Abstract:
The present invention relates to an improved integrated non-volatile memory device including a matrix of cells organised into rows, or word lines, and columns, or bit lines, and including corresponding row and column decoding circuits as well as read, modify and erase circuits for reading and modifying data stored in the memory cells. Advantageously, the integrated memory device comprises test structure (2) including a smaller second matrix (3) of cells comprising couples of word lines (WL) each having a difference contact to gate distance. Each couple of word lines is gradually misaligned from each adjacent couple of word lines by a distance that is variable from couple to couple. This proposed structure allows monitoring with a large statistic one of the most critical technology parameter for FLASH reliability.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a particular single cell erasing method for recovering memory cells under reading or programming disturbs in non volatile semiconductor memory electronic devices comprising cell matrix split in sectors and organised in rows, or word lines, and columns, or bit lines. This kind of memory devices generally provides the application of a sector erasing algorithm with subsequent testing phase (erase-verify); but the method according to the present invention provides a bit by bit erasing by applying to each single word line a negative voltage used during the erasing of a whole sector and on the drain terminal of each single cell a programming voltage. With this kind of selective bias it is possible to perform a single cell, or bit by bit, erasing, allowing all the cells in case under a reading or programming disturb increasing the original threshold value thereof to be recovered.