WO2005091714A2 - Apparatus and methods for multi-level sensing in a memory array - Google Patents
Apparatus and methods for multi-level sensing in a memory array Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2005091714A2 WO2005091714A2 PCT/IL2004/001107 IL2004001107W WO2005091714A2 WO 2005091714 A2 WO2005091714 A2 WO 2005091714A2 IL 2004001107 W IL2004001107 W IL 2004001107W WO 2005091714 A2 WO2005091714 A2 WO 2005091714A2
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- analog voltage
- cell
- signal
- memory
- time delay
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
- G11C—STATIC STORES
- G11C11/00—Digital stores characterised by the use of particular electric or magnetic storage elements; Storage elements therefor
- G11C11/56—Digital stores characterised by the use of particular electric or magnetic storage elements; Storage elements therefor using storage elements with more than two stable states represented by steps, e.g. of voltage, current, phase, frequency
- G11C11/5621—Digital stores characterised by the use of particular electric or magnetic storage elements; Storage elements therefor using storage elements with more than two stable states represented by steps, e.g. of voltage, current, phase, frequency using charge storage in a floating gate
- G11C11/5642—Sensing or reading circuits; Data output circuits
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
- G11C—STATIC STORES
- G11C16/00—Erasable programmable read-only memories
- G11C16/02—Erasable programmable read-only memories electrically programmable
- G11C16/06—Auxiliary circuits, e.g. for writing into memory
- G11C16/32—Timing circuits
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
- G11C—STATIC STORES
- G11C2211/00—Indexing scheme relating to digital stores characterized by the use of particular electric or magnetic storage elements; Storage elements therefor
- G11C2211/56—Indexing scheme relating to G11C11/56 and sub-groups for features not covered by these groups
- G11C2211/563—Multilevel memory reading aspects
- G11C2211/5634—Reference cells
Definitions
- the present invention relates generally to semiconductor memories, and more particularly to devices for multi-level sensing of signals received from a memory cell.
- RAM random access memory
- ROM devices such as random access memory (RAM), read-only memory
- a memory device includes an array of memory cells and peripheral supporting systems for managing, programming/erasing and data retrieval operations.
- SA sense amplifier
- sense amplifiers determine the logical value stored in a cell by comparing the output of the cell (voltage or current) with a threshold level (voltage or current). If the output is above the threshold, the cell is determined to be erased (with a logical value of 1) and if the output is below the threshold, the cell is determined to be programmed (with a logical value of 0).
- the threshold level is typically set as a level between the expected erased and programmed levels, which is high enough (or sufficiently far from both expected levels) so that noise on the output will not cause false results.
- FIG. 1 An example of a prior art sense amplifier circuit is shown in Fig. 1. This sense amplifier circuit is similar to a sense amplifier described in US Patent 6,469,929 to
- FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art sensing system for a memory array 110, which includes a plurality of memory cells arranged in any number of rows and columns.
- a memory cell 111 is to be read (i.e. sensed).
- Memory cell 111 has its drain and source terminals coupled to array bit lines BN and BN+1 and its control terminal coupled to a word line Wl.
- Memory cell 111 is selectively coupled to a system bit line BL using a column decoder 104 (for selecting the array bit lines) and a row decoder 103 (for selecting the word lines).
- the system bit line BL may include an associated parasitic capacitance CBL that is proportional to the number of memory cells coupled to the selected array bit line.
- a memory cell 113 has its drain and source terminals coupled to array bit lines BM and BM+1 and its control terminal coupled to a word line Wl.
- Memory cell 113 is selectively coupled to a system bit line BL_REF using a column decoder 105 (for selecting the array bit lines) and a row decoder 106 (for selecting the word lines).
- the system bit line BL may include an associated parasitic capacitance CREF_BL that is proportional to the number of memory cells coupled to the selected array bit line.
- the array bit line BN is coupled to the system bit line BL, the array bit line BN+1 is coupled to a predetermined voltage (e.g. ground), and the word line Wl is coupled to a read voltage (e.g., 3 volts).
- a predetermined voltage e.g. ground
- the word line Wl is coupled to a read voltage (e.g., 3 volts).
- the system bit line BL may be charged to a predetermined level (e.g., approximately 2N) before the sensing of memory cell 111.
- the optimal charging of the system bit line BL may facilitate a quick transition to the predetermined voltage without overshooting this predetermined voltage.
- This charging operation may be initiated using a charge initiation device P2 and advantageously controlled using a control unit 120 (control unit 121 for the right side of Fig. 1) that quickly and efficiently charges the system bit line BL.
- an active signal CHARGE turns on charge initiation device P2 (P7 for the right side of Fig. 1).
- Charge initiation device P2 may comprise a P OS (p-channel metal oxide semiconductor) transistor, wherein the active signal CHARGE is a logic 0.
- P OS p-channel metal oxide semiconductor
- charge initiation device P2 transfers a pull-up signal provided by the sense amplifier 145 (explained in detail below) to control unit 120.
- Control unit 12O may comprise a static clamp including an ⁇ MOS
- the transistor Nl may have its drain connected to charge initiation device P2 and its source connected to system bit line BL.
- Transistor Nl receives a bias voltage NB on its gate.
- Bias voltage NB is the gate bias voltage for transistor ⁇ l as defined by: NT ⁇ VB ⁇ NBLD+VT ⁇ wherein VBLD is the desired voltage on bit line BL and VTN is the threshold voltage of the n-type transistor (e.g., 0.6N).
- VBLD is the desired voltage on bit line BL
- VTN is the threshold voltage of the n-type transistor (e.g., 0.6N).
- transistor ⁇ l charges bit line BL very quickly to VB-VT ⁇ .
- transistor ⁇ l transitions to non-conducting, i.e. the static clamp deactivates, and the dynamic clamp is activated (as explained below).
- the dynamic clamp of control unit 120 may include PMOS transistor
- the dynamic clamp further comprises a comparator Cl (C2 for the right side of Fig. 1), which compares a reference voltage BIAS and the bit line voltage BL and then outputs a signal VG representative of that comparison. Specifically, comparator Cl outputs a low signal VG if VBL is less than BIAS and outputs a high signal VG if VBL is greater than BIAS (or if comparator Cl is disabled).
- the reference voltage BIAS may be approximately equal to the desired bit line voltage VBLD on the system bit line BL.
- the transistor PI receives the signal VG on its control gate.
- Sense amplifier 145 may include first stages 130 and 131 and second stage
- the first stage 130 includes a pull-up device N4, which is an NMOS transistor having its drain and gate connected to a supply voltage VDD and its source connected to charge initiation device P2, and a current sensing device P3, which is a PMOS transistor having its drain and gate connected to charge initiation device P2 and its source connected to the supply voltage VDD. Note that in this configuration, current sensing device P3 advantageously functions as a diode, which is explained in further detail below. [0016]
- the first stage 131 has an identical configuration to first stage 130.
- first stage 131 includes a pull-up device N3, which is an NMOS transistor having its drain and gate connected to a supply voltage VDD and its source connected to charge initiation device P7, and a current sensing device P6, which is a PMOS transistor having its drain and gate connected to charge initiation device P7 and its source connected to the supply voltage VDD.
- a pull-up device N3 which is an NMOS transistor having its drain and gate connected to a supply voltage VDD and its source connected to charge initiation device P7
- a current sensing device P6 which is a PMOS transistor having its drain and gate connected to charge initiation device P7 and its source connected to the supply voltage VDD.
- both pull-up transistor N4 (N3) and current sensing device P3 (P6) conduct strongly.
- the system bit line BL initially receives a pull-up voltage of NDD-VTN via pull-up transistor N4 ( 3).
- the voltage on the system bit line BL increases to NDD-NTP, wherein NTP is the threshold voltage of the PMOS transistor.
- NTP is the threshold voltage of the PMOS transistor.
- the voltage NDD-NTP is substantially equal to the desired system bit line voltage VBLD. At this point, this increased voltage on the system bit line BL turns off pull-up transistor ⁇ 4 (N3).
- current sensing device P3 (P6) is connected as a diode, only current IBL (IBL_REF) is detected. Therefore, depending on the state of the sensed memory cell, a predetermined current can flow through current sensing device P3 (P6).
- a latch circuit 141 may amplify and compare currents II and 12.
- VDD_MLN a minimum voltage
- VDD_MIN VDIODE_MAX + VBL_MIN + Vp ⁇ /p 8 + Vp 2 /p (1)
- VDIODE_MAX is the maximum voltage drop across
- VBL_MIN is the minimum acceptable bit line voltage for the non- volatile memory technology
- VP1/P8 is the drain-to-source voltage drop of PMOS transistor PI (or PMOS transistor P8)
- VP2/P7 equal to the drain-to-source voltage drop on PMOS transistor P2 (or PMOS transistor P7).
- VDIODE_MAX is equal to 1.0 Volt
- VBL_MLN is equal to 1.8 Volts
- VP1/P8 and VP2/P7 are equal to 0.05 Volts
- the minimum supply voltage VDD_MIN is equal to 2.9 Volts (1.8V + IV + 0.05V + 0.05V). In such a case, memory device 100 would not be usable in applications that use a VDD supply voltage lower than 2.9 Volts.
- sense amplifier first stages 130 and 131 are sensitive to noise in the VDD supply voltage. If, during a read operation, the VDD supply voltage rises to an increased voltage of VDD_OVERSHOOT, then the voltages VSAl and VSA2 on the drains of PMOS transistors P3 and P6 rise to a level approximately equal to VDD_OVERSHOOT minus a diode voltage drop. If the VDD supply voltage then falls to a reduced voltage of VDDJUNDERSHOOT, then transistors P3 and P6 may be turned off. At this time, sense amplifier first stages 130 and 131 cannot operate until the cell currents IBL and IBL_REF discharge the voltages VSAl and VSA2. If the cell cunent IBL is low, then sense amplifier first stage 130 will remain turned off until the end of the read operation, thereby causing the read operation to fail.
- the present invention seeks to provide apparatus and methods for multi-level sensing in a memory array, as is described more in detail hereinbelow. [0025] The present invention enables multi-level sensing at a lower voltage operation. The multi-level sensing may not be sensitive to Vdd noise (over/under shoots). [0026] There is thus provided in accordance with an embodiment of the invention a method for sensing a signal received from an anay cell within a memory anay, the method including the steps of generating an analog voltage Vddr proportional to a current of a selected array cell of the memory anay, and comparing the analog voltage Vddr with a reference analog voltage Vcomp to generate an output digital signal.
- the method further includes providing a reference unit with a reference cell having a similar structure and a similar cunent path therethrough to that of the array cell, and providing a drain driver for driving drain bit lines of the memory array and reference drain bit lines of the reference unit, wherein the drain driver generates the analog voltage Vddr.
- the method further includes discharging the memory array and the reference unit, charging the memory array and the reference unit so as to generate an array cell signal and a reference signal, respectively, and a timing signal, generating a read signal when the timing signal reaches a predefined voltage level, and generating a sensing signal from the difference of the cell and reference signals once the read signal is generated.
- a method for sensing a memory cell including the steps of transforming a signal from a memory cell to a time delay, and sensing the memory cell by comparing the time delay to a time delay of a reference cell.
- the time delay may include a digital signal delay.
- At least one of rise and fall times of the time delays may be compared.
- Transforming the signal from the memory cell to the time delay may include generating an analog voltage Vddr proportional to a cunent of the memory cell.
- the analog voltage Vddr may be compared with a reference analog voltage Vcomp to generate an output digital signal.
- apparatus for sensing a signal received from an array cell within a memory array, the apparatus including a drain driver adapted to generate an analog voltage Vddr proportional to a current of a selected anay cell of the memory anay, and a comparator adapted to compare the analog voltage Vddr with a reference analog voltage Vcomp to generate an output digital signal.
- a reference unit may be provided with a reference cell having a similar structure and a similar cunent path therethrough to that of the anay cell, wherein the drain driver is adapted to drive drain bit lines of the memory array and reference drain bit lines of the reference unit.
- a data unit may receive the output digital signal.
- the comparator compares the analog voltage Vddr with a reference analog voltage Vcomp and generates the output digital signal in the following manner: if the analog voltage Vddr is greater than the reference analog voltage Vcomp then a low output digital signal is output, and if the analog voltage Vddr is not greater than the reference analog voltage Vcomp then a high output digital signal is output.
- apparatus for sensing a memory cell including a driver adapted to transform a signal from a memory cell to a time delay, and a comparator adapted to compare the time delay to a time delay of a reference cell.
- FIG. 1 is a simplified illustration of a prior art sensing system for a memory anay, which includes a plurality of memory cells arranged in any number of rows and columns;
- FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of a memory sensing system, constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 3 is a simplified block diagram of a memory cell anay, which may be read by the memory sensing system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention
- Fig. 4 is a simplified block dia ram of a drain driver of the memory sensing system, constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention
- Fig. 5 is a simplified graphical illmstration of waveforms of the drain driver signals, in accordance with an embodiment of th-e present invention
- Fig. 6 is a simplified graphical illustration of waveforms of comparator signals of the memory sensing system of Fig. 2, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention
- Fig. 7 is a simplified block diagram of a data unit of the memory sensing system, constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention
- Fig. 8 is a simplified graphical illustration of the distribution of the threshold voltages of reference memory cells of the memory sensing system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention
- Fig. 9 is a simplified graphical illustration of waveforms of the drain driver signals, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, different from that of Fig. 5;
- FIG. 10 is a simplified block diagram of " a memory sensing system, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
- Fig. 11 is a simplified block diagram- of the drain driver for the embodiment of Fig. 10, constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
- Fig. 12 is a simplified graphical illustration of the waveforms of the drain driver signals, for the embodiment of Fig. 10.
- FIG. 2 illustrates a memory sensing system, constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
- Fig. 3 illustrates a memory cell anay 10, which may be read by the memory sensing system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
- Memory cells of array 10 are ananged in row and columns, and each memory cell is accessed during read, program, or erase operations by applying appropriate voltages associated word and bit lines.
- the gate terminal of memory cell MCji is preferably connected to an associated word line (WL) WLi, and the drain and source terminals are preferably connected to associated bit lines (BLs) BLj and BLj+1.
- Memory cells of anay 10 may be addressed using a word line control circuit, i.e., row decoder 12, and a bit line control circuit, i.e., column decoder 14, according to input addresses signals Xaddr ⁇ h:0> and Yaddr ⁇ p:0>, respectively.
- Row decoder 12 provides an appropriated word line voltage to WL.
- Column decoder 14 connects selected drain bit lines (DBL) and source bit lines (SBL) of a memory cell to DBL and SBL inputs conespondingly.
- DBL drain bit lines
- SBL source bit lines
- a plurality of memory cells connected to the same selected word line may be accessed simultaneously.
- k+1 memory cells may be accessed simultaneously.
- column decoder 14 may have k+1 DBL and SBL nodes: DBL ⁇ k:0>, SBL ⁇ k:0>.
- the nodes SBL ⁇ k:0> may be connected to ground (GND) during the read operation.
- the source voltage of the selected memory cells may be close to GND.
- the memory sensing system may comprise one or more reference units 16 with one or more reference memory cells (RMCs) having a structure and cunent path therethrough similar to that of the array cells.
- the refere-nce unit may emulate the elements found in the cunent path from node DBL through MC to be read to node SBL. This may provide RC (resistance-capacitance) matching of the two paths.
- Drain drivers 18 may be provided for driving the drain bit line s of anay 10 and the reference drain bit lines of reference units 16. Reference is now ma.de to Fig. 4, wliich illustrates an example of a suitable drain driver 18, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
- Drain driver 18 may comprise a PMOS (p-channel metal oxide semiconductor) pull-up transistor M0, wherein its gate terminal receives a logical signal input (chargeb), its source terminal receives a voltage input Nps and its drain tenninal is connected to a node 20.
- An ⁇ MOS (n-channel metal oxide semiconductor) clamp transistor Ml may provided whose drain terminal is connected to the drain terminal of PMOS pull-up transistor M0 via node 20, whose gate terminal receives an input Vblr and whose source terminal is connected to the DBL input of the column decoder 14.
- An integrated capacitor Cint may be com ected to a node 21, which is connected to a node 20 and a node ddr.
- Drain driver 18 may execute two functions during a read opera-tion: a. provision of the required drain voltage of a memory cell during the read operation, and b. generation of a signal at node ddr (voltage Vddr) proportional to t e cunent of a selected memory cell.
- the voltage Nps enters the drain of the ⁇ MOS clamp transistor Ml through the open PMOS pull-up tiransistor M0.
- the reduced voltage is transfened from the column decoder 14 to the drain terminal of the memory cell of the anay 10.
- Fig. 5 which illustrates waveforms of the drain driver signals, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
- a logical signal chargeb is high and therefore PMOS pull-up transistor M0 is turned off (not conducting).
- the signal chargeb goes down to 0V and turns on PMOS pull-up transistor M0 (i.e., it is now conducting).
- the signal ddr rises to Vps, and the drain bit line of the selected memory cell (both DBL nodes) becomes charged to voltage Vd.
- Cunent begins to flow through the memory cell.
- the cunent of the path asymptotically stabilizes at the memory cell (MC) read cunent level, IMC.
- the signal chargeb returns to its high level Vps, thereby turning off PMOS transistor M0 again.
- a signal boost may be optionally coupled to ground.
- the signal boost may rise from OV to Vboost.
- the voltage of node ddr rises from its previous level Vps to voltage Vps + Vbst, where
- Vbst Vboost*C ⁇ /C in t (2) wherein C ⁇ is the total capacity of the node ddr; [0058] Since the capacity Cint is significantly greater than other (parasitic)
- I ⁇ is the cunent through node DBL ⁇ , which equals I MC - [0060]
- cunent IMCij is integrated on capacitor Ciot.
- the voltage Nddr varies linearly with respect to the selected MC cunent IMCji and varies inversely with respect to the capacitance of capacitor Cint.
- the ⁇ MOS transistor Ml works in saturation.
- the capacitance of the node ddr may be independent from the drain bit line capacitance, which may be a few orders of magnitude greater than Cint.
- the voltage of the nodes DBL and BL may remain at Nd duiing the time that Nddr(t) is developing, and therefore the drain-source voltage of the selected memory cell MCji remains constant as well.
- the drain drivers 18 for driving the drain bit lines of array 10 are preferably identical to the drain drivers for the reference units 16 (i.e., drain drivers ⁇ ref0:refm> in Fig. 2). Therefore, the signals rddr ⁇ m:0> are developed similarly to ddr(t):
- I ⁇ is the read cunent of ⁇ -th reference memory cell.
- the memory sensing system may comprise one or morre comparators 22 for anay 10 (i.e., comparators ⁇ 0:k>) and for reference units 16 (i.e., comparators ⁇ ref0:refm>).
- Comparator 22 compares the analog voltage Vddr with a reference analog voltage Vcomp and generates an output digital signal cmp according "to the follow rule shown in Table 1 : Table 1
- a voltage of the signal Vcomp is disposed in an interval [Vd, Vps + Vbst]. Hence, in the time interval TI to T2, all signals cmp ⁇ 0:k> are low (logical level "0"). The signal cmp may be inverted to a high logical level at time:
- each comparator signal of the comparators 22 may be transmitted to the input of a data unit 24 together with the output signals lat ⁇ m:0> of the reference comparators.
- Fig. 7 illustrates one example of data unit 24, constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
- the signal cmp is provided to the D-input of m digital latches 26.
- Each digital latch 26 may receive one of the lat signals of the reference comparators at its Eb-input.
- the digital latches 26 may function according to the follow rule shown in Table 3 : Table 3 Eb Q
- the reference units 16 may comprise reference memory cells (RefO to Refm). Reference is now made to Fig. 8, which illustrates a distribution of the threshold voltages (VtrefO to Ntrefm) of the reference memory cells, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
- the threshold voltages may be distributed in m+1 zones in intervals along the Nt axis.
- the threshold voltage Nto of some cell which corresponds with the channel number ⁇ of the sensing (dbl ⁇ >-ddr ⁇ >-cmp ⁇ >), may be in zone ⁇ .
- the threshold voltage Nto is greater than the threshold voltages in the previous zones (that is, NtrefO to Ntref( ⁇ -1)), and less than the threshold voltages in the next zones (that is, Ntref ⁇ to Vtrefm).
- the cunent Io of that cell is greater than the cunent in the next zones (Iref ⁇ to Irefm), and less than the current in the previous zones (IrefO to Iref( ⁇ -1)).
- An operation voltage Vps of the memory sensing system may equal:
- VpS_ m in NMl ds + V cd + V M Cds + V c d, (7)
- N M i ds is the drain/source voltage of the transistor Ml in the drain driver
- V cd is the column decoder voltage drop
- Vi ic d s is the drain/source voltage of the memory cell.
- VDIODE_MAX the minimum supply voltage Vps_min is less than the prior art VDD_MIN (see equation (1) above in the background of the invention) by VDIODE_MAX, and approaches the minimal voltage VBL_MLN.
- VDIODE_MAX may be approximately equal to one volt, for example. This means that the present invention may be used in applications that use a VDD supply voltage lower than 2.9 V, down to 1.9 V, an improvement of over 34%.
- the present invention may transform a signal (e.g., current) from the memory cell to a time delay (e.g., a digital signal delay) and compare the time delay to a time delay of a reference cell (e.g., the rise or fall times of the signals).
- the drain driver operates at a low (close to minimal) voltage to generate the analog signal Vddr.
- the signal Vddr is preferably linearly dependent upon the memory cell cunent.
- the memory cell current is preferably integrated on the local capacitor.
- the present invention may be used as a multi-level sensing system for a multiplicity of reference units.
- the invention may also be used for a single reference unit.
- signals from the memory cells are coupled in a one-to-one correspondence to the sense amplifiers.
- the reference memory cells are coupled in parallel to all of the sense amplifiers. This results in a significant mismatch between two sense amplifier input signals, because one of them (from the array) is connected to a single sense amplifier whereas the other (from the reference) is connected to all of the sense amplifiers. The mismatch may lead to enors in read data.
- all the analog signals from the anay cells and the reference cells are matched, as described hereinabove.
- Fig. 9 illustrates waveforms of the drain driver signals, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, different from that of Fig. 5.
- node Vps is connected to the system voltage supply Vdd until a time Tps, when power dissipation is maximal for charging the read path parasitic capacitors. At time Tps, the cunent through node Vps is significantly lower
- node Vps is switched to a higher voltage supply than
- Vdd This embodiment may be useful to increase the possible range of boosting Vddr.
- Fig. 10 illustrates a memory sensing system, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention
- Fig. 11 illustrates the drain driver for the embodiment of Fig. 10.
- the nodes SBL ⁇ k:0> may be connected to the comparator inputs instead of the ddr ⁇ k:0> signals, as shown in Fig. 10.
- the drain driver circuit is a simplified version of the drain driver circuit of Fig. 4.
- Fig. 12 illustrates the waveforms of the drain driver signals, in accordance with this embodiment of the invention. The development of the signals
- SBL ⁇ k:0> may be as described in US Patent 6,128,226 to Eitan and Dadashev, assigned to the common assignee of the present application.
Abstract
Description
Claims
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US10/810,683 | 2004-03-29 | ||
US10/810,683 US7142464B2 (en) | 2003-04-29 | 2004-03-29 | Apparatus and methods for multi-level sensing in a memory array |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2005091714A2 true WO2005091714A2 (en) | 2005-10-06 |
WO2005091714A3 WO2005091714A3 (en) | 2006-05-04 |
Family
ID=35056605
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/IL2004/001107 WO2005091714A2 (en) | 2004-03-29 | 2004-12-06 | Apparatus and methods for multi-level sensing in a memory array |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (2) | US7142464B2 (en) |
TW (1) | TWI379306B (en) |
WO (1) | WO2005091714A2 (en) |
Families Citing this family (33)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US7312641B2 (en) * | 2004-12-28 | 2007-12-25 | Spansion Llc | Sense amplifiers with high voltage swing |
CN101095275B (en) * | 2004-12-30 | 2010-06-16 | Nxp股份有限公司 | Monitoring the temperature dependence of the external capacitors of a charge pump and improved charge pumps based thereon |
US7558149B2 (en) * | 2006-01-24 | 2009-07-07 | Macronix International Co., Ltd. | Method and apparatus to control sensing time for nonvolatile memory |
WO2008056294A1 (en) * | 2006-11-08 | 2008-05-15 | Nxp B.V. | Read enhancement for memory |
US7580297B2 (en) * | 2007-03-30 | 2009-08-25 | Infineon Technologies Ag | Readout of multi-level storage cells |
US20090129166A1 (en) * | 2007-11-15 | 2009-05-21 | Eduardo Maayan | Method, circuit and system for sensing a cell in a non-volatile memory array |
US8717802B2 (en) | 2010-09-13 | 2014-05-06 | International Business Machines Corporation | Reconfigurable multi-level sensing scheme for semiconductor memories |
CN103366804B (en) | 2012-03-30 | 2017-10-13 | 硅存储技术公司 | The Nonvolatile memory devices of sense amplifier are injected with electric current |
US20140233339A1 (en) * | 2013-02-18 | 2014-08-21 | Spansion Llc. | Apparatus and method to reduce bit line disturbs |
US9911492B2 (en) | 2014-01-17 | 2018-03-06 | International Business Machines Corporation | Writing multiple levels in a phase change memory using a write reference voltage that incrementally ramps over a write period |
US9830999B2 (en) | 2014-06-05 | 2017-11-28 | Micron Technology, Inc. | Comparison operations in memory |
US9898252B2 (en) | 2014-09-03 | 2018-02-20 | Micron Technology, Inc. | Multiplication operations in memory |
US9747961B2 (en) | 2014-09-03 | 2017-08-29 | Micron Technology, Inc. | Division operations in memory |
US9589602B2 (en) | 2014-09-03 | 2017-03-07 | Micron Technology, Inc. | Comparison operations in memory |
US9904515B2 (en) | 2014-09-03 | 2018-02-27 | Micron Technology, Inc. | Multiplication operations in memory |
US10032493B2 (en) | 2015-01-07 | 2018-07-24 | Micron Technology, Inc. | Longest element length determination in memory |
US9460760B2 (en) * | 2015-01-23 | 2016-10-04 | Globalfoundries Inc. | Data-dependent self-biased differential sense amplifier |
US9583163B2 (en) | 2015-02-03 | 2017-02-28 | Micron Technology, Inc. | Loop structure for operations in memory |
US9741399B2 (en) | 2015-03-11 | 2017-08-22 | Micron Technology, Inc. | Data shift by elements of a vector in memory |
US9898253B2 (en) | 2015-03-11 | 2018-02-20 | Micron Technology, Inc. | Division operations on variable length elements in memory |
US10146537B2 (en) | 2015-03-13 | 2018-12-04 | Micron Technology, Inc. | Vector population count determination in memory |
US9892767B2 (en) | 2016-02-12 | 2018-02-13 | Micron Technology, Inc. | Data gathering in memory |
US9697876B1 (en) | 2016-03-01 | 2017-07-04 | Micron Technology, Inc. | Vertical bit vector shift in memory |
US9910637B2 (en) | 2016-03-17 | 2018-03-06 | Micron Technology, Inc. | Signed division in memory |
US10607665B2 (en) | 2016-04-07 | 2020-03-31 | Micron Technology, Inc. | Span mask generation |
US10153008B2 (en) | 2016-04-20 | 2018-12-11 | Micron Technology, Inc. | Apparatuses and methods for performing corner turn operations using sensing circuitry |
US9659605B1 (en) | 2016-04-20 | 2017-05-23 | Micron Technology, Inc. | Apparatuses and methods for performing corner turn operations using sensing circuitry |
US10042608B2 (en) | 2016-05-11 | 2018-08-07 | Micron Technology, Inc. | Signed division in memory |
US11029951B2 (en) | 2016-08-15 | 2021-06-08 | Micron Technology, Inc. | Smallest or largest value element determination |
US10147467B2 (en) | 2017-04-17 | 2018-12-04 | Micron Technology, Inc. | Element value comparison in memory |
US10043570B1 (en) | 2017-04-17 | 2018-08-07 | Micron Technology, Inc. | Signed element compare in memory |
CN112242172A (en) * | 2019-07-19 | 2021-01-19 | 四川省豆萁科技股份有限公司 | NOR flash memory and reference current comparison circuit thereof |
US11342010B2 (en) * | 2019-10-01 | 2022-05-24 | Macronix International Co., Ltd. | Managing bit line voltage generating circuits in memory devices |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6128227A (en) * | 1998-03-28 | 2000-10-03 | Hyundai Electronics Industries Co., Ltd. | Sense amplifier circuit in a flash memory device |
US6163484A (en) * | 1998-04-27 | 2000-12-19 | Nec Corporation | Non-volatile semiconductor storage device having improved program/erase/over erase verify |
US6219290B1 (en) * | 1998-10-14 | 2001-04-17 | Macronix International Co., Ltd. | Memory cell sense amplifier |
US6400607B1 (en) * | 1999-10-29 | 2002-06-04 | Stmicroelectronics S.R.L. | Reading circuit for a non-volatile memory |
Family Cites Families (242)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB1392599A (en) | 1971-07-28 | 1975-04-30 | Mullard Ltd | Semiconductor memory elements |
US3881180A (en) | 1971-11-30 | 1975-04-29 | Texas Instruments Inc | Non-volatile memory cell |
US3895360A (en) * | 1974-01-29 | 1975-07-15 | Westinghouse Electric Corp | Block oriented random access memory |
US4016588A (en) * | 1974-12-27 | 1977-04-05 | Nippon Electric Company, Ltd. | Non-volatile semiconductor memory device |
US4017888A (en) * | 1975-12-31 | 1977-04-12 | International Business Machines Corporation | Non-volatile metal nitride oxide semiconductor device |
US4151021A (en) * | 1977-01-26 | 1979-04-24 | Texas Instruments Incorporated | Method of making a high density floating gate electrically programmable ROM |
US4145703A (en) | 1977-04-15 | 1979-03-20 | Supertex, Inc. | High power MOS device and fabrication method therefor |
US4173791A (en) | 1977-09-16 | 1979-11-06 | Fairchild Camera And Instrument Corporation | Insulated gate field-effect transistor read-only memory array |
US4173766A (en) | 1977-09-16 | 1979-11-06 | Fairchild Camera And Instrument Corporation | Insulated gate field-effect transistor read-only memory cell |
US4373248A (en) | 1978-07-12 | 1983-02-15 | Texas Instruments Incorporated | Method of making high density semiconductor device such as floating gate electrically programmable ROM or the like |
DE2832388C2 (en) * | 1978-07-24 | 1986-08-14 | Siemens Ag, 1000 Berlin Und 8000 Muenchen | Process for the production of MNOS and MOS transistors in silicon gate technology on a semiconductor substrate |
US4360900A (en) | 1978-11-27 | 1982-11-23 | Texas Instruments Incorporated | Non-volatile semiconductor memory elements |
US4247861A (en) | 1979-03-09 | 1981-01-27 | Rca Corporation | High performance electrically alterable read-only memory (EAROM) |
DE2923995C2 (en) | 1979-06-13 | 1985-11-07 | Siemens AG, 1000 Berlin und 8000 München | Process for the production of integrated MOS circuits with MOS transistors and MNOS memory transistors in silicon gate technology |
JPS5656677A (en) | 1979-10-13 | 1981-05-18 | Toshiba Corp | Semiconductor memory device |
US4281397A (en) * | 1979-10-29 | 1981-07-28 | Texas Instruments Incorporated | Virtual ground MOS EPROM or ROM matrix |
DE2947350A1 (en) * | 1979-11-23 | 1981-05-27 | Siemens AG, 1000 Berlin und 8000 München | METHOD FOR PRODUCING MNOS STORAGE TRANSISTORS WITH A VERY SHORT CHANNEL LENGTH IN SILICON GATE TECHNOLOGY |
JPS56120166A (en) | 1980-02-27 | 1981-09-21 | Hitachi Ltd | Semiconductor ic device and manufacture thereof |
US4342102A (en) * | 1980-06-18 | 1982-07-27 | Signetics Corporation | Semiconductor memory array |
US4380057A (en) | 1980-10-27 | 1983-04-12 | International Business Machines Corporation | Electrically alterable double dense memory |
US4521796A (en) * | 1980-12-11 | 1985-06-04 | General Instrument Corporation | Memory implant profile for improved channel shielding in electrically alterable read only memory semiconductor device |
EP0056195B1 (en) | 1980-12-25 | 1986-06-18 | Fujitsu Limited | Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device |
US4448400A (en) | 1981-07-13 | 1984-05-15 | Eliyahou Harari | Highly scalable dynamic RAM cell with self-signal amplification |
US4404747A (en) | 1981-07-29 | 1983-09-20 | Schur, Inc. | Knife and sheath assembly |
US4389705A (en) * | 1981-08-21 | 1983-06-21 | Mostek Corporation | Semiconductor memory circuit with depletion data transfer transistor |
US4388705A (en) * | 1981-10-01 | 1983-06-14 | Mostek Corporation | Semiconductor memory circuit |
US4435786A (en) | 1981-11-23 | 1984-03-06 | Fairchild Camera And Instrument Corporation | Self-refreshing memory cell |
US4494016A (en) | 1982-07-26 | 1985-01-15 | Sperry Corporation | High performance MESFET transistor for VLSI implementation |
US4527257A (en) * | 1982-08-25 | 1985-07-02 | Westinghouse Electric Corp. | Common memory gate non-volatile transistor memory |
JPS5949022A (en) * | 1982-09-13 | 1984-03-21 | Toshiba Corp | Multi-value logical circuit |
US4613956A (en) | 1983-02-23 | 1986-09-23 | Texas Instruments Incorporated | Floating gate memory with improved dielectric |
US4769340A (en) | 1983-11-28 | 1988-09-06 | Exel Microelectronics, Inc. | Method for making electrically programmable memory device by doping the floating gate by implant |
US4725984A (en) | 1984-02-21 | 1988-02-16 | Seeq Technology, Inc. | CMOS eprom sense amplifier |
JPS60182174A (en) | 1984-02-28 | 1985-09-17 | Nec Corp | Non-volatile semiconductor memory |
US4663645A (en) | 1984-05-23 | 1987-05-05 | Hitachi, Ltd. | Semiconductor device of an LDD structure having a floating gate |
US5352620A (en) | 1984-05-23 | 1994-10-04 | Hitachi, Ltd. | Method of making semiconductor device with memory cells and peripheral transistors |
US4665426A (en) | 1985-02-01 | 1987-05-12 | Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. | EPROM with ultraviolet radiation transparent silicon nitride passivation layer |
US4761764A (en) | 1985-04-18 | 1988-08-02 | Nec Corporation | Programmable read only memory operable with reduced programming power consumption |
US4667217A (en) * | 1985-04-19 | 1987-05-19 | Ncr Corporation | Two bit vertically/horizontally integrated memory cell |
JPH0831789B2 (en) | 1985-09-04 | 1996-03-27 | 沖電気工業株式会社 | Output circuit |
US4742491A (en) * | 1985-09-26 | 1988-05-03 | Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. | Memory cell having hot-hole injection erase mode |
US4760555A (en) | 1986-04-21 | 1988-07-26 | Texas Instruments Incorporated | Memory array with an array reorganizer |
JPH0828431B2 (en) * | 1986-04-22 | 1996-03-21 | 日本電気株式会社 | Semiconductor memory device |
US4758869A (en) | 1986-08-29 | 1988-07-19 | Waferscale Integration, Inc. | Nonvolatile floating gate transistor structure |
US5168334A (en) | 1987-07-31 | 1992-12-01 | Texas Instruments, Incorporated | Non-volatile semiconductor memory |
US4780424A (en) | 1987-09-28 | 1988-10-25 | Intel Corporation | Process for fabricating electrically alterable floating gate memory devices |
US4870470A (en) | 1987-10-16 | 1989-09-26 | International Business Machines Corporation | Non-volatile memory cell having Si rich silicon nitride charge trapping layer |
US4839705A (en) | 1987-12-16 | 1989-06-13 | Texas Instruments Incorporated | X-cell EEPROM array |
JPH07120720B2 (en) * | 1987-12-17 | 1995-12-20 | 三菱電機株式会社 | Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device |
US5159570A (en) | 1987-12-22 | 1992-10-27 | Texas Instruments Incorporated | Four memory state EEPROM |
US4888735A (en) | 1987-12-30 | 1989-12-19 | Elite Semiconductor & Systems Int'l., Inc. | ROM cell and array configuration |
US4857770A (en) | 1988-02-29 | 1989-08-15 | Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. | Output buffer arrangement for reducing chip noise without speed penalty |
US5268870A (en) * | 1988-06-08 | 1993-12-07 | Eliyahou Harari | Flash EEPROM system and intelligent programming and erasing methods therefor |
US4941028A (en) * | 1988-08-10 | 1990-07-10 | Actel Corporation | Structure for protecting thin dielectrics during processing |
JPH0271493A (en) * | 1988-09-06 | 1990-03-12 | Mitsubishi Electric Corp | Semiconductor memory device |
US5042009A (en) * | 1988-12-09 | 1991-08-20 | Waferscale Integration, Inc. | Method for programming a floating gate memory device |
US5293563A (en) * | 1988-12-29 | 1994-03-08 | Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha | Multi-level memory cell with increased read-out margin |
US5120672A (en) | 1989-02-22 | 1992-06-09 | Texas Instruments Incorporated | Fabricating a single level merged EEPROM cell having an ONO memory stack substantially spaced from the source region |
US5142495A (en) | 1989-03-10 | 1992-08-25 | Intel Corporation | Variable load for margin mode |
DE3931596A1 (en) | 1989-03-25 | 1990-10-04 | Eurosil Electronic Gmbh | VOLTAGE MULTIPLIER |
US5172338B1 (en) | 1989-04-13 | 1997-07-08 | Sandisk Corp | Multi-state eeprom read and write circuits and techniques |
US4961010A (en) | 1989-05-19 | 1990-10-02 | National Semiconductor Corporation | Output buffer for reducing switching induced noise |
US5104819A (en) * | 1989-08-07 | 1992-04-14 | Intel Corporation | Fabrication of interpoly dielctric for EPROM-related technologies |
US5027321A (en) * | 1989-11-21 | 1991-06-25 | Intel Corporation | Apparatus and method for improved reading/programming of virtual ground EPROM arrays |
US4992391A (en) | 1989-11-29 | 1991-02-12 | Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. | Process for fabricating a control gate for a floating gate FET |
US5204835A (en) * | 1990-06-13 | 1993-04-20 | Waferscale Integration Inc. | Eprom virtual ground array |
EP0461904A3 (en) * | 1990-06-14 | 1992-09-09 | Creative Integrated Systems, Inc. | An improved semiconductor read-only vlsi memory |
US5075245A (en) | 1990-08-03 | 1991-12-24 | Intel Corporation | Method for improving erase characteristics of buried bit line flash EPROM devices without using sacrificial oxide growth and removal steps |
US5618710A (en) * | 1990-08-03 | 1997-04-08 | Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | Crosslinked enzyme crystals |
US5289406A (en) * | 1990-08-28 | 1994-02-22 | Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha | Read only memory for storing multi-data |
US5117389A (en) * | 1990-09-05 | 1992-05-26 | Macronix International Co., Ltd. | Flat-cell read-only-memory integrated circuit |
US5892013A (en) * | 1990-09-13 | 1999-04-06 | Novo Nordisk A/S | Lipase variants |
KR920006991A (en) * | 1990-09-25 | 1992-04-28 | 김광호 | High Voltage Generation Circuit of Semiconductor Memory Device |
US5081371A (en) | 1990-11-07 | 1992-01-14 | U.S. Philips Corp. | Integrated charge pump circuit with back bias voltage reduction |
JP2987193B2 (en) * | 1990-11-20 | 1999-12-06 | 富士通株式会社 | Semiconductor storage device |
US5094968A (en) | 1990-11-21 | 1992-03-10 | Atmel Corporation | Fabricating a narrow width EEPROM with single diffusion electrode formation |
US5086325A (en) | 1990-11-21 | 1992-02-04 | Atmel Corporation | Narrow width EEPROM with single diffusion electrode formation |
JP2612969B2 (en) * | 1991-02-08 | 1997-05-21 | シャープ株式会社 | Method for manufacturing semiconductor device |
US6002614A (en) * | 1991-02-08 | 1999-12-14 | Btg International Inc. | Memory apparatus including programmable non-volatile multi-bit memory cell, and apparatus and method for demarcating memory states of the cell |
US5218569A (en) * | 1991-02-08 | 1993-06-08 | Banks Gerald J | Electrically alterable non-volatile memory with n-bits per memory cell |
JPH04311900A (en) | 1991-04-10 | 1992-11-04 | Sharp Corp | Semiconductor read only memory |
JP2930440B2 (en) | 1991-04-15 | 1999-08-03 | 沖電気工業株式会社 | Semiconductor integrated circuit |
US5424567A (en) * | 1991-05-15 | 1995-06-13 | North American Philips Corporation | Protected programmable transistor with reduced parasitic capacitances and method of fabrication |
US5142496A (en) * | 1991-06-03 | 1992-08-25 | Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. | Method for measuring VT 's less than zero without applying negative voltages |
DE59209604D1 (en) * | 1991-07-01 | 1999-02-11 | Basf Ag | USE OF LIPASES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF MEDICINAL PRODUCTS |
US5245572A (en) * | 1991-07-30 | 1993-09-14 | Intel Corporation | Floating gate nonvolatile memory with reading while writing capability |
JP2965415B2 (en) * | 1991-08-27 | 1999-10-18 | 松下電器産業株式会社 | Semiconductor storage device |
JP3720358B2 (en) * | 1991-08-29 | 2005-11-24 | ヒュンダイ エレクトロニクス インダストリーズ カムパニー リミテッド | Self-aligned dual bit split gate flash EEPROM cell |
US5305262A (en) * | 1991-09-11 | 1994-04-19 | Kawasaki Steel Corporation | Semiconductor integrated circuit |
US5175120A (en) | 1991-10-11 | 1992-12-29 | Micron Technology, Inc. | Method of processing a semiconductor wafer to form an array of nonvolatile memory devices employing floating gate transistors and peripheral area having CMOS transistors |
JPH05110114A (en) * | 1991-10-17 | 1993-04-30 | Rohm Co Ltd | Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device |
JP3358663B2 (en) * | 1991-10-25 | 2002-12-24 | ローム株式会社 | Semiconductor storage device and storage information reading method thereof |
US5338954A (en) * | 1991-10-31 | 1994-08-16 | Rohm Co., Ltd. | Semiconductor memory device having an insulating film and a trap film joined in a channel region |
US5357134A (en) | 1991-10-31 | 1994-10-18 | Rohm Co., Ltd. | Nonvolatile semiconductor device having charge trap film containing silicon crystal grains |
JPH05129284A (en) | 1991-11-06 | 1993-05-25 | Sony Corp | Method of setting condition of plasma sin forming film and manufacture of semiconductor device |
US5260593A (en) | 1991-12-10 | 1993-11-09 | Micron Technology, Inc. | Semiconductor floating gate device having improved channel-floating gate interaction |
JP2564067B2 (en) * | 1992-01-09 | 1996-12-18 | 株式会社東芝 | Readout output circuit having sense circuit |
US6222762B1 (en) * | 1992-01-14 | 2001-04-24 | Sandisk Corporation | Multi-state memory |
JP2851962B2 (en) | 1992-01-21 | 1999-01-27 | シャープ株式会社 | Semiconductor read-only memory |
DE69231356T2 (en) * | 1992-01-22 | 2000-12-28 | Macronix Int Co Ltd | Non-volatile memory cell and device architecture |
US5324675A (en) * | 1992-03-31 | 1994-06-28 | Kawasaki Steel Corporation | Method of producing semiconductor devices of a MONOS type |
JPH05290584A (en) * | 1992-04-08 | 1993-11-05 | Nec Corp | Semiconductor memory |
US5657332A (en) * | 1992-05-20 | 1997-08-12 | Sandisk Corporation | Soft errors handling in EEPROM devices |
WO1993024959A1 (en) * | 1992-05-29 | 1993-12-09 | Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. | Semiconductor nonvolatile storage device, semiconductor device, and its manufacture method |
JPH065823A (en) | 1992-06-19 | 1994-01-14 | Toshiba Corp | Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device and its application method |
US5289412A (en) * | 1992-06-19 | 1994-02-22 | Intel Corporation | High-speed bias-stabilized current-mirror referencing circuit for non-volatile memories |
US5315541A (en) * | 1992-07-24 | 1994-05-24 | Sundisk Corporation | Segmented column memory array |
GB9217743D0 (en) * | 1992-08-19 | 1992-09-30 | Philips Electronics Uk Ltd | A semiconductor memory device |
JP3036565B2 (en) | 1992-08-28 | 2000-04-24 | 日本電気株式会社 | Manufacturing method of nonvolatile semiconductor memory device |
US5450354A (en) * | 1992-08-31 | 1995-09-12 | Nippon Steel Corporation | Non-volatile semiconductor memory device detachable deterioration of memory cells |
US5450341A (en) * | 1992-08-31 | 1995-09-12 | Nippon Steel Corporation | Non-volatile semiconductor memory device having memory cells, each for at least three different data writable thereinto selectively and a method of using the same |
US5412601A (en) * | 1992-08-31 | 1995-05-02 | Nippon Steel Corporation | Non-volatile semiconductor memory device capable of storing multi-value data in each memory cell |
US5412238A (en) * | 1992-09-08 | 1995-05-02 | National Semiconductor Corporation | Source-coupling, split-gate, virtual ground flash EEPROM array |
US5280420A (en) | 1992-10-02 | 1994-01-18 | National Semiconductor Corporation | Charge pump which operates on a low voltage power supply |
US5350568A (en) * | 1992-11-09 | 1994-09-27 | Tetra Alfa Holdings, S.A. | Method and apparatus for sterilizing cartons and breaking carton score lines |
US5377153A (en) * | 1992-11-30 | 1994-12-27 | Sgs-Thomson Microelectronics, Inc. | Virtual ground read only memory circuit |
US5418743A (en) * | 1992-12-07 | 1995-05-23 | Nippon Steel Corporation | Method of writing into non-volatile semiconductor memory |
US5319593A (en) * | 1992-12-21 | 1994-06-07 | National Semiconductor Corp. | Memory array with field oxide islands eliminated and method |
DK154292D0 (en) * | 1992-12-23 | 1992-12-23 | Novo Nordisk As | NEW ENZYM |
JPH07114792A (en) * | 1993-10-19 | 1995-05-02 | Mitsubishi Electric Corp | Semiconductor memory |
US5424978A (en) * | 1993-03-15 | 1995-06-13 | Nippon Steel Corporation | Non-volatile semiconductor memory cell capable of storing more than two different data and method of using the same |
DK39693D0 (en) * | 1993-04-02 | 1993-04-02 | Novo Nordisk As | ENZYME |
US5393701A (en) * | 1993-04-08 | 1995-02-28 | United Microelectronics Corporation | Layout design to eliminate process antenna effect |
US5335198A (en) * | 1993-05-06 | 1994-08-02 | Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. | Flash EEPROM array with high endurance |
US5463586A (en) * | 1993-05-28 | 1995-10-31 | Macronix International Co., Ltd. | Erase and program verification circuit for non-volatile memory |
US5350710A (en) | 1993-06-24 | 1994-09-27 | United Microelectronics Corporation | Device for preventing antenna effect on circuit |
US5400286A (en) * | 1993-08-17 | 1995-03-21 | Catalyst Semiconductor Corp. | Self-recovering erase scheme to enhance flash memory endurance |
US5477499A (en) | 1993-10-13 | 1995-12-19 | Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. | Memory architecture for a three volt flash EEPROM |
US5828601A (en) * | 1993-12-01 | 1998-10-27 | Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. | Programmed reference |
JP3076185B2 (en) * | 1993-12-07 | 2000-08-14 | 日本電気株式会社 | Semiconductor memory device and inspection method thereof |
US5435481A (en) * | 1994-01-18 | 1995-07-25 | Motorola, Inc. | Soldering process |
US5440505A (en) * | 1994-01-21 | 1995-08-08 | Intel Corporation | Method and circuitry for storing discrete amounts of charge in a single memory element |
FR2715782B1 (en) * | 1994-01-31 | 1996-03-22 | Sgs Thomson Microelectronics | Programmable non-volatile bistable flip-flop, with predefined initial state, in particular for memory redundancy circuit. |
FR2715758B1 (en) * | 1994-01-31 | 1996-03-22 | Sgs Thomson Microelectronics | Source-programmable, non-volatile flip-flop, especially for memory redundancy circuits. |
US5418176A (en) * | 1994-02-17 | 1995-05-23 | United Microelectronics Corporation | Process for producing memory devices having narrow buried N+ lines |
DE4408152A1 (en) * | 1994-03-11 | 1995-09-14 | Studiengesellschaft Kohle Mbh | Immobilized lipases in hydrophobic sol-gel materials |
EP0678871B1 (en) * | 1994-03-22 | 2000-05-31 | STMicroelectronics S.r.l. | Memory array cell reading device |
DK0755442T3 (en) * | 1994-05-04 | 2003-04-14 | Genencor Int | Lipases with improved resistance to surfactants |
US5568085A (en) * | 1994-05-16 | 1996-10-22 | Waferscale Integration Inc. | Unit for stabilizing voltage on a capacitive node |
US5523972A (en) * | 1994-06-02 | 1996-06-04 | Intel Corporation | Method and apparatus for verifying the programming of multi-level flash EEPROM memory |
US5508968A (en) * | 1994-08-12 | 1996-04-16 | International Business Machines Corporation | Dynamic random access memory persistent page implemented as processor register sets |
US5822256A (en) * | 1994-09-06 | 1998-10-13 | Intel Corporation | Method and circuitry for usage of partially functional nonvolatile memory |
KR100372905B1 (en) * | 1994-09-13 | 2003-05-01 | 애질런트 테크놀로지스, 인크. | A device and method of manufacture for frotection against plasma charging damage in advanced mos technologies |
US5583808A (en) | 1994-09-16 | 1996-12-10 | National Semiconductor Corporation | EPROM array segmented for high performance and method for controlling same |
US5523251A (en) * | 1994-10-05 | 1996-06-04 | United Microelectronics Corp. | Method for fabricating a self aligned mask ROM |
US5694356A (en) | 1994-11-02 | 1997-12-02 | Invoice Technology, Inc. | High resolution analog storage EPROM and flash EPROM |
US5537358A (en) * | 1994-12-06 | 1996-07-16 | National Semiconductor Corporation | Flash memory having adaptive sensing and method |
US5661060A (en) * | 1994-12-28 | 1997-08-26 | National Semiconductor Corporation | Method for forming field oxide regions |
CA2142644C (en) * | 1995-02-16 | 1996-11-26 | Marc Etienne Bonneville | Standby power circuit arrangement |
US5518942A (en) * | 1995-02-22 | 1996-05-21 | Alliance Semiconductor Corporation | Method of making flash EPROM cell having improved erase characteristics by using a tilt angle implant |
US6353554B1 (en) * | 1995-02-27 | 2002-03-05 | Btg International Inc. | Memory apparatus including programmable non-volatile multi-bit memory cell, and apparatus and method for demarcating memory states of the cell |
EP0740307B1 (en) | 1995-04-28 | 2001-12-12 | STMicroelectronics S.r.l. | Sense amplifier circuit for semiconductor memory devices |
KR100187656B1 (en) * | 1995-05-16 | 1999-06-01 | 김주용 | Method for manufacturing a flash eeprom and the programming method |
ATE287725T1 (en) * | 1995-05-31 | 2005-02-15 | Medzyme N V | COMPOSITIONS FOR IMPROVING THE DIGESTIBILITY AND UTILIZATION OF NUTRIENTS |
US6034896A (en) * | 1995-07-03 | 2000-03-07 | The University Of Toronto, Innovations Foundation | Method of fabricating a fast programmable flash E2 PROM cell |
KR970008496A (en) * | 1995-07-04 | 1997-02-24 | 모리시다 요이치 | MIS semiconductor device, manufacturing method thereof, and diagnostic method thereof |
EP0753859B1 (en) * | 1995-07-14 | 2000-01-26 | STMicroelectronics S.r.l. | Method for setting the threshold voltage of a reference memory cell |
JP2830800B2 (en) * | 1995-09-29 | 1998-12-02 | 日本電気株式会社 | Current differential amplifier circuit |
US5633603A (en) * | 1995-12-26 | 1997-05-27 | Hyundai Electronics Industries Co., Ltd. | Data output buffer using pass transistors biased with a reference voltage and a precharged data input |
US5748534A (en) * | 1996-03-26 | 1998-05-05 | Invox Technology | Feedback loop for reading threshold voltage |
US5777923A (en) * | 1996-06-17 | 1998-07-07 | Aplus Integrated Circuits, Inc. | Flash memory read/write controller |
US5712815A (en) * | 1996-04-22 | 1998-01-27 | Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. | Multiple bits per-cell flash EEPROM capable of concurrently programming and verifying memory cells and reference cells |
US5847441A (en) | 1996-05-10 | 1998-12-08 | Micron Technology, Inc. | Semiconductor junction antifuse circuit |
US5715193A (en) * | 1996-05-23 | 1998-02-03 | Micron Quantum Devices, Inc. | Flash memory system and method for monitoring the disturb effect on memory cell blocks due to high voltage conditions of other memory cell blocks |
WO2004090908A1 (en) * | 1996-06-11 | 2004-10-21 | Nobuyoshi Takeuchi | Nonvolatile memory having verifying function |
WO1997050089A1 (en) * | 1996-06-24 | 1997-12-31 | Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. | A method for a multiple bits-per-cell flash eeprom with page mode program and read |
KR100265574B1 (en) * | 1996-06-29 | 2000-09-15 | 김영환 | Sense amplifier for semiconductor memory apparatus |
US5787484A (en) * | 1996-08-08 | 1998-07-28 | Micron Technology, Inc. | System and method which compares data preread from memory cells to data to be written to the cells |
US5812456A (en) * | 1996-10-01 | 1998-09-22 | Microchip Technology Incorporated | Switched ground read for EPROM memory array |
US5717632A (en) * | 1996-11-27 | 1998-02-10 | Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. | Apparatus and method for multiple-level storage in non-volatile memories |
TW367503B (en) * | 1996-11-29 | 1999-08-21 | Sanyo Electric Co | Non-volatile semiconductor device |
JP3532725B2 (en) | 1997-02-27 | 2004-05-31 | 株式会社東芝 | Semiconductor integrated circuit |
JP3920415B2 (en) * | 1997-03-31 | 2007-05-30 | 三洋電機株式会社 | Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device |
US6252799B1 (en) * | 1997-04-11 | 2001-06-26 | Programmable Silicon Solutions | Device with embedded flash and EEPROM memories |
US5805500A (en) * | 1997-06-18 | 1998-09-08 | Sgs-Thomson Microelectronics S.R.L. | Circuit and method for generating a read reference signal for nonvolatile memory cells |
JP3189740B2 (en) * | 1997-06-20 | 2001-07-16 | 日本電気株式会社 | Data repair method for nonvolatile semiconductor memory |
JP3039458B2 (en) * | 1997-07-07 | 2000-05-08 | 日本電気株式会社 | Non-volatile semiconductor memory |
IL125604A (en) * | 1997-07-30 | 2004-03-28 | Saifun Semiconductors Ltd | Non-volatile electrically erasable and programmble semiconductor memory cell utilizing asymmetrical charge |
US6768165B1 (en) * | 1997-08-01 | 2004-07-27 | Saifun Semiconductors Ltd. | Two bit non-volatile electrically erasable and programmable semiconductor memory cell utilizing asymmetrical charge trapping |
US5926409A (en) * | 1997-09-05 | 1999-07-20 | Information Storage Devices, Inc. | Method and apparatus for an adaptive ramp amplitude controller in nonvolatile memory application |
US5940332A (en) * | 1997-11-13 | 1999-08-17 | Stmicroelectronics, Inc. | Programmed memory with improved speed and power consumption |
US5867429A (en) * | 1997-11-19 | 1999-02-02 | Sandisk Corporation | High density non-volatile flash memory without adverse effects of electric field coupling between adjacent floating gates |
JP3599541B2 (en) * | 1997-11-27 | 2004-12-08 | シャープ株式会社 | Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device |
US5949728A (en) * | 1997-12-12 | 1999-09-07 | Scenix Semiconductor, Inc. | High speed, noise immune, single ended sensing scheme for non-volatile memories |
KR100327421B1 (en) * | 1997-12-31 | 2002-07-27 | 주식회사 하이닉스반도체 | Program system of non-volatile memory device and programming method thereof |
US6046591A (en) * | 1998-03-16 | 2000-04-04 | General Electric Company | MRI system with fractional decimation of acquired data |
US5946258A (en) * | 1998-03-16 | 1999-08-31 | Intel Corporation | Pump supply self regulation for flash memory cell pair reference circuit |
US6030871A (en) * | 1998-05-05 | 2000-02-29 | Saifun Semiconductors Ltd. | Process for producing two bit ROM cell utilizing angled implant |
US6348711B1 (en) * | 1998-05-20 | 2002-02-19 | Saifun Semiconductors Ltd. | NROM cell with self-aligned programming and erasure areas |
US6215148B1 (en) * | 1998-05-20 | 2001-04-10 | Saifun Semiconductors Ltd. | NROM cell with improved programming, erasing and cycling |
US6042823A (en) * | 1998-07-02 | 2000-03-28 | Amano Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. | Enzyme composition and use thereof |
GB9818548D0 (en) * | 1998-08-25 | 1998-10-21 | Microbiological Res Authority | Treatment of mucas hypersecretion |
JP3999900B2 (en) | 1998-09-10 | 2007-10-31 | 株式会社東芝 | Nonvolatile semiconductor memory |
EP0987715B1 (en) * | 1998-09-15 | 2005-02-09 | STMicroelectronics S.r.l. | Method for maintaining the memory of non-volatile memory cells |
US6044019A (en) * | 1998-10-23 | 2000-03-28 | Sandisk Corporation | Non-volatile memory with improved sensing and method therefor |
US6147904A (en) | 1999-02-04 | 2000-11-14 | Tower Semiconductor Ltd. | Redundancy method and structure for 2-bit non-volatile memory cells |
US6134156A (en) * | 1999-02-04 | 2000-10-17 | Saifun Semiconductors Ltd. | Method for initiating a retrieval procedure in virtual ground arrays |
US6128226A (en) * | 1999-02-04 | 2000-10-03 | Saifun Semiconductors Ltd. | Method and apparatus for operating with a close to ground signal |
US6108240A (en) * | 1999-02-04 | 2000-08-22 | Tower Semiconductor Ltd. | Implementation of EEPROM using intermediate gate voltage to avoid disturb conditions |
US6233180B1 (en) * | 1999-02-04 | 2001-05-15 | Saifun Semiconductors Ltd. | Device for determining the validity of word line conditions and for delaying data sensing operation |
US6075724A (en) * | 1999-02-22 | 2000-06-13 | Vantis Corporation | Method for sorting semiconductor devices having a plurality of non-volatile memory cells |
US6044022A (en) * | 1999-02-26 | 2000-03-28 | Tower Semiconductor Ltd. | Programmable configuration for EEPROMS including 2-bit non-volatile memory cell arrays |
US6084794A (en) * | 1999-05-28 | 2000-07-04 | Winbond Electronics Corp. | High speed flat-cell mask ROM structure with select lines |
US6108241A (en) * | 1999-07-01 | 2000-08-22 | Micron Technology, Inc. | Leakage detection in flash memory cell |
US6469935B2 (en) * | 1999-08-05 | 2002-10-22 | Halo Lsi Design & Device Technology, Inc. | Array architecture nonvolatile memory and its operation methods |
JP3912937B2 (en) | 1999-08-10 | 2007-05-09 | スパンション インク | Multi-bit non-volatile memory using non-conductive charge trap gate |
JP3348432B2 (en) * | 1999-09-14 | 2002-11-20 | 日本電気株式会社 | Semiconductor device and semiconductor storage device |
US6181605B1 (en) * | 1999-10-06 | 2001-01-30 | Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. | Global erase/program verification apparatus and method |
US6331950B1 (en) | 1999-10-19 | 2001-12-18 | Fujitsu Limited | Write protect input implementation for a simultaneous operation flash memory device |
US6175523B1 (en) * | 1999-10-25 | 2001-01-16 | Advanced Micro Devices, Inc | Precharging mechanism and method for NAND-based flash memory devices |
US6272047B1 (en) * | 1999-12-17 | 2001-08-07 | Micron Technology, Inc. | Flash memory cell |
US6201737B1 (en) * | 2000-01-28 | 2001-03-13 | Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. | Apparatus and method to characterize the threshold distribution in an NROM virtual ground array |
US6185143B1 (en) * | 2000-02-04 | 2001-02-06 | Hewlett-Packard Company | Magnetic random access memory (MRAM) device including differential sense amplifiers |
US6266281B1 (en) * | 2000-02-16 | 2001-07-24 | Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. | Method of erasing non-volatile memory cells |
US6215702B1 (en) * | 2000-02-16 | 2001-04-10 | Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. | Method of maintaining constant erasing speeds for non-volatile memory cells |
US6205056B1 (en) * | 2000-03-14 | 2001-03-20 | Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. | Automated reference cell trimming verify |
US6240040B1 (en) * | 2000-03-15 | 2001-05-29 | Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. | Multiple bank simultaneous operation for a flash memory |
US6396741B1 (en) * | 2000-05-04 | 2002-05-28 | Saifun Semiconductors Ltd. | Programming of nonvolatile memory cells |
CA2310295C (en) * | 2000-05-31 | 2010-10-05 | Mosaid Technologies Incorporated | Multiple match detection circuit and method |
KR100597060B1 (en) * | 2000-08-03 | 2006-07-06 | 후지쯔 가부시끼가이샤 | Nonvolatile semiconductor memory and method of reading data |
JP2002184190A (en) * | 2000-12-11 | 2002-06-28 | Toshiba Corp | Non-volatile semiconductor memory |
US6614692B2 (en) * | 2001-01-18 | 2003-09-02 | Saifun Semiconductors Ltd. | EEPROM array and method for operation thereof |
JP4467815B2 (en) | 2001-02-26 | 2010-05-26 | 富士通マイクロエレクトロニクス株式会社 | Nonvolatile semiconductor memory read operation method and nonvolatile semiconductor memory |
US6351415B1 (en) * | 2001-03-28 | 2002-02-26 | Tower Semiconductor Ltd. | Symmetrical non-volatile memory array architecture without neighbor effect |
US6535434B2 (en) * | 2001-04-05 | 2003-03-18 | Saifun Semiconductors Ltd. | Architecture and scheme for a non-strobed read sequence |
JP2002319287A (en) | 2001-04-20 | 2002-10-31 | Fujitsu Ltd | Nonvolatile semiconductor memory |
US6636440B2 (en) | 2001-04-25 | 2003-10-21 | Saifun Semiconductors Ltd. | Method for operation of an EEPROM array, including refresh thereof |
US6522585B2 (en) * | 2001-05-25 | 2003-02-18 | Sandisk Corporation | Dual-cell soft programming for virtual-ground memory arrays |
US6574139B2 (en) * | 2001-06-20 | 2003-06-03 | Fujitsu Limited | Method and device for reading dual bit memory cells using multiple reference cells with two side read |
US6643178B2 (en) | 2001-07-31 | 2003-11-04 | Fujitsu Limited | System for source side sensing |
US6525969B1 (en) * | 2001-08-10 | 2003-02-25 | Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. | Decoder apparatus and methods for pre-charging bit lines |
US6469929B1 (en) * | 2001-08-21 | 2002-10-22 | Tower Semiconductor Ltd. | Structure and method for high speed sensing of memory arrays |
US6510082B1 (en) * | 2001-10-23 | 2003-01-21 | Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. | Drain side sensing scheme for virtual ground flash EPROM array with adjacent bit charge and hold |
TW506123B (en) | 2001-10-24 | 2002-10-11 | Macronix Int Co Ltd | Multi-level NROM memory cell and its operating method |
US6885585B2 (en) * | 2001-12-20 | 2005-04-26 | Saifun Semiconductors Ltd. | NROM NOR array |
US6529412B1 (en) * | 2002-01-16 | 2003-03-04 | Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. | Source side sensing scheme for virtual ground read of flash eprom array with adjacent bit precharge |
US6975536B2 (en) * | 2002-01-31 | 2005-12-13 | Saifun Semiconductors Ltd. | Mass storage array and methods for operation thereof |
US6639844B1 (en) * | 2002-03-13 | 2003-10-28 | Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. | Overerase correction method |
US6594181B1 (en) * | 2002-05-10 | 2003-07-15 | Fujitsu Limited | System for reading a double-bit memory cell |
US6917544B2 (en) * | 2002-07-10 | 2005-07-12 | Saifun Semiconductors Ltd. | Multiple use memory chip |
JP4260434B2 (en) * | 2002-07-16 | 2009-04-30 | 富士通マイクロエレクトロニクス株式会社 | Nonvolatile semiconductor memory and operation method thereof |
US6813189B2 (en) * | 2002-07-16 | 2004-11-02 | Fujitsu Limited | System for using a dynamic reference in a double-bit cell memory |
-
2004
- 2004-03-29 US US10/810,683 patent/US7142464B2/en active Active
- 2004-12-03 TW TW093137425A patent/TWI379306B/en active
- 2004-12-06 WO PCT/IL2004/001107 patent/WO2005091714A2/en active Application Filing
-
2006
- 2006-08-14 US US11/464,253 patent/US7532529B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6128227A (en) * | 1998-03-28 | 2000-10-03 | Hyundai Electronics Industries Co., Ltd. | Sense amplifier circuit in a flash memory device |
US6163484A (en) * | 1998-04-27 | 2000-12-19 | Nec Corporation | Non-volatile semiconductor storage device having improved program/erase/over erase verify |
US6219290B1 (en) * | 1998-10-14 | 2001-04-17 | Macronix International Co., Ltd. | Memory cell sense amplifier |
US6400607B1 (en) * | 1999-10-29 | 2002-06-04 | Stmicroelectronics S.R.L. | Reading circuit for a non-volatile memory |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO2005091714A3 (en) | 2006-05-04 |
US7142464B2 (en) | 2006-11-28 |
TW200532708A (en) | 2005-10-01 |
US7532529B2 (en) | 2009-05-12 |
TWI379306B (en) | 2012-12-11 |
US20040218426A1 (en) | 2004-11-04 |
US20060285402A1 (en) | 2006-12-21 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US7532529B2 (en) | Apparatus and methods for multi-level sensing in a memory array | |
US8050126B2 (en) | Non-volatile memory with improved sensing by reducing source line current | |
JP4344769B2 (en) | Low voltage memory sensing circuit and method | |
US6134141A (en) | Dynamic write process for high bandwidth multi-bit-per-cell and analog/multi-level non-volatile memories | |
US7327619B2 (en) | Reference sense amplifier for non-volatile memory | |
EP0798739B1 (en) | Read circuit which uses a coarse-to-fine search when reading the threshold voltage of a memory cell | |
US8300472B2 (en) | Low noise sense amplifier array and method for nonvolatile memory | |
US7616028B2 (en) | Sense amplifier for low voltage high speed sensing | |
US7082069B2 (en) | Memory array with fast bit line precharge | |
EP1729302A1 (en) | A circuit for retrieving data stored in semiconductor memory cells | |
US7082061B2 (en) | Memory array with low power bit line precharge | |
US9177663B2 (en) | Dynamic regulation of memory array source line | |
KR20100017125A (en) | Low power multiple bit sense amplifier | |
KR100942870B1 (en) | Low power multiple bit sense amplifier | |
US11183230B2 (en) | Sense amplifier circuit and semiconductor memory device | |
EP1473732A1 (en) | Apparatus and method of multi-level sensing in a memory array |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AK | Designated states |
Kind code of ref document: A2 Designated state(s): AE AG AL AM AT AU AZ BA BB BG BR BW BY BZ CA CH CN CO CR CU CZ DE DK DM DZ EC EE EG ES FI GB GD GE GH GM HR HU ID IL IN IS JP KE KG KP KR KZ LC LK LR LS LT LU LV MA MD MG MK MN MW MX MZ NA NI NO NZ OM PG PH PL PT RO RU SC SD SE SG SK SL SY TJ TM TN TR TT TZ UA UG US UZ VC VN YU ZA ZM ZW |
|
AL | Designated countries for regional patents |
Kind code of ref document: A2 Designated state(s): BW GH GM KE LS MW MZ NA SD SL SZ TZ UG ZM ZW AM AZ BY KG KZ MD RU TJ TM AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LT LU MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR BF BJ CF CG CI CM GA GN GQ GW ML MR NE SN TD TG |
|
NENP | Non-entry into the national phase |
Ref country code: DE |
|
WWW | Wipo information: withdrawn in national office |
Country of ref document: DE |
|
122 | Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase |