A semiconductor device includes a multilevel receiver including a signal determiner receiving a plurality of multilevel signals and outputting a result of mutual comparison of the plurality of multilevel signals as an N-bit signal, where N is a natural number equal to or greater than 2. A decoder restores a valid signal among the N-bit signals from the signal determiner to an M-bit data signal, where M is a natural number less than N. A clock generator receives a reference clock signal, generates an input clock signal using the reference clock signal, inputs the input clock signal to the signal determiner, and determines a phase of the input clock signal based on an occurrence probability of an invalid signal not restored to the M-bit data signal among the N-bit signals.

A semiconductor storage device includes a memory cell array, a peripheral circuit configured to perform writing of data to the memory cell array and reading of data from the memory cell array, and a sampling circuit configured to execute a sampling process by which sampling data is collected from a predetermined node of the peripheral circuit, during a period in which the peripheral circuit performs the writing of data to the memory cell array or the reading of data from the memory cell array.

Methods, systems, and devices for techniques for retiring blocks of a memory system are described. In some examples, aspects of a memory system or memory device may be configured to determine an error for a block of memory cells. Upon determining the occurrence of the error, the memory system may identify one or more operating conditions associated with the block. For example, the memory system may determine a temperature of the block, a cycle count of the block, a quantity of times the block has experienced an error, a bit error rate of the block, and/or a quantity of available blocks in the associated system. Depending on whether a criteria associated with a respective operating condition is satisfied, the block may be enabled or retired.

A signal modulation apparatus, a memory storage apparatus, and a signal modulation method are disclosed. The signal modulation apparatus includes an observation circuit, a signal modulation circuit, and a phase control circuit. The signal modulation circuit is configured to generate a second signal according to a first signal and a reference clock signal. A frequency of the first signal is different from a frequency of the second signal. The phase control circuit is configured to obtain an observation information via the observation circuit. The observation information reflects a process variation of at least one electronic component in the signal modulation apparatus. The phase control circuit is further configured to control an offset between the first signal and the reference clock signal according to the observation information.

Apparatus and methods are described to reduce program disturb for a memory string with a partial select gate drain, which is partially cut by a shallow trench. The memory string with a partial select gate drain is linked with a neighboring full select gate drain that during its programming can cause a program disturb in the memory string with a partial select gate drain. The bias voltage applied to the selected full select gate drain can be controlled from a high state for low memory program states to a lower state for the high memory program states. The high data states may cause program disturb. The reduction in the bias voltage can match a reduction in the bias voltage applied to the bit lines to reduce the program disturb while providing adequate signal to program the high states on the memory string of the full select gate drain.

Apparatus and methods are described to reduce program disturb for a memory string with a partial select gate drain, which is partially cut by a shallow trench. The memory string with a partial select gate drain is linked with a neighboring full select gate drain that during its programming can cause a program disturb in the memory string with a partial select gate drain. The bias voltage applied to the selected full select gate drain can be controlled from a high state for low memory program states to a lower state for the high memory program states. The high data states may cause program disturb. The reduction in the bias voltage can match a reduction in the bias voltage applied to the bit lines to reduce the program disturb while providing adequate signal to program the high states on the memory string of the full select gate drain.

A memory system includes a memory device and a controller. The controller is coupled to the memory device through input/output (I/O) lines. The controller includes an interface component and a dummy power consumption component. The interface component performs a signal training operation for adjusting a timing of a clock signal, to which test data is synchronized. The dummy power consumption component performs a dummy power consumption operation while the signal training operation is performed.

A memory module may include: a battery; a plurality of devices including a first memory, a second memory, and a controller; and a power management integrated circuit configured to adjust a level of a battery power, received from the battery, and configured to supply a power supply voltage to each of the plurality of devices.

There is provided a cryptographic key determination device for determining one or more cryptographic keys in a cryptographic device, the cryptographic device being configured to execute one or more test programs, the cryptographic device comprising one or more components (11-i), each component (11-i) being configured to generate static and dynamic data, the dynamic data being generated in response to the execution of the one or more test programs, wherein the cryptographic key determination device comprises: a data extraction unit configured to extract at least one part of the static data and at least one part of the dynamic data generated by the one or more components (11-i), and a key generator configured to combine the at least one part of static data and the at least one part of dynamic data, and to determine the one or more cryptographic keys by applying a cryptographic function to the combined data.

Embodiments combine error correction code (ECC) and transparent memory built-in self-test (TMBIST) for memory fault detection and correction. An ECC encoder receives input data and provides ECC data for data words stored in memory. Input XOR circuits receive the input data and output XOR'ed data as payload data for the data words. Output XOR circuits receive the payload data and output XOR'ed data. An ECC decoder receives the ECC data and the XOR'ed output data and generates error messages. Either test data from a controller running a TMBIST process or application data from a processor executing an application is selected as the input data. Either test address/control signals from the controller or application address/control signals from the processor are selected for memory access. During active operation of the application, memory access is provided to the processor and the controller, and the memory is tested during the active operation.