Patent Abstract:
A semiconductor memory device is provided which includes a rewrite-inhibited region for individual certification. Non-volatile memory elements constituting a memory cell array are used instead of a conventionally used fuse element to form the rewrite-inhibited region for individual certification. A voltage at high level is applied to a pad formed on a chip with a probe before the chip is sealed in a package to set the non-volatile memory elements in the rewrite-inhibited region to a writable state. After data for individual certification is written thereto, the chip is sealed in a package to disable electrical connection from outside to the pad set to a voltage at low level with a pull-down resistor.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-289314, filed Sep. 22, 2000, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device, and more particularly to a rewritable non-volatile semiconductor memory device using a rewritable non-volatile memory element as in a rewritable memory section for a user for storing data which is inhibited from rewriting such as individual information.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0005]    In conventional semiconductor memory devices, it may be desirable to inhibit rewriting of some stored data. For example, when copyrighted information such as music is stored in a large capacity semiconductor memory device, individual certification is required for each semiconductor chip to secure the copy right.  
           [0006]    For individual certification, it is necessary to output unique data for individual certification written to each semiconductor chip. Thus, different rewrite-inhibited data must be stored in each semiconductor chip with certain means.  
           [0007]    The simplest method to achieve the aforementioned object is to make use of the characteristic of nonvolatile memory elements constituting a memory region of a semiconductor memory device being a writable memory such that data is written to a non-volatile memory element formed as in a typical memory region after a wafer process. Such a non-volatile memory element disposed in a memory cell array similar to a typical memory area is preferable for a higher degree of integration since write circuits and read circuits can be shared.  
           [0008]    When the non-volatile memory element is rewritable, however, rewriting must be possible before rewrite-inhibited data is stored and a problem occurs in that rewriting is permitted in a rewrite-inhibited memory region through input of an electrical signal unless certain physical changes are added to a semiconductor chip. To address this, conventionally, a circuit as shown in FIG. 1 has been used to disable alteration of written data after the writing of the data to a rewrite-inhibited region in a memory cell array.  
           [0009]    The circuit shown in FIG. 1 comprises a row decoder  60  for selecting a word line in a rewrite-inhibited region, and a non-volatile data region (memory cell array)  100  including a rewrite-inhibited region comprising nonvolatile memory elements Q 10 , Q 11  and the like. In the conventional circuit shown in FIG. 1, the rewrite-inhibited region is disposed in the typical non-volatile data region  100  open to general users. A word line in the rewrite-inhibited region is selected by activating the row decoder  60  different from a typical row decoder selected with an address.  
           [0010]    Next, the operation of the row decoder  60  will be described. As described above, the functions required for the rewrite-inhibited region for individual certification are to inhibit data rewriting after data for individual certification is written to each semiconductor chip and to allow reading of the written data for individual certification in a rewrite-inhibited state at the time of individual certification.  
           [0011]    In the row decoder  60  shown in FIG. 1, a fixed high-level voltage V 0  is input to the gates of N-channel transistors Q 1 , Q 2 , and Q 3 , which would receive address signal in a typical row decoder, to turn on the N-channel transistors Q 1 , Q 2 , and Q 3 . A signal V 0  is an activation signal for the row decoder. The signal φ going high turns on an N-channel transistor Q 4  and turns off a P-channel transistor Q 6  to separate a power supply voltage at high level provided for the source of the P-channel transistor Q 6 .  
           [0012]    If a fuse element is connected, a selection signal X at high level for rewrite-inhibited region is input to the gate of an N-channel transistor Q 5  to set the voltage at a node N 1  to low level (ground).  
           [0013]    The low-level voltage at the node N 1  is applied as a voltage at high level to the gate of a pass-transistor Q 8  for selecting a word line in the rewrite-inhibited region through a latch circuit including an inverter  13  and a P-channel transistor Q 7  and a voltage conversion circuit  14  to turn on the pass-transistor Q 8 , thereby applying a word line selection voltage to the gates of the non-volatile memory elements Q 10 , Q 11  and the like in the rewrite-inhibited region included in the memory cell array to write data for individual certification. In this case, since an N-channel transistor Q 9  is short-circuited with the fuse element, it is not involved in the operation of the row decoder  60 .  
           [0014]    To inhibit rewriting of the data thus written for individual certification, the fuse element formed on the wafer using a metal layer is blown through laser processing. At this point, since a read mode signal is at low level and thus the N-channel transistor Q 9  is off, and the node N 1  is released from the low level, a voltage at low level is applied to the gate of the pass-transistor Q 8  through the inverter  13  of the latch circuit and the voltage conversion circuit  14  to turn off the pass-transistor Q 8 , thereby inhibiting writing of data to the memory elements Q 10 , Q 11  and the like.  
           [0015]    When the read mode signal is driven high level with the fuse element blown, the N-channel transistor Q 9  is turned on and the node N 1  goes low. A word line can be selected using the pass-transistor Q 8  to read the data for individual certification written to the non-volatile memory elements Q 10 , Q 11  and the like in the rewrite-inhibited region.  
           [0016]    As described above, rewriting has conventionally been inhibited by blowing the fuse element in the row decoder  60  for selection in the rewrite-inhibited memory region. The use of the method, however, requires laser processing for accurately blowing the fuse with laser and takes a long time for a test step after the semiconductor chip fabrication to result in a problem of increased manufacturing cost.  
           [0017]    As mentioned above, since a conventional semiconductor memory device capable of individual certification is provided with a rewrite-inhibited function using the blowing of a fuse element, a long time is required for a test step after the semiconductor chip fabrication to cause a problem of increased manufacturing cost.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0018]    A semiconductor memory device according to an embodiment of the present invention employs non-volatile memory elements typically constituting a memory cell array to form a rewrite-inhibited region for individual certification instead of a conventionally used fuse element. Before a semiconductor chip is sealed in a package, a voltage at high level is applied to a pad on the semiconductor chip with a probe or the like to set the non-volatile memory elements in the rewrite-inhibited region to a writable state. After data for individual certification is written thereto, the chip is sealed in a package to disable electrical connection to the pad from outside, thereby inhibiting rewriting of the data.  
           [0019]    Specifically, a semiconductor memory device according to an embodiment of the preset invention comprises a rewritable non-volatile memory element, an erase circuit configured to erase storage data written to the non-volatile memory element, a circuit configured to write storage data to the non-volatile memory element, a circuit configured to read storage data written to the non-volatile memory element, and a pad formed by opening a passivation film on a surface of a semiconductor chip, wherein erasing and writing of storage data in the non-volatile memory element are allowed by inputting a signal at a first voltage level to the pad, and erasing or writing of storage data in the non-volatile memory element are inhibited by inputting a signal at a second voltage level to the pad.  
           [0020]    A semiconductor memory device according to another embodiment of the present invention comprises a memory cell array including non-volatile memory elements. The memory cell array includes a non-volatile memory element forming a rewritable data region for a user and a non-volatile memory element forming a rewrite-inhibited region for individual certification. Erasing or writing of storage data in the non-volatile memory element forming the rewrite-inhibited region are inhibited by setting one of a row selection circuit and a column selection circuit for the memory cell array to an unselected state. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING  
       [0021]    [0021]FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a conventional semiconductor memory device including a rewrite-inhibited region;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 2 shows the configuration of a semiconductor memory device according to a first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 3 shows the circuit configuration of a typical row decoder of the semiconductor memory device according to the first embodiment;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 4 shows the circuit configuration of a row decoder for rewrite-inhibited region of the semiconductor memory device according to the first embodiment;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 5 shows a circuit for producing a signal B according to a second embodiment;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 6 shows a control circuit for a write command according to the second embodiment; and  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 7 shows a control circuit for write voltage according to a third embodiment. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0028]    Some embodiments of the present invention will be hereinafter described with reference to the drawings.  
       First Embodiment  
       [0029]    [0029]FIG. 2 shows the configuration of a semiconductor memory device having an individual certification function according to a first embodiment. The semiconductor memory device shown in FIG. 2 comprises a non-volatile data region  1  for a user in which data is rewritable, a rewrite-inhibited region  2  for storing data for individual certification, formed of nonvolatile memory elements similar to those of the nonvolatile data region  1 , a sense amplifier and write circuit  3 , a row decoder  4 , an address buffer  5 , a row decoder  6  for rewrite-inhibited region for selecting a word line in the rewrite-inhibited region  2 , a pad  7  formed on a semiconductor chip, a circuit including NOR gates  8 ,  10 , a resistor  9 , and an inverter  11 , and a signal line  12  for inactivating the row decoder  4 .  
         [0030]    The non-volatile data region  1  and the rewrite-inhibited region  2  constitute an array including a series of memory cells such that bit lines for common columns in the memory cell array are shared between the non-volatile data region rewritable by a user and the rewrite-inhibited region  2  to which data for individual certification is written and are connected to the sense amplifier and write circuit  3 . The rewritable non-volatile data region  1  and the rewrite-inhibited region  2  are connected to different word lines and selected using the typical row decoder  4  and the row decoder  6  for rewrite-inhibited region, respectively.  
         [0031]    The circuit configuration and the operation of the typical row decoder  4  will be hereinafter described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. Since the circuit configuration of the typical row decoder  4  shown in FIG. 3 is substantially similar to the circuit configuration of the conventional row decoder  60  described earlier with reference to FIG. 1, difference between the configuration in FIG. 3 and that in FIG. 1 will be described particularly in detail with the corresponding portions designated the same reference symbols and numerals.  
         [0032]    The typical non-volatile data region  1  shown in FIG. 2 allows erasing, writing, and reading data through selection of one word line in response to output from the address buffer  5 . In FIG. 3, a signal φ activates the row decoder  4 . When the activation signal φ is at low level, a P-channel transistor Q 6  is turned on to provide a power supply voltage at high level for a node N 1 , and a voltage at low level is applied to the gate of a pass-transistor Q 8  through an inverter  13  of a latch circuit and a voltage conversion circuit  14  to set all row decoders  4  to an unselected state.  
         [0033]    When all address signals Adda, Addb, and Addc input to the gates of N-channel transistors Q 1 , Q 2 , and Q 3 , respectively, are at high level and a rewrite-inhibited region selection signal X input to the gate of an N-channel transistor Q 5  is low (/X is high in FIG. 3), the activation signal φ changed high discharges and sets the node N 1  to low level, the row decoder  4  enters into a selected state.  
         [0034]    The low-level voltage at the node N 1  is converted to a voltage at high level through the inverter  13  of the latch circuit and the voltage conversion circuit  14  and applied to the gate of the pass-transistor Q 8  to send a word line selection signal to a word line. Thus, depending on an operation mode, erasing, writing, and reading operations can be performed.  
         [0035]    Next, the circuit configuration and the operation of the row decoder  6  for rewrite-inhibited region will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 4. While the row decoder  6  for rewrite-inhibited region shown in FIG. 4 has the same configuration as the typical row decoder  4  shown in FIG. 3, a fixed voltage V 0  is input to the gates of N-channel transistors Q 1 , Q 2 , and Q 3  instead of an address signal input thereto in the typical row decoder  4 , and the selected or unselected row decoder  6  for rewrite-inhibited region is determined only by input of a signal A to the N-channel transistor Q 5 .  
         [0036]    As shown in FIG. 2, the signal A is output from a circuit comprising the pad  7  formed by opening a passivation film on the semiconductor chip, the NOR gates  8 ,  10 , the resistor  9 , and the inverter  11 . The voltage level of the signal A is determined by a rewrite-inhibited region selection signal X generated in a control circuit (not shown), a read mode signal, and the level of voltage applied to the pad  7 .  
         [0037]    In the first place, description will be made on writing of data for individual certification to the rewrite-inhibited region.  
         [0038]    When the pad  7  shown in FIG. 2 is at high level and the control circuit is in a rewrite-inhibited region selection mode to transmit a rewrite-inhibited region selection signal X at high level, the signal A at high level is output from the NOR gate  10  to turn on an N-channel transistor Q 5  in FIG. 4 to set the node N 1  to low level. The low level of the node N 1  is converted to a voltage at high level through an inverter  13  of a latch circuit and a voltage conversion circuit  14  and applied to the gate of a pass-transistor Q 8  to transfer a word line selection voltage to a word line, thereby making it possible to perform operations for erasing, writing, and reading on the rewrite-inhibited region  2  as in the typical nonvolatile data region  1 .  
         [0039]    Next, description will be made on rewriting inhibition of individual certification data and reading.  
         [0040]    When the pad  7  is grounded through the resistor  9 , for example, as shown in FIG. 2, the pad  7  is at low level while it is open. When the control circuit is in a read mode to set the read mode signal input to the NOR gate  8  to high level, and the control circuit is in a rewrite-inhibited region selection mode to set the rewrite-inhibited region selection signal X to high level, the output A from the NOR gate  10  is at high level to permit only reading of the individual certification data stored in the rewrite-inhibited region  2  and thus data cannot be rewritten.  
         [0041]    In the manufacturing process of a non-volatile semiconductor memory device, unique data for individual certification is written to each chip upon the end of test at a wafer level. At this point, for allowing writing to a rewrite-inhibited region, a probe is used to input a voltage at high level to the pad  7  shown in FIG. 2.  
         [0042]    Thereafter, in an assembly step, the chip is sealed in a package with the pad open. As described above, since the pad  7  is grounded (pull down) through the resistor  9 , the open pad  7  sealed in the package is at low level. Thus, only reading is permitted for the individual certification data stored in the rewrite-inhibited region  2 , and writing thereof is permanently inhibited unless the package is opened.  
       Second Embodiment  
       [0043]    Next, a non-volatile semiconductor memory device according to a second embodiment will be hereinafter described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. The second embodiment is characterized by using a signal B to control transmission of a write command for the non-volatile semiconductor memory device, unlike the first embodiment.  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 5 shows a circuit for producing the signal B comprising a pad  7  formed on a semiconductor chip, a pull-down resistor  9 , inverters  15 ,  17 , and a NAND gate  16 . The NAND gate  16  has one input terminal applied with a rewrite-inhibited region selection signal X. FIG. 6 shows a circuit for controlling the transmission of the write command, comprising a control circuit  18  for producing the write command in accordance with an external input signal and an AND gate  19 . The AND gate  19  has one input terminal applied with the signal B.  
         [0045]    When the rewrite-inhibited region selection signal X is at high level to select the rewrite-inhibited region  2  shown in FIG. 2 and the pad  7  is at low level, the signal B at high level is output from the circuit in FIG. 5. Thus, the write command at high level produced in the control circuit  18  in FIG. 6 is changed to a write signal at high level through the AND gate  19  to allow writing of individual certification data to the rewrite-inhibited region  2 .  
         [0046]    On the other hand, when the rewrite-inhibited region selection signal X is at high level to select the rewrite-inhibited region  2  shown in FIG. 2, and the pad  7  is at high level, the signal B at low level is output from the circuit in FIG. 5. The write command at high level produced in the control circuit  18  in FIG. 6 is blocked by the AND gate  19  and no write signal is transmitted. Thus, data writing to the rewrite-inhibited region  2  is inhibited.  
         [0047]    Since similar control of an erase command for the semiconductor memory device can inhibit erasing of the individual certification data written to the rewrite-inhibited region  2 , the circuits shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 can be used to inhibit rewriting of the individual certification data written to the rewrite-inhibited region  2 .  
       Third Embodiment  
       [0048]    Next, a non-volatile semiconductor memory device according to a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 7. The third embodiment is characterized by using a signal B to control production of a high voltage required for writing and erasing in the non-volatile semiconductor memory device, unlike the second embodiment.  
         [0049]    [0049]FIG. 7 shows the configuration of a charge pump circuit for producing a high voltage required for writing and erasing and a control circuit with the signal B. The charge pump circuit shown in FIG. 7 comprises diode-connected N-channel transistors Q 10  to QN, capacitors C 10  to CN for storing charge, inverters I 10 , I 11 , I 11   a,  I 12 , . . . IN for phase inversion required for pumping, an oscillation circuit  20 , an inverter  21  and a NAND gate  22  for controlling the output from the oscillation circuit  20  using the signal B. The signal B is input to one terminal of the NAND gate  22 .  
         [0050]    When the output from the oscillation circuit  20  shown in FIG. 7 is blocked using the circuit for producing the signal B shown in FIG. 5, a high voltage required for writing and erasing cannot be produced to inhibit rewriting of individual certification data written to the rewrite-inhibited region  2 .  
         [0051]    The present invention is not limited to the aforementioned embodiments. For example, while the first embodiment uses the pull-down resistor for setting the pad to the low level state with the pad open before the chip is sealed in a package, a pull-up resistor can be used to achieve the same object with an inverted logical circuit for producing the signal A.  
         [0052]    In addition, the aforementioned embodiments have been described for the unselected row selection circuit of the memory cell array forming the rewrite-inhibited region to erase and write the storage data in the nonvolatile memory element, erasing and writing of the storage data in the non-volatile memory elements constituting the rewrite-inhibited region can also be inhibited by setting a column selection circuit to an unselected state. The present invention can be embodied with various modifications added thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.  
         [0053]    As described above, according to the semiconductor device of the present invention, a rewrite-inhibited region for individual certification is formed using elements similar to typical non-volatile memory elements constituting a memory cell array, and a conventional means such as blowout of a fuse element is not required for providing a rewrite-inhibited function, thereby making it possible to provide a semiconductor memory device including a rewrite-inhibited region for individual certification without increasing manufacturing cost.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6