, Therefore, the first selection circuit2511and the second selection circuit2512perform selectively output according to data selection signal and the inverted data selection signal, so that all components which are enabled or disabled at different level signals in the first selection circuit2511and the second selection circuit2512can be effectively enabled or disabled, to realizing a preset selection function.

In some embodiments, the first selection circuit2511is configured to output the signal received from the first data port261to obtain the first intermediate signal when the data selection signal is in the first level state and the inverted data selection signal is in the second level state, or output the signal received from the second data port262to obtain the first intermediate signal when the data selection signal is in the second level state and the inverted data selection signal is in the first level state.

The second selection circuit2512is configured to output the signal received from the second data port262to obtain the second intermediate signal when the data selection signal is in the first level state and the inverted data selection signal is in the second level state, or output the signal received from the first data port261to obtain the second intermediate signal when the data selection signal is in the second level state and the inverted data selection signal is in the first level state.

In some embodiments, as illustrated inFIG.7orFIG.8, the buffer output circuit252includes a first buffer circuit2521and a second buffer circuit2522.

The first buffer circuit2521is connected in series between the selection output circuit and the first primary transmission path211, and is configured to transmit the first intermediate signal to the first primary transmission path211when the first enabling signal is in the second level state, or block the first intermediate signal when the first enabling signal is in the first level state.

The second buffer circuit2522is connected in series between the selection output circuit and the second primary transmission path212, and is configured to transmit the second intermediate signal to the second primary transmission path212when the second enabling signal is in the second level state, or block the second intermediate signal when the second enabling signal is in the first level state.

Exemplarily, when the primary transmission path21is occupied, both the first enabling signal and the second enabling signal are in the first level state, in this case, the first buffer circuit2521outputs a high-impedance state, and the second buffer circuit2522outputs a high-impedance state. When the primary transmission path is idle, both the first enabling signal and the second enabling signal are in the second level state, the first buffer circuit2521outputs the first intermediate signal, and the second buffer circuit2522outputs the second intermediate signal. Here, the high-impedance state is equivalent to circuit breaking.

It is to be noted that the foregoing takes a scenario where the first enabling signal/the second enabling signal is active low as an example, the first enabling signal/the second enabling signal may also be active high, or active levels of the first enabling signal and the second enabling signal are different, as long as the first enabling signal and the second enabling signal match the corresponding circuit structures.

In some embodiments, the first buffer circuit2521may include a first enabling unit and a first buffer unit. The first enabling unit is configured to receive the first enabling signal and the first intermediate signal, and transmit the first intermediate signal when the first enabling signal is in the second level state, or block the first intermediate signal when the first enabling signal is in the first level state. The first buffer unit is configured to buffer an output signal of the first enabling unit.

In some embodiments, the second buffer circuit2522may include a second enabling unit and a second buffer unit.

The second enabling unit is configured to receive the second enabling signal and the second intermediate signal, and transmit the second intermediate signal when the second enabling signal is in the second level state, or block the second intermediate signal when the second enabling signal is in the first level state.

The second buffer unit is configured to buffer an output signal of the second enabling unit.

It is to be noted that the first level state is a high level, the second level state is a low level, and both the first enabling signal and the second enabling signal are low level effective signal. Here, the high level and the low level are relative, and a voltage range involved is determined according to a device. For example, for an N-channel Field Effect Transistor (FET), the high level is a gate voltage range under which the transistor is turned on, and the low level is a gate voltage range under which the transistor is turned off. For a P-channel FET, the low level is a gate voltage range under which the transistor is turned on, and the high level is a gate voltage range under which the transistor is turned off.

In this way, in the data writing operation, the signal from the first data port261and/or the signal from the second data port262can be processed flexibly through the address processing circuit, and transmitted to the first primary transmission path211and/or the second primary transmission path212, thereby implementing the first type of data writing operation or the second type of data writing operation.

In addition, in some embodiments, the address processing circuit25is further configured to transmit the signal received from the first primary transmission path211to one of the first data port261and the second data port262, and/or, transmit the signal received from the second primary transmission path212to the other of the first data port261and the second data port262.

It is to be noted that, to facilitate illustration, the case where data is read from only one sub-array is called first type of data reading operation, which corresponds to the first type of signal transmission. The case where data is read simultaneously from two sub-arrays is called second type of data reading operation, which corresponds to the second type of the signal transmission.

In this way, for the first type of data reading operation, the address processing circuit25obtains a signal from the first sub-array or the second sub-array through the first primary transmission path211or the second primary transmission path212, and transmits the signal to the first data port261. In practice, the address processing circuit25may also transmit the signal to the second data port262according to the different settings in the actual application scenarios.

For the second type of data reading operation, the address processing circuit25receives a signal from the first sub-array through the first primary transmission path211, receive a signal from the second sub-array through the second primary transmission path212, and transmit the received signals respectively to the first data port261and the second data port262. Alternatively, the address processing circuit25may also receive a signal from the first sub-array through the second primary transmission path212, receive a signal from the second sub-array through the first primary transmission path211, and transmit the received signals respectively to the first data port261and the second data port262.

In addition, a circuit hardware structure for data reading operation is not illustrated in the embodiments of the present disclosure. Because the data reading operation is an inverse process of the data writing operation, the circuit hardware structure of the data reading operation may be understood by referring to the circuit hardware structure designed for the data writing operation, and shall fall within the scope of protection of the embodiments of the present disclosure.

To sum up, the embodiment of the present disclosure provides a data processing circuit, which can realize signal transmission of a sub-array through the shared primary transmission path and the secondary transmission paths, and ensure that the time at which signals arrive at any specific location in the transmission path is the same, thus avoiding the problem of signal truncation and improving the signal margin. By means of the address processing circuit, the signals from the first data port and the second data port can be controlled by the data selection signal to be distributed to any of the first sub-array and the second sub-array. A variety of combinations of transmission paths are provided, thereby improving the flexibility of transmission.

In another embodiment of the present disclosure,FIG.9is a schematic structural diagram of a data processing circuit20provided by the embodiment of the present disclosure.

As illustrated inFIG.9, the data processing circuit20includes 8 storage arrays (B0to B7). The 8 storage arrays are aligned in a first direction. Each storage array comprises a first sub-array and a second sub-array arranged in a second direction. That is, all the first storage sub-arrays are arranged in the first direction, and all the second storage sub-arrays are arranged in the first direction. Here, the first direction and the second direction are perpendicular to each other. In other embodiments, the first direction and the second direction may be determined according to the actual application scenarios.

The data processing circuit20may also include a first primary transmission path211and a second primary transmission path212. The first primary transmission path211is parallel to the second primary transmission path212, and both the first primary transmission path211and the second primary transmission path212extend in the first direction. The first primary transmission path211is arranged between the first sub-array and the second sub-array and close to the first sub-array. The second primary transmission path212is arranged between the first sub-array and the second sub-array and close to the second sub-array. In addition, multiple buffers are set on both the first primary transmission path211and the second primary transmission path212to improve a data transmission speed.

The data processing circuit20may also include a first secondary transmission path between the storage array and the first primary transmission path211and a second secondary transmission path between the storage array and the second primary transmission path212. InFIG.9, taking only the storage array B7as an example, the first secondary transmission path and the second secondary transmission path are labeled, and other labels are omitted. Specifically, the first sub-array in the storage array B7is connected to the first primary transmission path211through the first secondary transmission path221-a, and connected to the second primary transmission path212through the second secondary transmission path222-a. The second sub-array in the storage array B7is connected to the first primary transmission path211through the first secondary transmission path221-b, and connected to the second primary transmission path212through the second secondary transmission path222-b.

The data processing circuit20may also include the address processing circuit25, the first data port261and the second data port262. The address processing circuit25is connected to the first data port261, the second data port262, the first primary transmission path211and the second primary transmission path212. In addition, the first data port261is configured to transmit the lower-byte signal DQ<7:0>, and the second data port262is configured to transmit the upper-byte signal DQ<15:8>.

Taking the data writing operation as an example, the operation process of the address processing circuit20is described below.

For the data writing operation (equivalent to the first type of data writing operation) of a 8-byte signal, the lower-byte signal DQ<7:0> is received from one of the first data port261and the second data port262, and the other is idle. In this case, the address processing circuit25transmits the lower-byte signal DQ<7:0> to the first primary transmission path211or the second primary transmission path212, and the signal is then transmitted to the first sub-array or the second sub-array through the secondary transmission path corresponding to the first sub-array or the second sub-array.

For the data writing operation (equivalent to the second type of data writing operation) of a 16-byte signal, the lower-byte signal DQ<7:0> is received from the first data port261, and the upper-byte signal DQ<15:8> is received from the second data port262. In this case, the address processing circuit25transmits the lower-byte signal DQ<7:0> to one of the first primary transmission path211and the second primary transmission path212, and then the lower-byte signal DQ<7:0> is transmitted to one of the first sub-array and the second sub-array through the secondary transmission path corresponding to one of the first sub-array and the second sub-array. Also, the upper-byte signal DQ<15:8> is transmitted to the other of the first primary transmission path211and the second primary transmission path212, and then the signal is transmitted to the other of the first sub-array and the second sub-array through the secondary transmission path corresponding to the other.

In other word, the signal from the first data port261and the signal from the second data port262are selected through the address processing circuit25, and may be distributed to any one of the first sub-array and the second sub-array. In this process, the time at which a signal arrives at a specific location in the transmission path is fixed, which can improve signal truncation during transmission and improve the signal margin.

To achieve the above purpose, a structure of the address processing circuit25is given as an example.FIG.10is a schematic structural diagram of an address processing circuit25provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure. As illustrated inFIG.10, the address processing circuit may include a one-out-of-two data selector401, a one-out-of-two data selector402, an inverter403, a three-state buffer404and a three-state buffer405. Here, the one-out-of-two data selector401is equivalent to the first selection circuit, the one-out-of-two data selector402is equivalent to the second selection circuit, the inverter403is equivalent to the inverter in the selection output circuit, the three-state buffer404is equivalent to the first buffer circuit, and the three-state buffer405is equivalent to the second buffer circuit. The first buffer circuit includes the first enabling unit406and the first buffer unit407, and the second buffer circuit includes the second enabling unit408and the second buffer unit409.

As illustrated inFIG.10, the inverter403receives the data selection signal writeDataSel, and outputs the inverted data selection signal.

Two input ends of the one-out-of-two data selector401are used to receive the lower-byte signal LowerByteData and the upper-byte signal UpperByteData respectively. A control end of the one-out-of-two data selector402is used to receive the data selection signal writeDataSel and the inverted data selection signal respectively. When the data selection signal writeDataSel is at high level and the inverted data selection signal is at low level, the lower-byte signal LowerByteData is outputted to obtain the first intermediate signal, or when the data selection signal writeDataSel is at low level and the inverted data selection signal is at high level, the upper-byte signal UpperByteData is output to obtain the first intermediate signal.

Two input ends of the one-out-of-two data selector402are used to receive the lower-byte signal LowerByteData and the upper-byte signal UpperByteData respectively. A control end of the one-out-of-two data selector402is used to receive the inverted data selection signal and the data selection signal writeDataSel respectively. When the data selection signal writeDataSel is at high level and the inverted data selection signal is at low level, the upper-byte signal UpperByteData is output to obtain the second intermediate signal, or when the data selection signal writeDataSel is at low level and the inverted data selection signal is at high level, the lower-byte signal LowerByteData is output to obtain the second intermediate signal.

An input end of the three-state buffer404is connected to an output end of the one-out-of-two data selector401for receiving the first intermediate signal, and a control end of the three-state buffer404is connected to the first enabling signal WriteEnJ. When the first enabling signal WriteEnJ is in low level state, the first intermediate signal is transmitted and buffered, so as to transmit the first intermediate signal to the first primary transmission path211as a first target signal DataJ; or when the first enabling signal WriteEnJ is in high level state, a high-impedance state is output.

An input end of the three-state buffer405is connected to the output end of the one-out-of-two data selector402for receiving the second intermediate signal, and a control end of the three-state buffer405is connected to the second enabling signal WriteEnK. When the second enabling signal WriteEnK is in low level state, the second intermediate signal is transmitted and buffered, so as to transmit the second intermediate signal to the second primary transmission path212as a second target signal DataK; or when the second enabling signal WriteEnK is in high level state, a high-impedance state is output.

Finally, according to the specific operation instructions, the first target signal DataJ and/or the second target signal DataK reaches the sub-arrays through the secondary transmission paths corresponding to the sub-arrays to implement the data writing operation.

The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a data processing circuit. It can be seen from the detailed description of the above embodiments, through the data processing circuit, the time at which a signal arrives at a specific location in the transmission path is fixed, which can avoid the problem of the arriving time of data are different in the traditional structures, thereby overcoming the defect of signal truncation in transmission, avoiding the problem of data sampling failure, and improving the signal margin. In addition, by means of the address processing circuit, the signals from the first data port and the second data port can be controlled by the data selection signal to be distributed to any of the first sub-array and the second sub-array. A variety of combinations of transmission paths are provided, thereby improving the flexibility of transmission.

In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure,FIG.11is a schematic composition structure diagram of a semiconductor memory provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure. As illustrated inFIG.11, the semiconductor memory50may include the data processing circuit20described in any above embodiment.

In this way, for the semiconductor memory50, the time at which a signal arrives at a specific location in the transmission path is fixed with the structure of the data processing circuit, which can improve the problem of signal truncation in transmission and improve the signal margin.

An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a data processing circuit and a semiconductor memory. The data processing circuit includes a primary transmission path, multiple secondary transmission paths and multiple storage arrays. The multiple storage arrays share the primary transmission path. Each storage array includes at least two sub-arrays, and the secondary transmission path is formed between each sub-array and the primary transmission path, and the sub-array transmits a signal through the secondary transmission path and the primary transmission path. In this way, the time at which a signal reaches a specific location in the transmission path is fixed, which can improve the conflict problem during signal transmission and improve the signal margin.

The foregoing is only the preferred embodiments of the disclosure and not intended to limit the protection scope of the disclosure.

It is to be noted that terms “include” and “contain” or any other variant in the present disclosure is intended to cover nonexclusive inclusions herein, so that a process, method, object or device including a series of components not only includes those components but also includes other components which are not clearly listed or further includes components intrinsic to the process, the method, the object or the device. Under the condition of no more limitations, a component defined by the statement “including a/an . . . ” does not exclude existence of the same other components in a process, method, object or device including the component.

The sequence numbers of the embodiments of the present disclosure are adopted not to represent superiority-inferiority of the embodiments but only for description.

The methods disclosed in some method embodiments provided in the disclosure may be freely combined without conflicts to obtain new method embodiments.

The characteristics disclosed in some product embodiments provided in the disclosure may be freely combined without conflicts to obtain new product embodiments.

The characteristics disclosed in some method or device embodiments provided in the disclosure may be freely combined without conflicts to obtain new method embodiments or device embodiments.