Apparatus and method for generating an imprint-stabilized reference voltage for use in a ferroelectric memory device

Abstract

A reference voltage supply apparatus and a driving method thereof in a ferroelectric memory device provide a reference voltage stabilized against the imprint effect thus maintaining reading reliability of the device. In the reference voltage supply apparatus (e.g., using a non-switching capacitance of a ferroelectric capacitor), a reference cell is constructed of a ferroelectric capacitor and an access switch, and provides a reference voltage to read data from a memory cell. In an active mode, the reference cell stores data of a first logic state (e.g., corresponding to the non-switching capacitance of the ferroelectric capacitor), in the reference cell, and then supplies, as a reference voltage, the voltage corresponding to the data of the first logic state to a bit line; and in a stand-by mode, a reference voltage controller stores (writes) data of a second logic state (opposite to the first logic state), into the reference cell.