Methods and apparatus for memory programming
AssigneeAlacrity Semiconductors, Inc.
InventorsJames Lin, Tso-Ping Ma
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus for programming a ferroelectric memory according to various desired and constraining characteristics, such as the retention of the data written to the memory, the endurance of the memory itself, both retention and endurance, power consumption, constraints on available voltage levels, etc. The characteristics of the signal used to write the data to memory (e.g., voltage, power, etc.) are selected to as to satisfy the various desired and constraining characteristics.
Claims29
A method for programming a ferroelectric memory, the method comprising:
- (a) selecting, using a controller, at least one desired performance characteristic for data to be stored in a ferroelectric memory;
- (b) determining, using the controller, at least one signal characteristic for a signal to be used to store the data in the ferroelectric memory, the signal characteristic satisfying the at least one desired performance characteristic;
- and
- (c) applying, using the controller, a signal having the at least one determined signal characteristic to the ferroelectric memory to store the data with the at least one desired performance characteristic.
A system for programming a ferroelectric memory, the system comprising:
- a ferroelectric memory;
- and
- a controller configured to read data from and write data to the ferroelectric memory,
- wherein the controller determines at least one signal characteristic for a signal to be used to write data to the ferroelectric memory based on at least one desired performance characteristic for the data to be stored in the ferroelectric memory.
An integrated circuit containing ferroelectric memory cells utilizing segmentation, the circuit comprising:
- at least one segmentation, each segmentation comprising at least one ferroelectric memory cell and having at least one segmentation characteristic,
- wherein the ferroelectric memory cells within each segmentation are consistently programmed using signals having at least one consistent electrical characteristic.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.