Abstract:
A portable data substrate with protection against unauthorized access, comprising: a first non-volatile memory (11) containing protected data, a second non-volatile memory (17) containing identification data of at least one user authorized to have access to the protected data, means (12) for the input of personal data, and processing means (10) connected to the first memory, to the second memory, and to the input means in order to perform a procedure of identification and authorization for access to the protected data by a comparison between the personal data input and the identification data stored. Both the identification data and the personal data comprise data representing a fingerprint and the input means comprises a fingerprint sensor (12) which derives the personal data from a fingerprint of a finger applied to the sensor.
Abstract:
The reading device (1) comprises an A/D converter (8) of n+m bits receiving an input signal (V1) correlated to the threshold voltage (VTH) of the memory cell (2), and supplying a binary output word (WT) of n+m bits. The A/D converter (8) is of a double conversion stage type (8), wherein a first A/D conversion stage (10) carries out a first analog/digital conversion of the input signal (V1), to supply at the output a first intermediate binary word (W1) of n bits, and the second A/D conversion stage (16) can be activated selectively to carry out a second analog/digital conversion of a difference signal (VD) correlated to the difference between the input signal (V1) and the value of the first intermediate binary word (W1). The second A/D conversion stage (16) generates at the output a second intermediate binary word (W2) of m bits supplied, with the first intermediate binary word (W1), to an adder (20) generating the binary output word (WT) of n+m bits.
Abstract:
The programming method comprises the steps of applying a programming pulse to a first cell (2) and simultaneously verifying the present threshold value of at least a second cell (2); then verifying the present threshold value of the first cell and simultaneously applying a programming pulse to the second cell. In practice, during the entire programming operation, the gate terminal of both the cells is biased to a same predetermined gate voltage (V PCX ) and the source terminal is connected to ground; the step of applying a programming pulse is carried out by biasing the drain terminal of the cell to a predetermined programming voltage (V P ) and the step OF verifying is carried out by biasing the drain terminal of the cell to a read voltage (V R ) different from the programming voltage. Thereby, switching between the step of applying a programming pulse and verifying is obtained simply by switching the drain voltage of the cells.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a programming method of a multilevel memory cell able to store a plurality of bits in a plurality of levels (N), the method comprising at least a step of writing a logic value in the multilevel memory cell by setting one of the programming levels (LA) thereof, these levels being included in the plurality of levels (N), with respect to a reference level (LR) according to the symbol to be written and to a previous programming level. The writing step is repeated until a highest possible value (Lmax) for the levels (LS, LR) is reached. The invention relates also to a multilevel memory device comprising a plurality of multilevel memory cells organised into sectors, split into a plurality of data units (UD) whereon a programming operation is performed in parallel according to the method of the invention.
Abstract:
Circuit for erasing and rewriting blocks of memory cells and particularly of analog flash cells, characterized in that it comprises at least one row decoding circuit (5, 7) comprising at least two adder blocks (31), suitable to generate a row address signal (32), at least two decoder blocks (33), suitable to generate respective pluralities of signals (34, 35, 36, 37; 42, 43, 44, 45) identifying a respective sector of memory to be enabled, at least two shifter blocks (38), suitable to generate an address signal (48, 49) of another row to be enabled, at least two OR logic blocks (39), suitable to generate respective signals (40; 41) serving the purpose to simultaneously enable at least two rows of the memory matrix (1).
Abstract:
Described herein is a column decoder (5) for a phase-change memory device (1; 1') provided with an array (2) of memory cells (3), a reading stage (6) for reading data contained in the memory cells (3), and a programming stage (7) for programming these data; the column decoder (5) selects and enables biasing of a bitline (BL) of the array (2) and generates a current path between the bitline (BL) and the reading stage (6; 6') or, alternatively, the programming stage (7), respectively during a reading or a programming operation of the contents of the memory cells. In the column decoder, a first decoder circuit (5a) generates a first current path between the bitline (BL) and the reading stage (6; 6'), and a second decoder circuit (5b), distinct and separate from the first decoder circuit (5a), generates a second current path, distinct from the first current path, between the bitline (BL) and the programming stage (7).