Patent classifications
G11C17/12
Method for converting a floating gate non-volatile memory cell to a read-only memory cell and circuit structure thereof
According to principles as discussed herein, an EEPROM cell is provided and then, after testing the code, using the exact same architecture, transistors, memory cells, and layout, the EEPROM cell is converted to a read-only memory (“ROM”) cell. This conversion is done on the very same integrated circuit die using the same layout, design, and timing with only a single change in an upper level mask in the memory array. In one embodiment, the mask change is the via mask connecting metal 1 to poly. This allows the flexibility to store the programming code as non-volatile memory code, and then after it has been tested, at time selected by the customer, some or all of that code from a code that can be written to a read-only code that is stored in a ROM cell that is composed the same transistors and having the same layout.
MEMORY DEVICE AND METHOD FOR FABRICATING THE SAME
A memory device includes an one-time-programmable (OTP) memory unit. The OTP memory unit includes a first gate, a first conductive segment and a second conductive segment of a first structure, and a first magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) component. The first gate is formed across an active region, and corresponds to gate terminals of a first transistor and a second transistor. The first conductive segment and the second conductive segment of the first structure are formed above the active region, and correspond to a first source/drain terminal of the first transistor and a first source/drain terminal of the second transistor, respectively. The first MTJ component is formed in a first conductive layer above the active region, and is coupled to the first conductive segment and the second conductive segment for receiving a programming signal from a data line. A method for fabricating a memory device is also disclosed herein.
Electronic chip memory
A device includes a first switch, a first irreversibly programmable memory point, and a second irreversibly programmable memory point coupled in parallel with the first irreversibly programmable memory point. The first switch and the parallel combination of the first and second irreversibly programmable memory points are coupled in series between a first node and a second node.
Semiconductor storage device
A layout structure of a small-area one time programmable (OTP) memory using a complementary FET (CFET) is provided. The OTP memory has transistors TP as a program element and transistors TS as a switch element. The transistors TP are three-dimensional transistors of which channel portions overlap each other as viewed in plan. The transistors TS are three-dimensional transistors of which channel portions overlap each other as viewed in plan. The OTP memory of two bits is implemented in a small area.
Semiconductor storage device
A layout structure of a small-area one time programmable (OTP) memory using a complementary FET (CFET) is provided. The OTP memory has transistors TP as a program element and transistors TS as a switch element. The transistors TP are three-dimensional transistors of which channel portions overlap each other as viewed in plan. The transistors TS are three-dimensional transistors of which channel portions overlap each other as viewed in plan. The OTP memory of two bits is implemented in a small area.
METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR MANAGING READ OPERATION OF A ONE-TIME PROGRAMMABLE (OTP) MEMORY
An OTP memory includes a plurality of bitcells, a plurality of bitlines, each bitline coupled to the plurality of bitcells, and a wordline generation circuit coupled to each of the plurality of bitcells. The wordline generation circuit is configured to control a wordline voltage of at least one selected bitcell of the plurality of bitcells to discharge current of at least one bitline coupled to the at least one selected bitcell during a pre-conditioning phase and to perform a read operation of the at least one selected bitcell following the pre-conditioning phase in a same clock cycle.
METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR MANAGING READ OPERATION OF A ONE-TIME PROGRAMMABLE (OTP) MEMORY
An OTP memory includes a plurality of bitcells, a plurality of bitlines, each bitline coupled to the plurality of bitcells, and a wordline generation circuit coupled to each of the plurality of bitcells. The wordline generation circuit is configured to control a wordline voltage of at least one selected bitcell of the plurality of bitcells to discharge current of at least one bitline coupled to the at least one selected bitcell during a pre-conditioning phase and to perform a read operation of the at least one selected bitcell following the pre-conditioning phase in a same clock cycle.
Contact layer traces to program programmable ROM
A device includes a programmable ROM circuit, an address circuit, and a processor. The programmable ROM circuit includes multiple physically contiguous pairs of bit-cells, each pair of bit-cells includes an active layer trace extending continuously across both of the bit-cells, each pair of bit-cells comprises a shared contact layer point when the pair of bit-cells is programmed to a value of one and no shared contact layer point when the pair of bit-cells is programmed to a value of zero. The address circuit is coupled to the programmable ROM circuit and configured to address only a first bit-cell of each pair of bit-cells. The processor is coupled to the address circuit and the programmable ROM circuit and configured to use the address circuit to read data from one or more pairs of bit-cells of the programmable ROM circuit.
Contact layer traces to program programmable ROM
A device includes a programmable ROM circuit, an address circuit, and a processor. The programmable ROM circuit includes multiple physically contiguous pairs of bit-cells, each pair of bit-cells includes an active layer trace extending continuously across both of the bit-cells, each pair of bit-cells comprises a shared contact layer point when the pair of bit-cells is programmed to a value of one and no shared contact layer point when the pair of bit-cells is programmed to a value of zero. The address circuit is coupled to the programmable ROM circuit and configured to address only a first bit-cell of each pair of bit-cells. The processor is coupled to the address circuit and the programmable ROM circuit and configured to use the address circuit to read data from one or more pairs of bit-cells of the programmable ROM circuit.
Semiconductor integrated circuit device
There is provided a semiconductor integrated circuit device that can generate a unique ID with the suppression of overhead. When a unique ID is generated, the potential of a word line of a memory cell in an SRAM is raised above the power supply voltage of the SRAM, and then lowered below the power supply voltage of the SRAM. When the potential of the word line is above the power supply voltage of the SRAM, the same data is supplied to both the bit lines of the memory cell. Thereby, the memory cell in the SRAM is put into an undefined state and then changed so as to hold data according to characteristics of elements or the like configuring the memory cell. In the manufacture of the SRAM, there occur variations in characteristics of elements or the like configuring the memory cell. Accordingly, the memory cell in the SRAM holds data according to variations occurring in the manufacture.