MEMORY WITH AN ASSIST DETERMINATION CONTROLLER AND ASSOCIATED METHODS
First Claim
1. A memory comprising:
- an array of active memory cells arranged in rows and columns;
at least one dummy memory cell column adjacent said array of active memory cells;
a sensing circuit coupled to said at least one dummy memory cell column and configured to sense at least one variation associated with said at least one dummy memory cell column;
an assist circuit coupled to said array of active memory cells; and
an assist determination controller coupled to said sensing circuit and configured tostore a look-up table of output assist values corresponding to different variations associated with said at least one dummy memory cell column,determine an output assist value from the look-up table based upon the at least sensed variation, andoperate said assist circuit based upon the determined output assist value.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A memory includes an array of active memory cells arranged in rows and columns, and at least one dummy memory cell column adjacent the array of active memory cells. A sensing circuit is coupled to the at least one dummy memory cell column to sense at least one variation associated with the at least one dummy memory cell column. An assist circuit is coupled to the array of active memory cells. An assist determination controller is coupled to the sensing circuit to store a look-up table of output assist values corresponding to different variations associated with the at least one dummy memory cell column, to determine an output assist value from the look-up table based upon the at least sensed variation, and to operate the assist circuit based upon the determined output assist value.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A memory comprising:
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an array of active memory cells arranged in rows and columns; at least one dummy memory cell column adjacent said array of active memory cells; a sensing circuit coupled to said at least one dummy memory cell column and configured to sense at least one variation associated with said at least one dummy memory cell column; an assist circuit coupled to said array of active memory cells; and an assist determination controller coupled to said sensing circuit and configured to store a look-up table of output assist values corresponding to different variations associated with said at least one dummy memory cell column, determine an output assist value from the look-up table based upon the at least sensed variation, and operate said assist circuit based upon the determined output assist value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A static memory comprising:
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an array of active memory cells arranged in rows and columns; at least one dummy memory cell column adjacent said array of active memory cells and comprising a plurality of programmable discharge memory devices, with each programmable discharge memory device comprising at least one discharge transistor, and a plurality of programmable load memory devices, with each load memory device comprising at least one load transistor; a sensing circuit coupled to said at least one dummy memory cell column and configured to sense at least one variation associated with said at least one dummy memory cell column; an assist circuit coupled to said array of active memory cells; and an assist determination controller coupled to said sensing circuit and configured to store a look-up table of output assist values corresponding to different variations associated with said at least one dummy memory cell column, determine an output assist value from the look-up table based upon the at least sensed variation, and operate said assist circuit based upon the determined output assist value. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for operating a memory comprising an array of active memory cells arranged in rows and columns;
- at least one dummy memory cell column adjacent the array of active memory cells;
a sensing circuit coupled to the at least one dummy memory cell column;
an assist circuit coupled to the array of active memory cells; and
an assist determination controller coupled to the sensing circuit and configured to store a look-up table of output assist values corresponding to different variations associated with the at least one dummy memory cell column, the method comprising;operating the sensing circuit to sense at least one variation associated with the at least one dummy memory cell column; and operating the assist determination controller to determine an output assist value from the look-up table based upon the at least sensed variation, and operate the assist circuit based upon the determined output assist value. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
- at least one dummy memory cell column adjacent the array of active memory cells;
Specification