A semiconductor memory device including: first and second memory cells storing multi-bit data; a first word line coupled to the first memory cell; and a second word line connected to the second memory cell and adjacent to the first word line; wherein a period in which a first word line voltage for reading data stored in the first memory cell is applied includes: a first period in which a first voltage level is applied to read first bit data from the multi-bit data stored in the first memory cell; a second period having a second voltage level lower than the first voltage level; and a third period in which a third voltage level higher than the second voltage level is applied to read second bit data from the multi-bit data stored in the first memory cell, wherein in the second period, the second word line is in a floating state.

Systems, devices, and methods related to reset read are described. A reset read may be employed to initiate a transition of a portion of memory array into a first state or maintain a portion of memory array in a first state, such as a transient state. A reset read may provide a highly-parallelized, energy-efficient option to ensure memory blocks are in the first state. Various modes of reset read may be configured according to different input.

Techniques herein may allow a row of a subarray in a bank of a memory device to be activated before a precharge operation has been completed for a previously opened row of memory cells in the same bank. Each subarray within the bank may be associated with a respective local latching circuit, which may be used to maintain phases at the subarray independent of subsequent commands to the same bank. For example, the latching circuit may internalize timing signals triggered by a precharge command for a first row such that if an activation command is received for a different subarray in the same bank at a time before the precharge operation of the first row is complete, the precharge operation may continue until the first row is closed, as the timing signals triggered by the precharge command may be maintained locally at the subarray using the latching circuit.

Methods, systems, and devices for detection of illegal commands are described. A memory device, such as a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), may receive a command from a device, such as a host device, to perform an access operation on at least one memory cell of a memory device. The memory device may determine, using a detection component, that a timing threshold associated with an operation of the memory device would be violated by performing the access operation. The memory device may refrain from executing the access operation based on determining that performing the access operation included in the command would violate the timing threshold. The memory device may transmit, to the device, an indication that performing the command would violate the timing threshold.

Systems and methods for processing commands at a random access memory. A series of commands are received to read data from the random access memory or to write data to the random access memory. The random access memory can process commands at a first rate when the series of commands matches a pattern, and at a second, slower, rate when the series of commands does not match the pattern. A determination is made as to whether the series of commands matches the pattern based on at least a current command and a prior command in the series of commands. A ready signal is asserted when said determining determines that the series of commands matches the pattern, where the random access memory is configured to receive and process commands faster than the second rate when the pattern is matched and the ready signal is asserted over a period of multiple commands.

A determination that a first programming operation has been performed on a particular memory cell can be made. A determination can be made, based on one or more threshold criteria, whether the particular memory cell has transitioned from a state associated with a decreased error rate to another state associated with an increased error rate. In response to determining that the particular memory cell has transitioned from the state associated with the decreased error rate to the another state associated with the increased error rate, an operation can be performed on the particular memory cell to transition the particular memory cell from the another state associated with the increased error rate to the state associated with the decreased error rate.

In a flash semiconductor memory, sense and contiguous ECC coding operations are carried out over a range of V.sub.CC values without wasted time by allocating a predetermined number of clocks to the combined operations rather than to the individual operations and operating at higher frequency for high V.sub.CC values, and lower frequency for low V.sub.CC values.

An access method for a DRAM is provided. A plurality of portions of a row address of a bank corresponding to a activate command is provided. A plurality of sub-commands of the activate command are provided via a command bus, and a plurality of portions of address information regarding the portions of the row address are provided via an address bus. Each portion of the address information includes an individual portion of the row address of the bank. Each first sub-command corresponds to an individual address information. A specific sub-command of the activate command is provided via the command bus, and address information regarding a specific portion of the row address is provided. An access command corresponding to the bank is provided via the command bus after the sub-commands are provided.

The semiconductor memory device includes a memory block including a plurality of memory strings, a pass circuit connected between local word lines of the memory block and global word lines and configured to connect the local word lines to the global word lines in response to a block selection signal, and a voltage providing circuit configured to generate an operation voltage during a program or read operation, apply the operation voltage to the global word lines, and discharge the global word lines when the program operation or the read operation is completed, and the pass circuit is configured to control the local word lines to be in a floating state after the program operation or the read operation is completed and before discharging the global word lines.

A memory and a method for operating the memory are presented. The memory includes a memory cell, a sense amplifier configured to sense read data from the memory cell, a write driver configured to provide write data to the memory cell, a first circuit configured to enable the sense amplifier during a time period, and a second circuit configured to enable the write driver during at least a portion of the time period. The method includes enabling a sense amplifier to sense read data from a memory cell during a time period and enabling a write driver to provide write data to the memory cell during at least a portion of the time period. Another memory and method for operating the memory are presented. The memory and method further include an address input circuit configured to receive a write address while the sense amplifier is enabled.