摘要:
A volatile memory array using vertical thyristors with gates, NMOS or PMOS, in trenches adjacent the thyristors is disclosed together with methods of fabricating the array.
摘要:
A two-transistor memory cell based upon a thyristor for an SRAM integrated circuit is described together with methods of operation. The memory cell can be implemented in different combinations of MOS and bipolar select transistors, or without select transistors, with thyristors in a semiconductor substrate with shallow trench isolation. Standard CMOS process technology can be used to manufacture the SRAM.
摘要:
Disclosed herein is an improved thyristor-based memory cell. In one embodiment, the cell (10) is formed in a floating substrate using Silicon-On-Insulator (SOI) technology. The cell preferably incorporates a lateral thyristor (20) formed entirely in the floating substrate, and which is gated by a second word line. The cathode of the thyristor also comprises a source of an access transistor (18), whose drain is connected to the bit line of the device, and which is gated by a first word line (14). A trapping layer is built into the floating substrate, and when writing to the cell, pulses are added to cause holes to be trapped on the trapping layer for a logic state ‘1’ and to cause electrons to be trapped on the trapping layer for a logic state ‘0’. Trapping of charges on the trapping layer adds extra margin to the stored data states, prevents their degradation, and renders the cell non-volatile.
摘要:
An enhanced method of writing and reading a memory device, such as an SRAM using negative differential resistance (NDR) elements), is disclosed. This is done through selective control of biasing of the active elements in a memory cell. For example in a write operation, a memory cell is placed in an intermediate state to increase write speed. In an NDR based embodiments, this is done by reducing a bias voltage to NDR FETs so as to weaken the NDR element (and thus disable an NDR effect) during the write operation. Conversely, during a read operation, the bias voltages are increased to enhance peak current (as well as an NDR effect), and thus provide additional current drive to a BIT line. Embodiments using such procedures achieve superior peak to valley current ratios (PVR), read/write speed, etc.
摘要:
A method of controlling a negative differential resistance (NDR) element is disclosed, which includes altering various NDR characteristics during operation to effectuate different NDR modes. By changing biasing conditions applied to the NDR element (such as a silicon based NDR FET) a peak-to-valley ratio (PVR) (or some other characteristic) can be modified dynamically to accommodate a desired operational change in a circuit that uses the NDR element. In a memory or logic application, for example, a valley current can be reduced during quiescent periods to reduce operating power. Thus an adaptive NDR element can be utilized advantageously within a conventional semiconductor circuit.
摘要:
An enhanced method of writing and reading a memory device, such as an SRAM using negative differential resistance (NDR) elements (120, 130), is disclosed. This is done through selective control of biasing of the active elements in a memory cell. For example in a write operation, a memory cell is placed in an intermediate state to increase write speed. In an NDR based embodiments, this is done by reducing a bias voltage to NDR FETs so as to weaken the NDR element (and thus disable an NDR effect) during the write operation. Conversely, during a read operation, the bias voltages are increased to enhance peak current (as well as an NDR effect), and thus provide additional current drive to a BIT line. Embodiments using such procedures achieve superior peak to valley current ratios (PVR), read/write speed, etc.
摘要:
An improved negative differential resistance field effect transistor (NDR-FET) is disclosed. The NDR-FET includes a charge trapping layer formed at or extremely near to an interface between a substrate (which can be silicon or SOI) and a gate insulation layer. In this fashion, charge traps can be optimized for extremely rapid trapping and de-trapping of charge because they are extremely close to a channel of hot carriers. The NDR-FET is also useable as a replacement for conventional NDR diode and similar devices in memory cells, and enables an entire family of logic circuits that only require a single channel technology (i.e., instead of CMOS) and yet which provide low power.
摘要:
An n-channel metal-insulator-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MISFET) (100) that exhibits negative differential resistance in its output characteristic (drain current as a function of drain voltage) is disclosed. For a fixed gate voltage, the MISFET channel current, which flows between the drain and source terminals (145,155) of the transistor, firstly increases as the drain-to-source voltage increases above zero Volts. Once the drain-to-source voltage reaches a pre-determined level, the current subsequently decreases with increasing drain-to-source voltage. In this region of operation, the device exhibits negative differential resistance, as the drain current decreases with increasing drain voltage. The drain-to-source voltage corresponding to the onset of negative differential resistance is also tunable. In addition, the drain current and negative differential resistance can be electronically tailored by adjusting the gate voltage. The resulting device can be incorporated into a number of useful applications, including as part of a memory device, a logic device, etc.
摘要:
A negative resistance device (NRD) has a MOSFET-like structure, and is biased by:- shorting the gate and source together at a fixed applied potential and applying a different fixed potential to the drain, and sweeping the bulk potential towards the drain potential, causing the bulk current to exhibit a negative resistance characteristic. The NRD may be used in a memory circuit (10) in which a resistor (R) is connected between the bulk (2) and a fixed potential. Two States of the circuit at which the current through the resistor matches that through the bulk of the NRD are stable, providing for bistable memory operation.