Patent classifications
G11C2029/0403
Methods of testing nonvolatile memory devices
In a method of testing a nonvolatile memory device including a first semiconductor layer in which and a second semiconductor layer is formed prior to the first semiconductor layer, circuit elements including a page buffer circuit are provided in the second semiconductor layer, an on state of nonvolatile memory cells which are not connected to the page buffer circuit is mimicked by providing a conducting path between an internal node of a bit-line connection circuit connected between a sensing node and a bit-line node of the page buffer circuit and a voltage terminal to receive a first voltage, a sensing and latching operation with the on state being mimicked is performed in the page buffer circuit and a determination is made as to whether the page buffer circuit operates normally is made based on a result of the sensing and latching operation.
OPTIMIZED SEASONING TRIM VALUES BASED ON FORM FACTORS IN MEMORY SUB-SYSTEM MANUFACTURING
A system and method for optimizing seasoning trim values based on form factors in memory sub-system manufacturing. An example method includes selecting a baseline set of trim values based on a set of memory sub-system form factors; generating a first modified set of trim values for seasoning operations by modifying a first trim value of the baseline trim values; causing each memory sub-system of a plurality of memory sub-systems to perform seasoning operations using the first modified set of trim values; responsive to determining that a memory sub-system of the plurality of memory sub-system failed to satisfy a predetermined criterion, determining whether the memory sub-system is extrinsically defective; responsive to determining that the memory sub-system is extrinsically defective, removing the extrinsically defective memory sub-system from the set of memory sub-systems; and generating a second modified set of trim values for seasoning operations.
Metal isolation testing in the context of memory cells
In the present disclosure, it has been appreciated that memory structures, such as static random access memory (SRAM) structures, have feature densities that are extremely high. While this is beneficial in allowing the memory structures to store large amounts of data in a small chip footprint, it is potentially detrimental in that it makes the memory structures more susceptible to leakage current than the other areas of the chip. Accordingly, the present disclosure provides pseudo memory structures which are similar in terms of layout spacing to actual memory structures. However, rather than being used as actual memory structures that store data during operation, these pseudo memory structures are used to characterize leakage current in the design of the IC and/or to characterize the fabrication process used to manufacture the IC.
METHODS FOR RESTRICTING READ ACCESS TO SUPPLY CHIPS
An example method for restricting read access to content in the component circuitry and securing data in the supply item is disclosed. The method identifies the status of a read command, and depending upon whether the status disabled or enabled, either blocks the accessing of encrypted data stored in the supply chip, or allows the accessing of the encrypted data stored in the supply chip.
3D SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE AND STRUCTURE WITH REDUNDANCY
A 3D semiconductor device with a built-in-test-circuit (BIST), the device comprising: a first single-crystal substrate with a plurality of logic circuits disposed therein, wherein said first single-crystal substrate comprises a device area, wherein said plurality of logic circuits comprise at least a first interconnected array of processor logic, wherein said plurality of logic circuits comprise at least a second interconnected set of circuits comprising a first logic circuit, a second logic circuit, and a third logic circuit, wherein said second interconnected set of logic circuits further comprise switching circuits that support replacing said first logic circuit and/or said second logic circuit with said third logic circuit; and said built-in-test-circuit (BIST), wherein said first logic circuit is testable by said built-in-test-circuit (BIST), and wherein said second logic circuit is testable by said built-in-test-circuit (BIST).
SEMICONDUCTOR MEMORY DEVICE WITH DEFECT DETECTION CAPABILITY
According to various embodiments, a semiconductor memory device includes a substrate that includes a memory cell region and a test region. The semiconductor memory device further includes an active pattern on the memory cell region, a source/drain pattern on the active pattern, a dummy pattern on the test region, a first gate electrode on the dummy pattern, a first common contact, and a first wiring layer. The first wiring layer includes a first test line electrically connected to the first common contact. The first common contact includes a first contact pattern in contact with the dummy pattern, and a first gate contact connected to the first gate electrode. The first gate contact includes a body and a protrusion part. A lowermost level of a top surface of the active pattern is lower than a lowermost level of a top surface of the dummy pattern.
Method of certifying safety levels of semiconductor memories in integrated circuits
A method includes specifying a target memory macro, and determining failure rates of function-blocks in the target memory macro based on an amount of transistors and area distributions in a collection of base cells. The method also includes determining a safety level of the target memory macro, based upon a failure-mode analysis of the target memory macro, from a memory compiler, based on the determined failure rate.
DISTRIBUTED MECHANISM FOR FINE-GRAINED TEST POWER CONTROL
An integrated circuit comprises a set of processor cores, wherein each processor core of the set of processor cores includes BIST logic circuitry and multiple memory blocks coupled to the BIST logic circuitry. Each processor core further includes multiple power control circuitry, where each power control circuitry of the multiple power control circuitry is coupled to a respective processor core of the set of processor cores, multiple isolation circuitry, where each isolation circuitry of the multiple isolation circuitry is coupled to a respective processor core of the set of processor cores, a built-in-self repair (BISR) controller coupled to the each of the set of processor cores, each of the multiple power control circuitry, and each of the multiple isolation circuitry, and a safety controller coupled to the BISR controller, the multiple power control circuitry, and to the multiple isolation circuitry.
3D MEMORY DEVICES AND STRUCTURES WITH CONTROL CIRCUITS
A semiconductor device, the device including: a first level including control circuits, where the control circuits include a plurality of first transistors and a plurality of metal layers; and a memory level disposed on top of the first level, where the memory level includes an array of memory cells, where each of the memory cells includes at least one second transistor, where the control circuits control access to the array of memory cells, where the first level is bonded to the memory level, where the bonded includes oxide to oxide bonding regions and a plurality of metal to metal bonding regions, and where at least a portion of the array of memory cells is disposed directly above at least one of the plurality of metal to metal bonding regions.
Systems and Methods for Correcting Data Errors in Memory
Systems and methods for correcting data errors in memory caused by high-temperature processing of the memory are provided. An integrated circuit (IC) die including a memory is formed. Addresses of memory locations that are susceptible to data loss when subjected to elevated temperatures are determined. Bits of data are written to the memory, where the bits of data include a set of bits written to the memory locations. The set of bits are written to a storage device of the IC die that is not susceptible to data loss when subjected to the elevated temperatures, the subset of bits comprise compressed code. At least one of the bits stored at the addresses is overwritten after subjecting the IC die to an elevated temperature. The at least one of the bits is overwritten based on the set of bits written to the storage device.