摘要:
A memory device includes an array of flash memory cells organized as a plurality of addressable sectors, control circuitry for controlling operations on the array of flash memory cells, and a plurality of sector tagging blocks, with each sector tagging block being associated with one sector of memory cells. Each sector tagging block is adapted to generate a select signal having a first logic level when its associated sector is addressed. The sector tagging blocks are further adapted to generate a common drain signal having a first logic level when any one of the associated sectors is tagged and addressed and to generate the common drain signal having a second logic level when no addressed associated sector is tagged.
摘要:
Methods and apparatus to facilitate erasure of multiple sectors of a memory device without the need for externally-supplied erase potentials are advantageous for device testing. During a scan of sector addresses, sector tagging blocks of a memory device provide an output signal to a write state machine indicating whether the addressed sector is tagged for erasure. The sector tagging blocks facilitate resetting of tags on a global basis and setting of tags on a single, bank-wide and/or global basis. Once initiated, the erase operation proceeds to erase each tagged sector of the memory device in sequence without the need for externally-supplied erase potentials and without the need for further direction of the tester hardware. The methods are particularly useful for erasing all sectors of a memory device or all sectors of one memory bank of the memory device.
摘要:
A circuit to monitor the activity of a memory device during program/erase operations that are managed by a ROM-based microcontroller. Different signals can be monitored according to different test modes. The ROM-based microcontroller is triggered by a clock that can be connected to an internal fixed frequency oscillator or to an external clock source for which the frequency can be varied from 0 Hz to any frequency required by the application. The circuit outputs state machine status data, read only memory addresses, and memory status information in a series of multiplexing operations to provide a tester with the ability to determine the state of a memory device during various memory operations.
摘要:
A circuit to monitor the activity of a memory device during program/erase operations that are managed by a ROM-based microcontroller. Different signals can be monitored according to different test modes. The ROM-based microcontroller is triggered by a clock that can be connected to an internal fixed frequency oscillator or to an external clock source for which the frequency can be varied from 0 Hz to any frequency required by the application. The circuit outputs state machine status data, read only memory addresses, and memory status information in a series of multiplexing operations to provide a tester with the ability to determine the state of a memory device during various memory operations.
摘要:
A circuit to monitor the activity of a memory device during program/erase operations that are managed by a ROM-based microcontroller. Different signals can be monitored according to different test modes. The ROM-based microcontroller is triggered by a clock that can be connected to an internal fixed frequency oscillator or to an external clock source for which the frequency can be varied from 0 Hz to any frequency required by the application. The circuit outputs state machine status data, read only memory addresses, and memory status information in a series of multiplexing operations to provide a tester with the ability to determine the state of a memory device during various memory operations.
摘要:
Fuse circuits based on a single flash cell or floating-gate memory cell are adapted for use in memory devices, particularly in low-voltage, flash memory applications. The fuse circuits include a floating-gate memory cell for storing a data value and a fuse latch to hold and transfer the data value of the floating-gate memory cell at power-up or upon request. A latch driver circuit can write data values to the fuse latch without affecting the data value stored in the floating-gate memory cell. The fuse circuits can further utilize the same structure, pitch, bit-line organization and word-line organization as the memory device's memory array. As the fuse circuits can utilize the same structure and organization, the data value of the fuse circuit can be programmed, erased and read using the same data path as the regular memory array.
摘要:
Fuse circuits based on a single flash cell or floating-gate memory cell are adapted for use in memory devices, particularly in low-voltage, flash memory applications. The fuse circuits include a floating-gate memory cell for storing a data value and a fuse latch to hold and transfer the data value of the floating-gate memory cell at power-up or upon request. A latch driver circuit can write data values to the fuse latch without affecting the data value stored in the floating-gate memory cell. The fuse circuits can further utilize the same structure, pitch, bit-line organization and word-line organization as the memory device's memory array. As the fuse circuits can utilize the same structure and organization, the data value of the fuse circuit can be programmed, erased and read using the same data path as the regular memory array.
摘要:
In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a nonvolatile memory array is encased in a P-tank, and the P-tank encased in a deep N-tank, the two tanks separating the memory array from the substrate and from the other circuitry of the integrated memory circuit. The deep N-tank allows application of a negative voltage of perhaps -8 V to the P-tank encasing the memory array. Application of that negative voltage permits the cells of the memory array to be programmed with voltage pulses having a peak value of about +10 V, rather than the +18 V peak value of prior-art memory arrays. Because the external circuitry, such as the wordline driver circuit, need drive the wordlines at +10 V rather than +18 V, the invention permits construction of that external circuitry using thinner gate insulators and space-saving shorter dimensions.
摘要:
Fuse circuits based on a single flash cell or floating-gate memory cell are adapted for use in memory devices, particularly in low-voltage, flash memory applications. The fuse circuits include a floating-gate memory cell for storing a data value and a fuse latch to hold and transfer the data value of the floating-gate memory cell at power-up or upon request. A latch driver circuit can write data values to the fuse latch without affecting the data value stored in the floating-gate memory cell. The fuse circuits can further utilize the same structure, pitch, bit-line organization and word-line organization as the memory device's memory array. As the fuse circuits can utilize the same structure and organization, the data value of the fuse circuit can be programmed, erased and read using the same data path as the regular memory array.
摘要:
In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a nonvolatile memory array is encased in a P-tank, and the P-tank encased in a deep N-tank, the two tanks separating the memory array from the substrate and from the other circuitry of the integrated memory circuit. The deep N-tank allows application of a negative voltage of perhaps -8 V to the P-tank encasing the memory array. Application of that negative voltage permits the cells of the memory array to be programmed with voltage pulses having a peak value of about +10 V, rather than the +18 V peak value of prior-art memory arrays. Because the external circuitry, such as the wordline driver circuit, need drive the wordlines at +10 V rather than +18 V, the invention permits construction of that external circuitry using thinner gate insulators and space-saving shorter dimensions.