Patent classifications
G11C11/5657
Analog Non-Volatile Memory Device Using Poly Ferrorelectric Film with Random Polarization Directions
A semiconductor device includes a ferroelectric field-effect transistor (FeFET), wherein the FeFET includes a substrate; a source region in the substrate; a drain region in the substrate; and a gate structure over the substrate and between the source region and the drain region. The gate structure includes a gate dielectric layer over the substrate; a ferroelectric film over the gate dielectric layer; and a gate electrode over the ferroelectric film.
Method of forming stacked ferroelectric planar capacitors in a memory bit-cell
A high-density low voltage ferroelectric (or paraelectric) memory bit-cell that includes a planar ferroelectric or paraelectric capacitor. The memory bit-cell comprises 1T1C configuration, where a plate-line is parallel to a word-line, or the plate-line is parallel to a bit-line. The memory bit-cell can be 1TnC, where ‘n’ is a number. In a 1TnC bit-cell, the capacitors are vertically stacked allowing for multiple values to be stored in a single bit-cell. The memory bit-cell can be multi-element FE gain bit-cell. In a multi-element FE gain bit-cell, data sensing is done with signal amplified by a gain transistor in the bit-cell. As such, higher storage density is realized using multi-element FE gain bit-cells. In some examples, the 1T1C, 1TnC, and multi-element FE gain bit-cells are multi-level bit-cells. To realize multi-level bit-cells, the capacitor is placed in a partially switched polarization state by applying different voltage levels or different time pulse widths at the same voltage level.
Quick precharge for memory sensing
Methods, systems, and devices for performing quick precharge command sequences are described. An operating mode that is associated with a command sequence having a reduced duration relative to another operating mode may be configured at a memory device. The operating mode may be configured based on determining that a procedure does not attempt to preserve or is independent of preserving a logic state of accessed memory cells, among other conditions. While operating in the mode, the memory device may perform a received precharge command using a first set of operations having a first duration—rather than a second set of operations having a second set of operations having a second, longer duration—to perform the received precharge command. The first set of operations may also use less current or introduce less disturbance into the memory device relative to the second set of operations.
RESISTANCE NETWORK HAVING FOUR CONTACTS PER MEMORY CELL
A resistor network and an integrated circuit at least part of the resistor network may have at least two memory cells for storing in each case one resistance characteristic value. Each memory cell may have a first contact pair configured to provide an electrical resistance corresponding to the stored resistance characteristic value in at least one operating mode. First contacts of the respective first contact pair of the two memory cells are directly connected to one another and second contacts of the respective first contact pair of the two memory cells are electrically independent of one another. The memory cells may each have a second contact pair which is electrically independent of the first contact pair and which is arranged in such a way that the stored electrical resistance characteristic value of the respective memory cell can be reversibly changed by suitable electrical signals via this second contact pair.
FERROELECTRIC MEMORY STRUCTURE
A ferroelectric memory structure including a substrate, a ferroelectric capacitor structure, and a switch device is provided. The ferroelectric capacitor structure is disposed on the substrate. The ferroelectric capacitor structure includes at least one first electrode, first dielectric layers, a second electrode, and a ferroelectric material layer. The at least one first electrode and the first dielectric layers are alternately stacked. The second electrode penetrates through the first electrode. The ferroelectric material layer is disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The switch device is electrically connected to the ferroelectric capacitor structure.
MULTI-LEVEL STORAGE IN FERROELECTRIC MEMORY
Methods, systems, and devices for operating a ferroelectric memory cell or cells are described. In some examples, multi-level accessing, sensing, and other operations for ferroelectric memory may be based on sensing multiple charges, including a first charge associated with a dielectric of the memory cell and a second charge associated with a polarization of the memory cell. In some cases, multi-level accessing, sensing, and other operations may be based on transferring a first charge associated with a dielectric of the memory cell to a sense amplifier, isolating the sense amplifier, activating the sense amplifier, transferring a second charge associated with a polarization of the memory cell to the sense amplifier, and activating the sense amplifier a second time.
Drive strength calibration for multi-level signaling
Methods, systems, and devices for drive strength calibration for multi-level signaling are described. A driver may be configured to have an initial drive strength and to drive an output pin of a transmitting device toward an intermediate voltage level of a multi-level modulation scheme, where the output pin is coupled with a receiving device via a channel. The receiving device may generate, and the transmitting device may receive, a feedback signal indicating a relationship between the resulting voltage of the channel and an value for the intermediate voltage level. The transmitting device may determine and configure the driver to use an adjusted drive strength for the intermediate voltage level based on the feedback signal. The driver may be calibrated (e.g., independently) for each intermediate voltage level of the multi-level modulation scheme. Further, the driver may be calibrated for the associated channel.
HALF DENSITY FERROELECTRIC MEMORY AND OPERATION
Methods, systems, and devices for operating a ferroelectric memory cell or cells are described. A memory array may be operated in a half density mode, in which a subset of the memory cells is designated as reference memory cells. Each reference memory cell may be paired to an active memory cell and may act as a reference signal when sensing the active memory cell. Each pair of active and reference memory cells may be connected to a single access line. Sense components (e.g., sense amplifiers) associated with reference memory cells may be deactivated in half density mode. The entire memory array may be operated in half density mode, or a portion of the array may operate in half density mode and the remainder of the array may operate in full density mode.
CAMS FOR LOW LATENCY COMPLEX DISTRIBUTION SAMPLING
Systems and methods are provided for employing analog content addressable memory (aCAMs) to achieve low latency complex distribution sampling. For example, an aCAM core circuit can include an aCAM array. Amplitudes of a probability distribution function are mapped to a width of one or more aCAM cells in each row of the aCAM array. The aCAM core circuit can also include a resistive random access memory (RRAM) storing lookup information, such as information used for processing a model. By randomly selecting columns to search of the aCAM array, the mapped probability distribution function is sampled in a manner that has low latency. The aCAM core circuit can accelerate the sampling step in methods relying on sampling from arbitrary probability distributions, such as particle filter techniques. A hardware architecture for an aCAM Particle Filter that utilizes the aCAM core circuit as a central structure is also described.
Ferroelectric material-based three-dimensional flash memory, and manufacture thereof
Disclosed are: a three-dimensional flash memory in which the degree of integration in a horizontal direction is improved so as to promote integration; and a manufacturing method therefor. A three-dimensional flash memory according to one embodiment comprises: at least one channel layer extending in one direction; at least one ferroelectric film used as a data storage place while being extended in the one direction so as to encompass the at least one channel layer; and a plurality of electrode layers stacked so as to be vertically connected to the at least one ferroelectric film.