United Microelectronics Corp.

United Silicon Incorporated

United Integrated Circuits Corp.

Hsin-Pang Lu

Shih-Huang Huang

Ya-Nan Mou

Chung-Cheng Tsai

Shi-Wen Chen

Juei-Lung Chen

Chung-Hao Chen

Hsi-Wen Chen

Hsin-Wen Chen

Hsiao-Hua Lu

Chi-Hsiu Hsu

Chian-Gauh Shih

Shin-Huang Huang

A non-volatile memory includes a plurality of data storage units arranged in an array, a plurality of redundant data storage units arranged in at least one row and a plurality of redundant address storage units arranged in at least one row. A storage size of each of the data storage units is word. Each of the data storage units is addressable by a row address and a column address. One of the redundant data storage units in a first column is configured to substitute for one of the data storage units in a second column. One of the redundant address storage units in a third column is configured to record the row address representative of the substituted one of the data storage units.

Non-volatile memory and operation method thereof

A read only memory (ROM) is provided in the present invention, which includes a plurality of bit lines extending in a first direction, a plurality of source lines extending in parallel to the plurality of bit lines, and a plurality of word lines extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. Each two ROM cells share an active area and are electrically coupled to one of the plurality of source lines by a common source line contact.

Read only memory

A method for controlling voltage of a doped well in a substrate is provided. The substrate and the doped well are in different conductive type. The method includes applying a substrate voltage to the substrate while a well power for applying a well voltage to the doped well is turned off. The method also includes detecting a voltage level of one of the doped well and the substrate to judge whether or not a voltage target is reached. The well power is turned on to apply the well voltage to the doped well when the voltage level as detected reaches to the voltage target.

Method and apparatus for controlling voltage of doped well in substrate

A non-volatile memory cell includes a plurality of rows of memory cells, a plurality of bit lines coupled to the plurality of rows of memory cells for accessing data to the plurality of rows of memory cells, a plurality of word lines each coupled to a corresponding row of memory cells, and a decoder coupled to the plurality of word lines for enabling at least one row of memory cells of the plurality of rows of memory cells.

Non-volatile memory which can increase the operation window

A sense amplifier circuit may be used for read operation of a non-volatile memory. The sense amplifier circuit includes of a first pre-charge circuit, a second pre-charge circuit, a bias circuit, an enable circuit, a current mirror, a first comparator, a second comparator, a buffer and a counter. The current mirror is able to amplify a cell current of a memory cell to prevent error and shorten or maintain access time as erase count of the memory cell increases.

Sense amplifier circuit capable of determining amplification factor of cell current based on operation cycles

A supply voltage generation circuit includes a comparison unit, a voltage level control unit and a voltage regulator circuit. Comparison unit is configured to compare input data and output data of a memory array to each other and thereby generating a comparison result, wherein output data are storage data stored in a plurality of memory units of the memory array processed by a program operation according to the input data, and comparison result indicates the number of different bits existing between the output data and the input data. Voltage level control unit is configured to generate a control signal according to the comparison result. Voltage regulator circuit is configured to provide a supply voltage for the memory array and adjust value of the supply voltage according to the control signal. A memory and an operation method of a supply generation circuit used for a memory array are also provided.

Memory for a voltage regulator circuit

A supply voltage generation circuit includes a comparison unit, a voltage level control unit and a voltage regulator circuit. Comparison unit is configured to compare input data and output data of a memory array to each other and thereby generating a comparison result, wherein output data are storage data stored in a plurality of memory units of memory array processed by a program operation according to input data, and the comparison result indicates the number of different bits existing between the output data and the input data. Voltage level control unit is configured to generate a control signal according to the comparison result. Voltage regulator circuit is configured to provide a supply voltage for the memory array and adjust the value of the supply voltage according to the control signal. A memory and an operation method of a supply generation circuit used for a memory array are also provided.

Operation method of a supply voltage generation circuit used for a memory array

A supply voltage generation circuit includes a comparison unit, a voltage level control unit and a voltage regulator circuit. The comparison unit is configured to compare input data and output data of a memory array to each other and thereby generating a comparison result, wherein the output data are storage data stored in a plurality of memory units of the memory array processed by a program operation according to the input data, and the comparison result indicates the number of different bits existing between the output data and the input data. The voltage level control unit is configured to generate a control signal according to the comparison result. The voltage regulator circuit is configured to provide a supply voltage for the memory array and adjust the value of the supply voltage according to the control signal. A memory and an operation method of a supply generation circuit used for a memory array are also provided.

Memory, supply voltage generation circuit, and operation method of a supply voltage generation circuit used for a memory array

The memory system includes a plurality of memory cells that are arranged for forming a column, and the plurality of memory cells are coupled with a first bitline and a second bitline individually. Additionally, the memory system further includes a bitline conditioning circuit to perform the pre-charge procedure thereof; and that includes a plurality of wordlines. Furthermore, the memory system further includes a compensating-circuit to keep the voltage that is requirement for the access procedure, wherein the bitline conditioning circuit and the compensating-circuit couple to receive a pair of complemental signals so as to control the interaction between the pre-charge procedure and the compensation procedure from each other.

Static random access memory system with compensating-circuit for bitline leakage

A three-dimensional system-on-chip structure comprises a plurality of chips and a plurality of plugs respectively fabricated in the chips. The chips are stacked on top of each other and each includes a periphery circuitry region. A plurality of contact pads is fabricated in each of the periphery circuitry regions. The plugs are formed in the corresponding stacked chips, and are electrically connected to the corresponding contact pads of two of the corresponding chips which are adjacent to each other, or two of the corresponding chips which are not adjacent to each other.

Three-dimensional system-on-chip structure

A data outputting circuit for semiconductor memory device, comprising a pre-charging unit, a data pre-sensing unit made up of a first sense amplifier, a second sense amplifier and an inverter, a data sense amplifier and an output buffer. The data pre-sensing unit is respectively coupled to a position in a first data line having one half loading and a position in a second data line having one half loading. One of the respective signals of the first data line and the second data line is amplified and the other of the respective signals is maintained after passing through the data pre-sensing unit. Thereby, the signal difference between the first data line and the second data line is amplified by means of the data pre-sensing unit and is sufficient to facilitate sensing of the data sense amplifier, even though there exists large loading both in the first data line and the second data line.

Data outputting circuit for semiconductor memory device

An energy-saving device for a memory circuit. The energy-saving device is capable of immediately terminating a local sense amplifier enable signal to a sense amplifier. The energy-saving device employs a plurality of Schmitt triggering circuits with each Schmitt triggering circuit capable of receiving an operational signal and an inverse operational signal and capable of issuing a Schmitt triggering signal to a data-transmission tester. The data-transmission tester will issue a response signal when change in the Schmitt triggering signal is detected. A data-transition-detected pulse is sent from a data-transmission-testing pulse generation circuit to a power shut down signaling circuit to terminate the local sense amplifier enable signal when the data-transmission-testing pulse-generation circuit receives a response signal.

Energy-saving device for memory circuit

A semiconductor memory device including a fast write recovery circuit. The semiconductor memory device has a memory array, a sense amplifier and the fast write recovery circuit. Before the end of a precharging operation, a last bit of data is written into a memory cell of the memory by the sense amplifier, as well as by the fast write recovery circuit from the other end. Thus, the time required for writing the last bit of data is shortened to prevent from writing a fragmental data into the memory cell in a transient write cycle. Furthermore, a write operation with a high speed can be executed with being restricted by layout.

Semiconductor device with fast write recovery circuit

A method is proposed for eliminating signal skew in an SDRAM (Synchronized Dynamic Random-Access Memory) device resulting from the data signal being attenuated into different input signal amplitudes at the respective input points into the memory cells in the SDRAM device. The method is intended for use on a SDRAM device having at least a first memory cell and a second memory cell which are connected to a common signal line which transmits a data signal to both the first and the second memory cells. Due to the data signal being gradually attenuated along the signal line, the input signal amplitudes at the respective input points into the first and second memory cells are different, which would otherwise cause signal skew. In accordance with this method, the trigger voltage levels of the memory cells are adjusted in such a manner as to be substantially equal to the respective input signal amplitudes at a specific trigger time, so that all the memory cells can be triggered substantially concurrently without the occurrence of signal skew. Typically, the trigger voltage levels can be adjusted by adjusting the respective threshold voltages or current gains of the NMOS transistor and PMOS transistor in an inverter used as the I/O buffer of each memory cell. By this method, the adjustment can be easily achieved without having to provide additional circuitry to the SDRAM device. This method is therefore useful in solving the problem of signal skew in the SDRAM device.

Method of eliminating signal skew in a synchronized dynamic

A sense amplifier can be used with a high-speed IC memory device, which sense amplifier can help reduce the sensing latency during read operations to the memory device so as to allow fast access speed to the memory device. The sense amplifier includes a first-stage circuit, coupled to the bit lines of the memory device, for amplifying the differential data signal on the bit lines. Furthermore, a second-stage circuit has an input side coupled to receive the output signal from the first-stage circuit and an output side coupled to the bit lines, and is used for amplifying the output signal from the first-stage circuit and feeding the amplified signal back to the bit lines. The first-stage circuit and the second-stage circuit in combination constitute a positive feedback amplification loop coupled to the bit lines for amplifying the differential data signal on the bit lines to a detectable level. This positive feedback amplification loop allows the differential data signal on the bit lines to be quickly amplified to the detectable level with a reduced sensing latency, thus increasing the access speed to the associated memory device. Moreover, even though the bit lines are increased in length, the sensing speed is not significantly affected. This feature can also help save circuit layout space.

Growing community of inventors

Hsinchu County, Taiwan

Hsin-Pang Lu