Methods of operating
semiconductor memory devices with floating body transistors, using a
silicon controlled
rectifier principle are provided, as are
semiconductor memory devices for performing such operations. A method of maintaining the data state of a
semiconductor dynamic random access memory cell is provided, wherein the
memory cell comprises a substrate being made of a material having a first
conductivity type selected from p-type
conductivity type and n-type
conductivity type; a first region having a second conductivity type selected from the p-type and n-type conductivity types, the second conductivity type being different from the first conductivity type; a second region having the second conductivity type, the second region being spaced apart from the first region; a buried layer in the substrate below the first and second regions, spaced apart from the first and second regions and having the second conductivity type; a
body region formed between the first and second regions and the buried layer, the
body region having the first conductivity type; and a gate positioned between the first and second regions and adjacent the
body region. The
memory cell is configured to store a first data state which corresponds to a first charge in the body region in a first configuration, and a second data state which corresponds to a second charge in the body region in a second configuration. The method includes: providing the
memory cell storing one of the first and second data states; and applying a positive
voltage to a substrate terminal connected to the substrate beneath the buried layer, wherein when the body region is in the first state, the body region turns on a
silicon controlled
rectifier device of the
cell and current flows through the device to maintain configuration of the memory
cell in the first memory state, and wherein when the memory cell is in the second state, the body region does not turn on the
silicon controlled
rectifier device, current does not flow, and a blocking operation results, causing the body to maintain the second memory state.