Abstract:
A non volatile memory of the type comprising a predetermined number of sectors capable of ensuring the operation of the same even with a lower number of defective sectors than a predetermined limit.
Abstract:
A semiconductor memory comprises a plurality of memory cells (MC), for example Flash memory cells, arranged in a plurality of lines (LBL), and a plurality of memory cell access signal lines (MBL), each one associated with at least one respective line of memory cells, for accessing the memory cells of the at least one respective line of memory cells; each signal line has a capacitance (CMBL) intrinsically associated therewith. A plurality of volatile memory cells is provided, each having a capacitive storage element. Each volatile memory cell is associated with a respective signal line, and the respective capacitive storage element formed by the capacitance intrinsically associated with the respective signal lines. In particular, the parasitic capacitances associated with bit lines of a matrix of memory cells can be exploited as capacitive storage elements.
Abstract:
The method for reading a memory cell is based upon integration in time of the current supplied to the memory cell (36) by a capacitive element (22, 23). The capacitive element (22, 23) is initially charged and then discharged linearly in a preset time, while the memory cell (36) is biased at a constant voltage. In a first operating mode, initially a first capacitor (22) and a second capacitor (23) are respectively charged to a first charge value and to a second charge value. The second capacitor (23) is discharged through the memory cell (36) at a constant current in a preset time; the first charge is shared between the first capacitor (22) and the second capacitor (23); and then the shared charge is measured.