Memory device and methods for controlling a memory assist function
First Claim
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1. A memory device comprising:
- a memory array comprising a plurality of memory cells wherein each memory cell is coupled to a control line;
a memory assist circuit configured to, when activated, apply a reduction of a voltage of the control line;
a signal generator configured to generate a first signal representing a process corner of the memory device;
a signal processing circuit configured to amplify the first signal; and
a controller configured to activate the memory assist circuit based on the amplified first signal.
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Abstract
According to one embodiment, a memory device is described including a memory array including a plurality of memory cells wherein each memory cell is coupled to a control line, a memory assist circuit configured to, when activated, apply a reduction of a voltage of the control line, a signal generator configured to generate a signal representing at least one of a process corner of the memory device, a supply voltage of the memory device, a temperature of the memory device and an aging of the memory device, a signal processing circuit configured to amplify the signal and a controller configured to activate the memory assist circuit based the amplified signal.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A memory device comprising:
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a memory array comprising a plurality of memory cells wherein each memory cell is coupled to a control line; a memory assist circuit configured to, when activated, apply a reduction of a voltage of the control line; a signal generator configured to generate a first signal representing a process corner of the memory device; a signal processing circuit configured to amplify the first signal; and a controller configured to activate the memory assist circuit based on the amplified first signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for controlling a memory assist function comprising:
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generating a signal representing at least one of a process corner of a memory device, a supply voltage of the memory device, a temperature of the memory device and an aging of the memory device; amplifying the signal; digitizing the amplified signal; activating, a memory assist circuit, based on the digitized amplified signal; and applying, by the memory assist circuit when activated, a reduction of a voltage of a control line to which each of a plurality of memory cells of a memory array of the memory device is coupled based on the amplified signal.
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19. A memory device comprising:
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a memory array comprising a plurality of memory cells wherein each memory cell is coupled to a control line; a memory assist circuit configured to, when activated, apply a reduction of a voltage of the control line; a signal generator configured to generate a first signal representing at least one of a process corner of the memory device, a supply voltage of the memory device, a temperature of the memory device and an aging of the memory device; a signal processing circuit configured to amplify the first signal; and a controller configured to activate the memory assist, wherein the amplified first signal represents a digital value and the controller is further configured to activate the memory assist circuit based on a comparison of the digital value with a predetermined threshold.
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20. A memory device comprising:
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a memory array comprising a plurality of memory cells wherein each memory cell is coupled to a control line; a memory assist circuit configured to, when activated, apply a reduction of a voltage of the control line; a signal generator configured to generate a first signal representing at least one of a process corner of the memory device, a supply voltage of the memory device, a temperature of the memory device and an aging of the memory device; a signal processing circuit configured to amplify the first signal; and a controller configured to activate the memory assist circuit based on the amplified first signal, wherein the signal processing circuit is further configured to digitize the amplified first signal and the controller is configured to activate the memory assist circuit based on the digitized amplified first signal.
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Specification