The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Feb. 24, 2015

Filed:

Dec. 26, 2012
Applicant:

Applied Micro Circuits Corporation, Sunnyvale, CA (US);

Inventors:

Jason T. Su, Los Altos, CA (US);

Bin Liang, Sunnyvale, CA (US);

Assignee:
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G11C 11/00 (2006.01); G11C 7/10 (2006.01); G11C 11/419 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
G11C 7/1096 (2013.01); G11C 11/419 (2013.01);
Abstract

Providing for improved write processes of a semiconductor memory are disclosed herein. By way of example, a programmable write assist can be provided that includes partially discharging a supply voltage applied to a memory cell. Partially discharging the supply voltage can improve write speeds to the memory cell, as well as improve reliability of the write process. A write assist circuit can cause the discharging in response to a resistance-modulated signal. Moreover, the resistance-modulated signal can be configured to control an amount or speed of the discharging of the supply voltage. Further, modulation control can be provided to mitigate discharging of the supply voltage beyond a target level, to reduce data loss in a target data cell or an adjacent data cell.


Find Patent Forward Citations

Loading…