公开(公告)号：US07047478B2

公开(公告)日：2006-05-16

申请号：US10015949

申请日：2001-11-02

申请人： Stefano Gregori ,  Pietro Ferrari ,  Guido Torelli

发明人： Stefano Gregori ,  Pietro Ferrari ,  Guido Torelli

IPC分类号： G11C29/00 ,  H03M13/00

CPC分类号： H03M13/00 ,  G11C2211/5641

摘要： Described is an error control method for multilevel memory cells operating with a variable number of storage levels. The method includes: receiving a first information word having k input symbols each in a first base; converting the first information word into a second base by converting the input symbols into input symbols in the second base; encoding the converted first information word into a first codeword having k+n coded symbols in the second base; and writing the first codeword into the multilevel memory cells. The encoding step may include generating a generating matrix and multiplying the first information word by the generating matrix to produce the first codeword.

摘要翻译： 描述了对具有可变数量的存储级别操作的多级存储器单元的错误控制方法。 该方法包括：在第一基站中接收具有k个输入符号的第一信息字; 通过将输入符号转换为第二基底中的输入符号将第一信息字转换成第二基底; 将转换的第一信息字编码为在第二基底中具有k + n个编码符号的第一码字; 以及将所述第一码字写入所述多层存储器单元。 编码步骤可以包括生成生成矩阵并将第一信息字乘以生成矩阵以产生第一码字。

公开(公告)号：US06674385B2

公开(公告)日：2004-01-06

申请号：US10060076

申请日：2002-01-29

申请人： Rino Micheloni ,  Osama Khouri ,  Andrea Pierin ,  Stefano Gregori ,  Guido Torelli

发明人： Rino Micheloni ,  Osama Khouri ,  Andrea Pierin ,  Stefano Gregori ,  Guido Torelli

IPC分类号： H03M112

CPC分类号： G11C11/56 ,  G11C27/005 ,  H03M1/146 ,  H03M1/361

摘要： An analog-to-digital conversion method and device for a multilevel non-volatile memory device that includes a multilevel memory cell. The method comprises a first step of converting the most significant bits contained in the memory cell, followed by a second step of converting the least significant bits. The first step is completed within a time interval corresponding to the rise transient of the gate voltage, and the second step is initiated at the end of the transient. Also disclosed is a scheme for error control coding in multilevel Flash memories. The n bits stored in a single memory cell are organized in different “bit-layers”, which are independent from one another. Error correction is carried out separately for each bit-layer. The correction of any failure in a single memory cell is achieved by using a simple error control code providing single-bit correction, regardless of the number of bits stored in a single cell.

摘要翻译： 一种用于包括多电平存储器单元的多级非易失性存储器件的模数转换方法和装置。 该方法包括转换存储单元中包含的最高有效位的第一步骤，随后转换最低有效位的第二步骤。 在对应于栅极电压的上升瞬变的时间间隔内完成第一步，并且在瞬态结束时启动第二步。 还公开了一种用于多电平闪存中的错误控制编码的方案。 存储在单个存储器单元中的n位被组织在彼此独立的不同“位层”中。 针对每个位层分别执行错误校正。 通过使用提供单位校正的简单误差控制代码来实现单个存储器单元中的任何故障的校正，而不管存储在单个单元中的位数。

公开(公告)号：US06493268B1

公开(公告)日：2002-12-10

申请号：US09905163

申请日：2001-07-12

申请人： Osama Khouri ,  Andrea Pierin ,  Rino Micheloni ,  Stefano Gregori ,  Guido Torelli ,  Miriam Sangalli

发明人： Osama Khouri ,  Andrea Pierin ,  Rino Micheloni ,  Stefano Gregori ,  Guido Torelli ,  Miriam Sangalli

IPC分类号： G11C1600

CPC分类号： G11C16/08

摘要： A circuit device for performing hierarchic row decoding in semiconductor memory devices of the non-volatile type, which memory devices include an array of memory cells with column-ordered sectors, wherein each sector has a respective group of local wordlines linked to a main wordline. The circuit device includes a main wordline driver provided at each main wordline, and a local decoder provided at each local wordline. This circuit device further comprises, for each main wordline, a dedicated path connected between the main wordline and the local decoders of the associated local wordlines and connected to an external terminal arranged to receive a read/program voltage, the dedicated path enabling transfer of the read/program voltage to the local decoders.

摘要翻译： 一种用于在非易失性类型的半导体存储器件中执行分级行解码的电路装置，该存储器件包括具有列排列扇区的存储器单元阵列，其中每个扇区具有链接到主字线的相应组的本地字线。 电路装置包括在每个主字线处提供的主字线驱动器和在每个本地字线处提供的本地解码器。 该电路装置还包括对于每个主字线，连接在相关联的本地字线的主字线和本地解码器之间的专用路径，并连接到布置成接收读/写电压的外部端子，该专用路径使得能够传送 读/编程电压到本地解码器。

公开(公告)号：US06480421B2

公开(公告)日：2002-11-12

申请号：US10003474

申请日：2001-10-25

申请人： Khouri Osama ,  Stefano Gregori ,  Andrea Pierin ,  Rino Micheloni ,  Sergio Coronini ,  Guido Torelli

发明人： Khouri Osama ,  Stefano Gregori ,  Andrea Pierin ,  Rino Micheloni ,  Sergio Coronini ,  Guido Torelli

IPC分类号： G11C1606

CPC分类号： G11C27/005 ,  G11C7/062 ,  G11C11/5642 ,  G11C16/28 ,  G11C2207/063

摘要： A circuit for reading a non-volatile memory cell has an output terminal for providing an output current, and a control terminal for receiving a voltage for controlling the output current. The reading circuit includes a feedback circuit which can be connected electrically to the output terminal and to the control terminal to generate the control voltage from a reference signal and from the output current. The feedback circuit also includes a current-amplification circuit having a first terminal for receiving a current-error signal derived from the reference signal and from the output current, and a second terminal for supplying an amplified current.

摘要翻译： 用于读取非易失性存储单元的电路具有用于提供输出电流的输出端子和用于接收用于控制输出电流的电压的控制端子。 读取电路包括可以与输出端子和控制端子电连接以从参考信号和输出电流产生控制电压的反馈电路。 反馈电路还包括电流放大电路，其具有用于接收从参考信号和输出电流导出的电流 - 误差信号的第一端子和用于提供放大电流的第二端子。

公开(公告)号：US06404273B1

公开(公告)日：2002-06-11

申请号：US09785083

申请日：2001-02-13

申请人： Stefano Gregori ,  Osama Khouri ,  Andrea Pierin ,  Rino Micheloni ,  Guido Torelli ,  Dario Soltesz

发明人： Stefano Gregori ,  Osama Khouri ,  Andrea Pierin ,  Rino Micheloni ,  Guido Torelli ,  Dario Soltesz

IPC分类号： G05F110

CPC分类号： H02M3/073 ,  H02M2003/075

摘要： A charge pump voltage booster circuit for generating, from a first voltage supplied at the input to the circuit, an output voltage with an absolute value that is higher than the first voltage, comprises at least one stage having a charge pass element and a charge storage capacitor with a first plate connected to an output of the charge pass element and a second plate controlled by a square-wave control signal of period varying between a reference voltage and the first voltage, supplied to the second plate of the capacitor by means of a driver circuit comprising a pull-up transistor and a pull-down transistor connected in series between the first voltage and the reference voltage. Means of overdriving at least one of the said transistors, either the pull-up transistor or the pull-down transistor, supply to the said at least one transistor a firing control voltage that has a higher absolute value than the first voltage.

摘要翻译： 一种电荷泵升压电路，用于根据从所述电路的输入端提供的第一电压产生具有高于所述第一电压的绝对值的输出电压，所述电压泵电压升压电路包括至少一个具有充电通路元件和电荷存储器 电容器，其具有连接到所述电荷通过元件的输出端的第一板，以及第二板，其由在基准电压和所述第一电压之间变化的周期的方波控制信号控制，所述方波控制信号通过 驱动器电路包括串联在第一电压和参考电压之间的上拉晶体管和下拉晶体管。 过载驱动所述晶体管中的至少一个（上拉晶体管或下拉晶体管）的装置向所述至少一个晶体管提供具有比第一电压更高的绝对值的点火控制电压。

公开(公告)号：US06788579B2

公开(公告)日：2004-09-07

申请号：US10119523

申请日：2002-04-09

申请人： Stefano Gregori ,  Rino Micheloni ,  Andrea Pierin ,  Osama Khouri ,  Guido Torelli

发明人： Stefano Gregori ,  Rino Micheloni ,  Andrea Pierin ,  Osama Khouri ,  Guido Torelli

IPC分类号： G11C1604

CPC分类号： G11C11/5628 ,  G11C16/12

摘要： A method for programming a nonvolatile memory cell envisages applying in succession, to the gate terminal of the memory cell, a first and a second programming pulse trains with pulse amplitude increasing in staircase fashion, in which the amplitude increment between one pulse and the next in the first programming pulse train is greater than the amplitude increment between one pulse and the next in the second programming pulse train. The programming method envisages applying, to the gate terminal of the memory cell and before the first programming pulse train, a third programming pulse train with pulse amplitude increasing in staircase fashion, in which the amplitude increment between one pulse and the next may be less than the amplitude increment in the first programming pulse train and substantially equal to the amplitude increment in the second programming pulse train, or else may be greater than the amplitude increment in the first programming pulse train.

摘要翻译： 用于编程非易失性存储器单元的方法设想连续地应用到存储器单元的栅极端，第一和第二编程脉冲串，其阶梯形式的脉冲幅度增加，其中在一个脉冲和下一个脉冲之间的振幅增量 第一编程脉冲序列大于第二编程脉冲串中的一个脉冲和下一个脉冲之间的振幅增量。 编程方法设想在存储器单元的栅极端子和第一编程脉冲串之前施加具有阶梯式脉冲幅度增加的第三编程脉冲串，其中，一个脉冲与下一个脉冲之间的振幅增量可能小于 第一编程脉冲序列中的振幅增量基本上等于第二编程脉冲串中的幅度增量，或者可以大于第一编程脉冲序列中的振幅增量。

公开(公告)号：US06542404B2

公开(公告)日：2003-04-01

申请号：US09972726

申请日：2001-10-04

申请人： Andrea Pierin ,  Stefano Gregori ,  Rino Micheloni ,  Osama Khouri ,  Guido Torelli

发明人： Andrea Pierin ,  Stefano Gregori ,  Rino Micheloni ,  Osama Khouri ,  Guido Torelli

IPC分类号： G11C1604

CPC分类号： G11C16/30 ,  G11C5/145 ,  G11C7/06 ,  G11C11/5621 ,  G11C11/5642 ,  G11C16/26

摘要： A multilevel nonvolatile memory includes a supply line (28) supplying a supply voltage (VDD), a voltage boosting circuit (26) supplying a boosted voltage (Vp), higher than the supply voltage (VDD), a boosted line (30) connected to the voltage boosting circuit (26) and a reading circuit (25) including at least one comparator (35). The comparator (35) includes a first and a second input (35a, 35b), a first and a second output (45a, 45b), at least one amplification stage (40) connected to the boosted line (30), and a boosted line latch stage (41) connected to the supply line (28).

摘要翻译： 多级非易失性存储器包括提供电源电压（VDD）的电源线（28），提供高于电源电压（VDD）的升压电压（Vp）的升压电路（26），连接的升压线路 到升压电路（26）和包括至少一个比较器（35）的读取电路（25）。 比较器（35）包括第一和第二输入（35a，35b），第一和第二输出（45a，45b），连接到升压线（30）的至少一个放大级（40） 线路锁存级（41）连接到电源线（28）。

公开(公告)号：US06650173B1

公开(公告)日：2003-11-18

申请号：US09714852

申请日：2000-11-15

申请人： Osama Khouri ,  Rino Micheloni ,  Andrea Sacco ,  Guido Torelli

发明人： Osama Khouri ,  Rino Micheloni ,  Andrea Sacco ,  Guido Torelli

IPC分类号： G05F110

CPC分类号： G11C29/021 ,  G11C5/147 ,  G11C11/56 ,  G11C16/30 ,  G11C29/028 ,  G11C2029/5004

摘要： The voltage generator comprises a negative feedback loop including a programmable voltage divider having a feedback node. The voltage divider comprises a programmable resistor disposed between the output of the voltage generator and the feedback node and having variable resistance. The programmable resistor includes a fixed resistor and a plurality of additional resistors arranged in series with each other and defining a plurality of intermediate nodes. The additional resistors may be selectively connected by means of switches disposed between the output of the voltage generator and a respective intermediate node so as to define an output voltage V0 programmable on the basis of command signals supplied to the switches.

摘要翻译： 电压发生器包括负反馈回路，其包括具有反馈节点的可编程分压器。 分压器包括设置在电压发生器的输出端和反馈节点之间并具有可变电阻的可编程电阻器。 可编程电阻器包括固定电阻器和彼此串联布置并且限定多个中间节点的多个附加电阻器。 附加电阻器可以通过设置在电压发生器的输出端和各个中间节点之间的开关选择性地连接，以便根据提供给开关的命令信号来定义可编程的输出电压V0。

公开(公告)号：USRE38166E1

公开(公告)日：2003-07-01

申请号：US09410164

申请日：1999-09-30

申请人： Cristiano Calligaro ,  Vincenzo Daniele ,  Roberto Gastaldi ,  Alessandro Manstretta ,  Nicola Telecco ,  Guido Torelli

发明人： Cristiano Calligaro ,  Vincenzo Daniele ,  Roberto Gastaldi ,  Alessandro Manstretta ,  Nicola Telecco ,  Guido Torelli

IPC分类号： G11C1156

CPC分类号： G11C11/5621 ,  G11C11/5642 ,  G11C2211/5632

摘要： A sensing circuit for serial dichotomic sensing of multiple-level memory cells which can take one programming level among a plurality of m=2n (n>=2) different programming levels, comprises biasing means for biasing a memory cell to be sensed in a predetermined condition, so that the memory cell sinks a cell current with a value belonging to a plurality of m distinct cell current values, each cell current value corresponding to one of the programming levels, a current comparator for comparing the cell current with a reference current generated by a variable reference current generator, and a successive approximation register supplied with an output signal of the current comparator and controlling the variable reference current generator. The variable reference current generator comprises an offset current generator permanently coupled to the current comparator, and m−2 distinct current generators, independently activatable by the successive approximation register, each one generating a current equal to a respective one of the plurality of cell current values.

摘要翻译： 用于在多个m = 2n（n> = 2）不同编程级别中可以采用一个编程级的多级存储器单元的串行二分感测的感测电路包括偏置装置，用于以预定的方式偏置待感测的存储器单元 条件，使得存储器单元以属于多个m个不同的单元电流值的值吸收单元电流，每个单元电流值对应于一个编程电平，用于将单元电流与产生的参考电流进行比较的电流比较器 通过可变参考电流发生器和逐次逼近寄存器来提供电流比较器的输出信号并控制可变参考电流发生器。 可变参考电流发生器包括永久地耦合到电流比较器的偏移电流发生器和由逐次逼近寄存器独立激活的m-2个不同的电流发生器，每个电流发生器产生等于多个电池电流值中的相应一个的电流 。

公开(公告)号：US06288594B1

公开(公告)日：2001-09-11

申请号：US09674395

申请日：2000-10-30

申请人： Alessandro Manstretta ,  Andrea Pierin ,  Guido Torelli

发明人： Alessandro Manstretta ,  Andrea Pierin ,  Guido Torelli

IPC分类号： H03K1762

CPC分类号： G11C5/143

摘要： A monolithically integrated selector for electrically programmable memory cell devices can be switched at an output terminal (OUT) between a high voltage (HV) and a low voltage (LV). It comprises a leg (N2, N1) of fast ground discharge (GND) from the output terminal, a discharge control leg (P1, N3, N4) driving the selector switching through a phase generator (PHG).

摘要翻译： 用于电可编程存储单元器件的单片集成选择器可以在高电压（HV）和低电压（LV）之间的输出端（OUT）处切换。 它包括来自输出端子的快速放电（GND）的脚（N2，N1），驱动选择器切换通过相位发生器（PHG）的放电控制支路（P1，N3，N4）。