Apparatus and Process for Controlling Sense Current in a Non-Volatile Memory
AssigneeSTMicroelectronics (Rousset) SAS
InventorFrançois Tailliet
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In an embodiment, a method is provided for controlling a level of a read current in a non-volatile memory that is powered by a supply voltage includes. A model current representative of an actual current able to flow during a readout through a read path of the memory is determined based on the value of the supply voltage. The model current is compared to a reference current having a reference value. A control signal is generated. The control signal is to control the generation of the read current having a level equal to the lowest value between a fraction of the value of the model current and the reference value.
Claims25
A circuit for controlling a level of a read current of a non-volatile memory that is configured to be powered by a supply voltage, the circuit comprising:
- a model circuit configured to determine a value of a model current representative of an actual current able to flow during a readout through a read path of the non-volatile memory, depending on the value of the supply voltage;
- and
- a regulating circuit configured to:
- compare the model current with a reference current having a reference value, and
- generate a control signal that is configured to control a read-current-generating circuit that is configured to generate, in the presence of the control signal, the read current with a value equal to a lowest value between a fraction of a value of the model current and the reference value.
A non-volatile memory of the electrically erasable and programmable non-volatile memory type, the non-volatile memory comprising:
- a memory cell;
- and
- a circuit configured to:
- determine a value of a model current representative of an actual current able to flow during a readout through a read path of the memory, depending on a value of a supply voltage, wherein the read path is coupled to the memory cell,
- compare the model current with a reference current having a reference value, and
- generate a control signal that is configured to control a read-current-generating circuit that is configured to generate, in the presence of the control signal, the read current with a value equal to a lowest value between a fraction of a value of the model current and the reference value;
- and
- a read amplifier comprising a controllable read-current-generating circuit, the read-current-generating circuit being configured to deliver the control signal to the read-current-generating circuit.
A method for controlling a level of a read current in a non-volatile memory that is powered by a supply voltage, the method comprising:
- determining a model current representative of an actual current able to flow during a readout through a read path of the non-volatile memory, based on a value of the supply voltage;
- comparing the model current and a reference current having a reference value;
- and
- generating a control signal controlling a generation of the read current, the read current having a level equal to a lowest value between a fraction of the value of the model current and the value of the reference current.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.