Patent ID: 8837250

Claim:
A word line decoder comprising: a plurality of driver circuits; a plurality of word lines provided at respective outputs of the driver circuits; a plurality of primary input lines coupled to the driver circuits, the primary input lines oriented in a first direction; a plurality of secondary input lines coupled to the driver circuits, the secondary input lines oriented in the first direction; a local decode line coupled to each of the primary input lines; a decode line coupled to the local decode line, the decode line oriented in the first direction; and a cluster decode line coupled to the decode line, wherein the cluster decode line is different than the local decode line, one end of the decode line is joined to the local decode line, and another end of the decode line is directly joined to the cluster decode line; wherein the word line decoder is configured to select at least one of the word lines based on signals provided by the cluster decode line and the secondary input lines, wherein the cluster decode line is oriented in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and is configured to terminate at or an insubstantial distance past an interconnection with the decode line.