Abstract:
A semiconductor storage device in which a pair of wiring lines extending in a first direction are arranged repeatedly with a predetermined pitch, comprising: a group of pair transistors in which a plurality of pair transistors is arranged accoridng to a repetition unit with a predetermined pattern, the pair transistors composed of a MOS transistor of which a gate is connected to one line of the pair of wiring lines and of another MOS transistor of which a gate is connected to the other line of the pair of wiring lines, wherein the repetition unit of the group of pair transistors includes a plurality of the pair transistors such that two MOS transistors are adjacent to each other in the first direction, and at least one pair of pair transistors such that two MOS transistors are not adjacent to each other and diagonally opposite to each other.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to layout of a semiconductor storage device, and more particularly, to layout of a semiconductor storage device such as DRAM where a plurality of pair transistors is arranged repeatedly and densely in a sense amplifier.  
         [0003]     2. Related Art  
         [0004]     For example, DRAM that is a semiconductor storage device has sense amplifiers each of which detects potentials of a pair of bit lines to amplify a minute potential difference therebetween. The function of the sense amplifier is implemented by a pair of MOS (PMOS or NMOS) transistors (hereinafter, referred to as pair transistors). In other words, as shown in  FIG. 8 , it is necessary to configure a sense amplifier circuit using PMOS pair transistors T 1  and T 3  and NMOS pair transistors T 2  and T 4 . In  FIG. 8 , with respect to a minute potential difference between a pair of bit lines BLT and BLN, it is assumed that one bit line BLT is at a relatively high potential. In this case, the NMOS transistor T 4  is turned on by the bit line BLT connected to the gate, thereby pulling down the other bit line BLN connected to the drain to the ground potential. The bit line BLN at the ground potential turns on the PMOS transistor T 1 , thereby pulling up the bit line BLT to the power supply potential. When the bit lines BLT and BLN are in the inverse potential relationship, the operation inverse to the foregoing is carried out. According to the aforementioned operation, the sense amplifier amplifies the potential difference between a pair of bit lines BLT and BLN.  
         [0005]     It is necessary to arrange a large number of sense amplifiers repeatedly on a chip corresponding to the number of bit lines, and therefore, the sense amplifiers have extremely significant effects on the chip size of DRAM.  FIG. 9  shows a schematic layout diagram of the entire chip. The whole of DRAM is comprised of, for example, four banks  10 , and a peripheral circuit area  11  is provided between the banks  10 . In  FIG. 9 , the vertical direction is a direction in which the bit lines extend (hereinafter, referred to as a bit line direction), while the horizontal direction is a direction perpendicular to the bit line direction (hereinafter, referred to as a bit line perpendicular direction). Each of the banks  10  is divided into a plurality of memory cell areas  12  including a predetermined number of word lines and a predetermined number of bit lines.  
         [0006]     On the lower side of  FIG. 9  is shown an enlarged view of the memory cell area  12  and its surroundings. Around the memory cell area  12  are disposed a word driver area  13  that drives the word lines, and a sense amplifier area  14  comprised of the above-mentioned sense amplifiers. The sense amplifier area  14  thus needs to be provided as a division for each memory area  12 , and therefore, has a considerable effect on the chip size. Accordingly, it is required to design the sense amplifier particularly in a small size among circuits constituting DRAM.  
         [0007]     Further, considering the function of the sense amplifier as described above, since the minute potential difference to amplify corresponds to extremely small electric charge to be stored in a memory cell, in order to perform appropriate amplification, a pair of bit lines also require a design with balanced loads such as resistance and capacitance. When the resistance and capacitance of a pair of bit lines is not suitable, serious failures may occur such as inversion of data to store, and therefore, such a design is important that a pair of bit lines keep excellent balance therebetween.  
         [0008]     As described above, in the design of a sense amplifier, the issue is a design in consideration of both improvements in characteristics and reduction in area. Constitution examples of the sense amplifier based on such an issue have conventionally been proposed. For example, one of the conventional constitution examples (see FIG. 6 in JP H11-307741) or another one of the conventional constitution examples (see FIG. 8 in JP 2000-22108) discloses a constitution such that two pair transistors in line, i.e. four transistors are arranged in the bit line direction in an area of a pair of bit lines, and that such a layout is repeated as a repetition unit according to a pitch of the bit lines. These constitutions of a sense amplifier are obtained by devising a layout in consideration of both effects of the improvements in characteristics and reduction in area.  
         [0009]     However, according to reduction in memory cell size with progress of manufacturing techniques, the bit line pitch dependent on the memory cell size has been narrowed. In forming a transistor in a group of pair transistors as described above, considering physically providing the gate, drain/source diffusion layer, contact and the like, arrangements corresponding to narrowed bit line pitches have become difficult gradually.  
         [0010]     For example,  FIG. 10  is a view showing a layout of a group of pair transistors according to the conventional arrangement. In  FIG. 10 , eight transistors T 1  to T 8  constitute pair transistors T 1  and T 2 , pair transistors T 3  and T 4 , pair transistors T 5  and T 6 , and pair transistors T 7  and T 8 . A pair of bit lines (BL 1 T, BL 1 N and the like) is arranged for each pair of transistors. In the bit line perpendicular direction (horizontal direction as viewed in the figure) of the four pair transistors are formed a diffusion layer  201 , each gate  202  in the shape of a ring, drain (diffusion layer)  203 , source (diffusion layer)  204 , wiring  205 , upper wiring  206 , contact  207  and through hole  208 . With consideration given to the bit line pitch and required function elements, the layout provides a high dense arrangement under the most extreme conditions. If structural elements are configured with a bit line pitch narrower than the limit in  FIG. 10 , such a pitch becomes a factor to cause a short-circuit of different contacts in manufacturing. Further, decreasing the width and size of a structural element of a layout becomes factors of a break in wiring or blockage of the contact. Accordingly, it is difficult to make pair transistors finer in the configuration as shown in  FIG. 10 .  
         [0011]     Meanwhile,  FIG. 11  is a view showing a layout of a group of pair transistors provided with measures as described above. In  FIG. 11 , the same circuit as in  FIG. 10  is comprised of a different layout, while combinations of four pairs are the same as in  FIG. 10 , i.e. pair transistors T 1  and T 2 , pair transistors T 3  and T 4 , pair transistors T 5  and T 6 , and pair transistors T 7  and T 8  exist. In  FIG. 11 , with respect to four pairs of pair transistors for a pair of bit lines, the pair transistors are arranged in two stages in the bit line perpendicular direction, while being arranged also in two stages in the bit line direction. In this respect, the layout in  FIG. 11  is different from that in  FIG. 10 . Such a constitution provides the pair transistors with the same combinations as in  FIG. 10 , while shifting the arrangement, eases physical limits such as wiring in the horizontal direction, intervals and the like in consideration of improvements in characteristics, and thus is an advantageous constitution in reduction in bit line pitch.  
         [0012]     However, even when the constitution as shown in  FIG. 11  is adopted, since the pair transistors have a two-stage structure in the bit line direction, it is inevitable that the size in the bit line direction is extremely increased as compared to the constitution of  FIG. 10 . In other words, the constitution of  FIG. 11  still has the problem of having a significant effect on the chip size.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]     It is an object of the present invention to provide a semiconductor storage device provided with a group of pair transistors in an arrangement advantageous for improvements in characteristics within physical limits of microfabrication in the semiconductor storage device without resulting in increases in chip area.  
         [0014]     A semiconductor storage device according to an aspect of the present invention in which a pair of wiring lines extending in a first direction are arranged repeatedly with a predetermined pitch, comprising: a group of pair transistors in which a plurality of pair transistors is arranged accoridng to a repetition unit with a predetermined pattern, said pair transistors composed of a MOS transistor of which a gate is connected to one line of said pair of wiring lines and of another MOS transistor of which a gate is connected to the other line of said pair of wiring lines, wherein said repetition unit of said group of pair transistors includes a plurality of said pair transistors such that two MOS transistors are adjacent to each other in said first direction, and at least one of said pair transistors such that two MOS transistors are not adjacent to each other and diagonally opposite to each other.  
         [0015]     In the semiconductor storage device according to the aspect of the present invention, said repetition unit of said group of pair transistors is formed of a rectangle area including six MOS transistors that are arranged in three stages in said first direction while being arranged in two stages in a direction perpendicular to said first direction, and comprises first pair transistors composed of a MOS transistor positioned in a predetermined corner of said rectangle area and another MOS transistor adjacent to said MOS transistor in said first direction, second pair transistors composed of a MOS transistor positioned in a corner diagonally opposite to said predetermined corner of said rectangle area and another MOS transistor adjacent to said MOS transistor in said first direction, and third pair transistors composed of two MOS transistors which are not included in said first pair transistors nor said second pair transistors, not adjacent to each other, and arranged in a diagonal direction.  
         [0016]     In the semiconductor storage device according to the aspect of the present invention, said repetition unit of said group of pair transistors is formed of a rectangle area including eight MOS transistors that are arranged in three stages in said first direction while being arranged in three stages in a direction perpendicular to said first direction except a central region, and comprises first pair transistors composed of a MOS transistor positioned in a predetermined corner of said rectangle area and another MOS transistor adjacent to said MOS transistor in said first direction, second pair transistors composed of a MOS transistor positioned in a corner diagonally opposite to said predetermined corner of said rectangle area and another MOS transistor adjacent to said MOS transistor in said first direction, third pair transistors composed of two MOS transistors which are not included in said first pair transistors nor said second pair transistors, not adjacent to each other, and arranged in a diagonal direction, and fourth pair transistors composed of two MOS transistors which are not included in said first pair transistors, said second pair transistors nor said third pair transistors, not adjacent to each other, and arranged in a diagonally direction.  
         [0017]     In the semiconductor storage device according to the aspect of the present invention, a non-active MOS transistor is arranged in said central region.  
         [0018]     In the semiconductor storage device according to the aspect of the present invention, said group of pair transistors is for use in a sense amplifier circuit that detects potentials of a pair of bit lines connected to a memory cell array and that amplifies a minute potential difference therebetween, and said pair of bit lines that are said pair of wiring lines extend in a bit line direction that is said first direction.  
         [0019]     In the semiconductor storage device according to the aspect of the present invention, said gate of said MOS transistor is formed in the shape of a ring.  
         [0020]     In the semiconductor storage device according to the aspect of the present invention, said gate of said MOS transistor is formed in the shape of a U.  
         [0021]     According to the present invention, a group of pair transistors used in a semiconductor storage device is capable of achieving a layout with increases in chip area restricted while maintaining excellent characteristics. In particular, in the case of configuring a sense amplifier circuit of DRAM, even when the bit line pitch becomes narrow, it is possible to achieve both improvements in characteristics and reduction in area, and the utility is thus high. Further, various arrangements are applicable as a repetition unit in a group of pair transistors, for example, a non-active transistor can be arranged in the center, and it is thus possible to configure a group of pair transistors capable of flexibly supporting bit line pitches. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0022]      FIG. 1  is a layout diagram of a group of pair transistors arranged corresponding to three pairs of bit lines in respective sense amplifiers in DRAM of the embodiment;  
         [0023]      FIG. 2  is a circuit diagram corresponding to the layout diagram of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0024]      FIG. 3  is a layout diagram of a group of pair transistors arranged corresponding to four pairs of bit lines in respective sense amplifiers in DRAM of the embodiment;  
         [0025]      FIG. 4  is a circuit diagram corresponding to the layout diagram of  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0026]      FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating the first modification of the constitution of  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0027]      FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating the second modification of the constitution of  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0028]      FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating the third modification of the constitution of  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0029]      FIG. 8  is a configuration of a sense amplifier circuit in DRAM of the embodiment;  
         [0030]      FIG. 9  is a schematic layout diagram of the entire DRAM chip;  
         [0031]      FIG. 10  is a view showing a layout of a group of pair transistors according to the conventional arrangement; and  
         [0032]      FIG. 11  is a view showing another layout of a group of pair transistors according to the conventional arrangement. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0033]     A preferred embodiment of the present invention will specifically be described below with reference to accompanying drawings. This embodiment describes the case of applying the invention to DRAM as a semiconductor storage device.  
         [0034]      FIG. 1  is a layout diagram of a group of pair transistors arranged corresponding to three pairs of bit lines (six bit lines) in respective sense amplifiers in DRAM of this embodiment.  FIG. 2  is a circuit diagram corresponding to the layout diagram of  FIG. 1 . In addition, while  FIGS. 1 and 2  show only NMOS transistors, PMOS transistors have the same configuration.  
         [0035]     In  FIG. 1 , each of six NMOS transistors T 1  to T 6  (hereinafter, simply referred to as transistors T 1  to T 6 ) is comprised of a drain  103  and a source  104  both formed on a diffusion layer  101  and a ring-shaped gate  102 . Wiring  105  connected to the gate  102  via a contact  107  is formed, and the wiring  105  and upper wiring  106  is connected via a through hole  108 . In addition, a width and interval of each wiring or a width, interval and the like of the contact  107  are determined depending on the manufacturing process and design items to some extent, while the bit line pitch is determined depending on the memory cell size.  
         [0036]     Herein, in the transistors T 1  to T 6 , transistors T 1  and T 2  constitute first pair transistors, transistors T 5  and T 6  constitute second pair transistors, and transistors T 3  and T 4  constitute third pair transistors. A pair of bit lines BL 1 T and BL 1 N support the first pair transistors, a pair of bit lines BL 2 T and BL 2 N support the third pair transistors, and a pair of bit lines BL 3 T and BL 3 N support the second pair transistors.  
         [0037]     As can be seen from  FIG. 1 , the six transistors T 1  to T 6  are arranged in three stages in the bit line direction, while being arranged in two stages in the bit line perpendicular direction, and such a layout as a repetition unit is repeated to constitute the entire sense amplifiers. In each repetition unit, two transistors constituting the first or second pair transistors are adjacent to each other in the bit line direction, while transistors T 3  and T 4  constituting the third pair transistors are not adjacent to each other in the bit line direction, and are diagonally opposite to each other across the first and second pair transistors.  
         [0038]     As compared to the conventional constitutions of  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the arrangement of the third pair transistors is a feature of the constitution of this embodiment. As described previously, when compared with the constitution of  FIG. 10  having difficulties obtaining an element arrangement to support the trend toward reduction in bit line pitch, and the constitution of  FIG. 11  that increases the chip size with increases in size in the bit line direction, the constitution of this embodiment enables achievement of a rational element arrangement with less wasted space. In other words, in the constitutions as shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , it is a basic concept that two transistors constituting pair transistors are always adjacent to each other. In contrast thereto, in the case of this embodiment, with such a concept broken, adopted is the constitution including pair transistors composed of two transistors that are not adjacent to each other. By this means, it is possible to prevent increases in size in the bit line direction of a group of pair transistors, for example, which are seen in the constitution of  FIG. 11 , while supporting the trend toward reduction in bit line pitch. By adopting such a constitution, the chip area can be used effectively in both the bit line direction and bit line perpendicular direction, and as a result, it is possible to achieve reduction in chip size.  
         [0039]     As described above, in the constitution of this embodiment, two transistors T 1  and T 2  or T 5  and T 6  respectively constituting the first or second pair transistors are adjacent to each other, while two transistors T 3  and T 4  constituting the third pair transistors are diagonally opposite to each other across the first and second pair transistors. Therefore, due to such a large difference in configuration, in a strict sense, the first and second pair transistors are different in characteristics from the third pair transistors. However, the differences in characteristics are only caused by a difference in wiring length of the order of a few micrometers, within a minute range, and do not provide any problems with functions of the entire sense amplifiers.  
         [0040]     Referring to  FIG. 1  again, positions of transistors arranged in the bit line direction are slightly shifted in the bit line perpendicular direction among transistors of the same pair or different pairs. It is a device in arrangement to make bit lines straight as much as possible without bending as little as possible. For example, referring to  FIGS. 10 and 11  illustrating the conventional layouts, positions of transistors opposite to each other in the bit line direction are aligned in the pair transistors, but the wiring  105  of bit line is bent for the need for connecting the drain  103  of one transistor and the gate  102  of the other transistor. Meanwhile, in the constitution as shown in  FIG. 1 , if opposite transistors are aligned in the bit line direction as in  FIG. 11 , an arrangement is required such that the wiring  105  is bent. However, such an arrangement needs a large distance between transistors arranged in the bit line direction to secure areas of bent portions, and results in increases in chip size. Accordingly, as shown in  FIG. 1 , by shifting positions of transistors arranged in the bit line direction slightly in the bit line perpendicular direction, it is made possible configuring the wiring  105  using straight lines as much as possible, and as a result, increases in chip size can be prevented.  
         [0041]     Specific advantages in chip size will be described below with respect to DRAM using the constitution of this embodiment. As described previously, parameters belonging to design items of a MOS transistor are not determined uniquely, and as an example, following design conditions are assumed. That is, in  FIG. 1 , when MOS device is designed with a gate having a width of 0.3 μm and a length of 2.0 μm, the width of a diffusion layer for one-stage MOS device is 1.3 μm, and further, assuming a design where an interval between diffusion layers is 0.82 μm and an upper or lower protrusion from the diffusion layer is 0.35 μm, the size in the bit line direction is total 6.24 μm. Meanwhile, in the conventional constitution in  FIG. 11 , if it is assumed to design MOS device with substantially same dimensions under the same design conditions, the width of a diffusion layer for two-stage MOS device is 3.4 μm, an interval between diffusion layers is 0.26 μm, an upper or lower protrusion from the diffusion layer is 0.4 μm, and the size in the bit line direction is total 7.86 μm. Accordingly, by adopting the constitution to which the present invention is applied, it is possible to achieve an about 20% reduction in size as compared to the conventional constitution. However, such a rate is affected by design rules and determinations in design and varies.  
         [0042]      FIG. 3  is a layout diagram of a group of pair transistors arranged corresponding to four pairs of bit lines in respective sense amplifiers in DRAM of this embodiment.  FIG. 4  is a circuit diagram corresponding to the layout diagram of  FIG. 3 . In addition, while  FIGS. 3 and 4  show only NMOS transistors, PMOS transistors have the same configuration.  
         [0043]     Shown in  FIG. 3  is a layout including nine transistors T 1  to T 9 . Basic structures are the same as in  FIG. 1  of the diffusion layer  101 , ring-shaped gate  102 , drain  103 , source  104 , wiring  105 , upper wiring  106 , contact  107  and through hole  108 .  
         [0044]     Herein, in transistors T 1  to T 8 , transistors T 1  and T 2  constitute first pair transistors, transistors T 7  and T 8  constitute second pair transistors, transistors T 3  and T 4  constitute third pair transistors, and transistors T 5  and T 6  constitute fourth pair transistors. A pair of bit lines BL 1 T and BL 1 N support the first pair transistors, a pair of bit lines BL 2 T and BL 2 N support the third pair transistors, a pair of bit lines BL 3 T and BL 3 N support the fourth pair transistors, and a pair of bit lines BL 4 T and BL 4 N support the second pair transistors.  
         [0045]     The transistor T 9  arranged in the center is a non-active transistor, and does not constitute pair transistors with another transistor. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the gate, drain and source of the transistor T 9  are short-circuited.  
         [0046]     As can be seen from  FIG. 3 , the nine transistors T 1  to T 9  are arranged in three stages in the bit line direction, while being arranged in three stages in the bit line perpendicular direction, and such a layout as a repetition unit is repeated to constitute the entire sense amplifiers. In each repetition unit, two transistors constituting the first or second pair transistors are adjacent to each other in the bit line direction, while two transistors constituting the third or fourth pair transistors are not adjacent to each other in the bit line direction, and are diagonally opposite to each other across the other transistors. Thus, with respect to pair transistors forming the characteristic arrangement of this embodiment, the layout in  FIG. 3  has two pairs existing in the repetition unit, and in this respect, is different from the layout in  FIG. 1  where only one pair exists in the repetition unit.  
         [0047]     In the case where the bit line pitch is the narrowest which is determined depending on the memory cell size, it is preferable adopting the arrangement as shown in  FIG. 1 , but when the bit line pitch is provided with a relatively extra margin, the arrangement in  FIG. 3  is sufficiently effective. While all the transistors are active in the case of  FIG. 1 , the repetition unit includes a non-active transistor in the case of  FIG. 3 . By thus daring to dispose a non-active transistor in the repetition unit, the size in the bit line perpendicular direction can be adjusted as appropriate for the bit line pitch.  
         [0048]     For example, in the case of making the size of pair transistors constant in the bit line perpendicular direction, in the constitution in  FIG. 1  it is possible to dispose three pairs of bit lines (six bit lines) for transistors of two stages in the bit line perpendicular direction. Meanwhile, in the constitution in  FIG. 3  it is possible to dispose four pairs of bit lines (eight bit lines) for transistors of three stages in the bit line perpendicular direction. In other words, in terms of transistors of three stages in the bit line perpendicular direction, the constitution in  FIG. 1  corresponds to nine bit lines, while the constitution in  FIG. 3  corresponds to eight bit lines, and it is understood that the constitution in  FIG. 3  eases the bit line pitch to some extent. Thus, in this embodiment, it is possible to flexibly adopt a constitution suitable for the bit line pitch.  
         [0049]     In addition, the repetition unit in this embodiment is not limited to the constitution as shown in  FIG. 1  or  3 , and for example, it is possible to dispose a repetition unit in a combination of the constitutions of  FIGS. 1 and 3 . Further, in a group of pair transistors in this embodiment, also when the arrangement as shown in  FIG. 1  or  3  is configured to be symmetric with respect to a line in the bit line direction, the same functions can be achieved.  
         [0050]     The constitution of  FIG. 3  allows a plurality of modifications. The modifications of the constitution of  FIG. 3  will be described below with reference to FIGS.  5  to  7 .  
         [0051]      FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating the first modification of the constitution of  FIG. 3 . In  FIG. 5 , basic structural elements are the same as those in  FIG. 3  and descriptions thereof are omitted. The constitution of  FIG. 5  is not provided with the non-active transistor T 9  which exists in  FIG. 3 , and is provided with a different structure in this portion. In other words, the ring-shaped gate  102  is provided in the central region surrounded by eight transistors T 1  to T 8 , while the diffusion layer  101  and contact are eliminated inside the gate  102 .  
         [0052]      FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating the second modification of the constitution of  FIG. 3 . Also in  FIG. 6 , basic structural elements are the same as those in  FIG. 3  and descriptions thereof are omitted. The constitution of  FIG. 6  is not provided with the non-active transistor T 9  which exists in  FIG. 3 , and is provided with a different structure in this portion. In other words, the diffusion layer  101  is formed in the central region surrounded by eight transistors T 1  to T 8 , while the ring-shaped gate  102  and the contact inside the gate are eliminated.  
         [0053]      FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating the third modification of the constitution of  FIG. 3 . Also in  FIG. 7 , basic structural elements are the same as those in  FIG. 3  and descriptions thereof are omitted. The constitution of  FIG. 7  is not provided with the non-active transistor T 9  which exists in  FIG. 3 , and is provided with a different structure in this portion. In other words, in the central region surrounded by eight transistors T 1  to T 8  are provided the diffusion layer  101 , contact and a U-shaped gate  102 ′ as a substitute for the ring-shaped gate  102 . The U-shaped gate  102 ′ is used to form the channel of a transistor as in the ring-shaped gate  102 , and has the same basic operation as that of the gate  102 .  
         [0054]     The constitutions of this embodiment to which the present invention is applied are described in the foregoing, but the present invention is not limited to the aforementioned embodiment, and is capable of being carried into practice with various modifications and changes that can be easily conceived by a person skilled in the art.