Abstract:
A stair-case adaptive voltage generator circuit, which circuit comprises a first capacitor (CB) connected between a first voltage reference (Vref) and an output operational amplifier (CA), through first (T1 and second (T4) switches, respectively. The terminals of the capacitor are also connected to a second voltage reference (Vinit) through third (T3) and fourth (T2) switches, respectively. A second capacitor (CA), in series with a fifth switch (CNT), is connected in parallel to the first capacitor (CB).
Abstract:
The invention relates to a non volatile memory electronic device (20) integrated on semiconductor with an architecture comprising at least one memory matrix (21) organised in rows or word lines (WL) and columns or bit lines (BL) of memory cells. The matrix is divided into at least a first (23) and a second memory portions (23a) having different access speed, said first (23) and second memory portions (23a) sharing the structures of the bit lines (BL) which correspond to one another and one by one and are electrically interrupted by controlled switches (29) placed between the first (23) and the second portion (23a).
Abstract:
A method for testing virgin memory cells in a multilevel memory device which comprises a plurality of memory cells, the particularity of which consists of the fact that it comprises the steps of: reading the individual memory cells that constitute a memory device and comparing each one of these memory cells with at least one reference memory cell at a time, so as to determine whether the threshold of the memory cells is lower than the threshold of the at least one reference memory cell or not; determining the number of the memory cells whose threshold is higher than the threshold of the at least one reference cell; the at least one reference memory cell being chosen with a gradually higher threshold; when the number of memory cells whose threshold is higher than a given reference threshold is found to be sufficiently lower than the number of redundancy memory cells provided in the memory device, assuming the given reference threshold as lower reference threshold for the memory device, determining a statistical distribution of the thresholds of the memory cells.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a circuit for generating a regulated voltage (RV), in particular for gate terminals of non-volatile memory cells of the floating gate type, which comprises a generator circuit (OSC,CHP) adapted to generate an unregulated voltage (VCHP) on its output, a comparator circuit coupled to the output of the generator circuit (OSC,CHP), including a reference element consisting of a non-volatile memory cell (REFC) of the floating gate type and adapted to output an electric error signal (ID) tied to the difference between the unregulated voltage (VCHP) and the threshold voltage of the cell (REFC), and a regulator circuit (CSEL,CBIAS,IVC,DRV,TR) coupled to the output of the comparator circuit and operative to regulate the unregulated voltage (VCHP) based on the value of the electric error signal (ID). Through the present circuit, the regulated voltage (RV) is made programmable and tied to the parameters of the memory cell (REFC).