Patent ID: 8830783

Claim:
A semiconductor memory storage device for storing digital data comprising one of two digital values a first digital value represented by a predetermined higher voltage level and a second digital value by a predetermined lower voltage level: a plurality of storage cells for storing data each storage cell comprising an access control device for providing a corresponding storage cell with access to or isolation from a data access port in response to an access control signal; access control circuitry for transmitting said access control signal along an access control line to control each of said access control devices connected to said access control line; said access control circuitry being responsive to a data access request signal to access a selected storage cell connected to said access control line to transmit said access control signal by increasing a voltage level supplied to said access control line to a first voltage level at a first average rate and then in response to receipt of a further signal to increase said voltage level supplied to said access control line from said first voltage level to said predetermined higher voltage level, wherein a further average rate of increase of said voltage level from said first to said predetermined higher voltage level is lower than said first average rate of increase, wherein said access control circuitry comprises a low resistance switch and a higher resistance switch, said access control circuitry being configured to provide said first average rate by connecting said first voltage level to said access control line via said low resistance switch and to provide said further average rate by connecting said access control line to said predetermined higher voltage level via said higher resistance switch and not via said low resistance switch, wherein said data access request signal comprises a write request and said access control circuitry is responsive to receipt of a further boost control signal to connect said access control line to a boosted voltage level higher than said predetermined higher voltage level, said boosted voltage level facilitating storage of a data value present on said data access port in said selected storage cell.