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US 7,054,183 B2Granted
Adaptive programming technique for a re-writable conductive memory device
AssigneeUnity Semiconductor Corporation
InventorsDarrell Rinerson, Christophe Chevallier
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A programming circuit is provided. As a conductive memory cell is programmed, its resistance changes. The provided programming circuit monitors the changing resistance while programming the memory cell. The programming circuit can be used to only program the memory cell for as long as programming is actually needed. Additionally, the programming circuit can be used to only program the memory cell when it has a value that needs to be changed.
Claims8
An adaptive programming circuit for a rewritable conductive memory device, comprising:
- a detector configured to detect a voltage switchable resistance and to generate an indicating signal indicative of one of a plurality of resistance values selected from a multi-level resistance set;
- a controller configured to detect write-data and a write command during a programming cycle,
- the controller is coupled with the detector and the controller generates an activating signal indicative of an activated state or a deactivated state, the programming cycle is consummated when the activating signal is in the activated state, and the programming cycle is terminated when the activating signal is in the deactivated state;
- and
- a driver configured to drive a write voltage, the driver is coupled with the controller, and the driver is operative to drive the write voltage only when the activating signal is in the activated state.
2 more elements
An adaptive programming circuit, comprising:
- a detector including a reference driver, a reference data source, and a comparator, the reference data source and the reference driver are coupled with each other and are operative to generate an equivalent-reference signal, and the equivalent-reference signal is connected with a first input of the comparator;
- a driver including a program supply and a data driver, the program supply operative to output write data as supply a voltage for programming a re-writable conductive memory cell in a re-writable memory device, the re-writable conductive memory cell in the re-writable memory device is coupled with the program supply;
- and
- a controller including a current detector coupled with the re-writable memory device and operative to generate an equivalent-signal, the equivalent-signal is connected with a second input of the comparator, and the comparator operative to compare the equivalent-signal with the equivalent-reference signal and to generate an indicating signal indicative of only one of two distinct resistance values,
- the indicating signal is coupled with the driver and is operative to activate the data driver if there is a non-correspondence between the write data and the indicating signal or to deactivate the data driver if there is a correspondence between the write data and the indicating signal.
2 more elements
An adaptive programming circuit, comprising:
- a comparator including a first input and a second input;
- a detector including a reference data source operative to generate an equivalent-reference signal voltage connected with the first input of the comparator;
- a program supply operative to generate write data as a voltage;
- a data driver with a voltage detector coupled with a re-writable conductive memory cell in a re-writable memory device, the voltage detector including a current source for generating an output current for programming the re-writable conductive memory cell, the data driver with the voltage detector operative to receive the write data and to generate a detected re-writable conductive memory cell voltage connected with the second input of the comparator, and the comparator operative to generate an indicating signal indicative of only one of two distinct resistance values;
- and
- a controller coupled with the data driver with the voltage detector and operative to activate the data driver with the voltage detector if there is a non-correspondence between the write data and the indicating signal or to deactivate the data driver with the voltage detector if there is a correspondence between the write data and the indicating signal.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.