Self referencing 1T/1C ferroelectric random access memory
First Claim
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1. A self-referencing read circuit for a 1T/1C ferroelectric memory comprising:
- a ferroelectric memory, cell coupled to a plate line and a bit line, the bit line having an associated bit line capacitance;
a load capacitor;
means for selectively coupling the load capacitor to the bit line;
a preamplifier having an input coupled to the bit line and an output;
means for sampling a first preamplifier output voltage during the application of a first plate line pulse.;
means for sampling a second preamplifier output voltage during the application of a second plate line pulse; and
a sense amplifier for comparing the first and second preamplifier output voltages to provide a data output signal.
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Abstract
An implementation of 1T/1C nonvolatile ferroelectric RAMS without using any reference cells—the polarization state in a memory cell is determined by applying two consecutive plate pulses on the ferroelectric capacitor in the memory cell, preamplifying the bit line voltages corresponding to these two plate pulses, and comparing the preamplified voltages. The two consecutive plate pulses have the same polarity.
57 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A self-referencing read circuit for a 1T/1C ferroelectric memory comprising:
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a ferroelectric memory, cell coupled to a plate line and a bit line, the bit line having an associated bit line capacitance;
a load capacitor;
means for selectively coupling the load capacitor to the bit line;
a preamplifier having an input coupled to the bit line and an output;
means for sampling a first preamplifier output voltage during the application of a first plate line pulse.;
means for sampling a second preamplifier output voltage during the application of a second plate line pulse; and
a sense amplifier for comparing the first and second preamplifier output voltages to provide a data output signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of reading a 1T/1C ferroelectric memory comprising
coupling a load capacitor to a bit line; -
precharge the bit line and the load capacitor to ground;
transferring charge from a 1T/1C memory cell to the bit line to create a first bit line voltage;
preamplifying the first bit line voltage to create a first output voltage;
storing the first output voltage;
decoupling the load capacitor from the bit line;
precharge the bit line to ground;
transferring charge from the 1T/1C memory cell to the bit line to create a second bit line voltage;
preamplifying the second bit line voltage to create a second output voltage;
storing the second output voltage; and
comparing the first and second output voltages to provide a logic output signal. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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8. A method of determining a polarization state in a 1T/1C ferroelectric memory cell coupled to a bit line comprising:
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applying two consecutive plate line pulses to a ferroelectric capacitor in the 1T/1C memory cell;
preamplifying bit line voltages corresponding to the two plate line pulses; and
comparing the magnitude of the preamplified bit line voltages to determine the polarization state of the 1T/1C ferroelectric memory cell. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A self-referencing read circuit for a 1T/1C ferroelectric memory comprising:
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an array of ferroelectric memory cells coupled to respective plate lines, bit lines, and word lines;
a plurality of controlled load capacitors, wherein a single load capacitor is associated with each bit line;
a plurality of preamplifiers, each having an input coupled to the respective bit line;
a first set of capacitors for sampling a first set of preamplifier output voltages during the application of a first plate line pulse;
a second set of capacitors for sampling a second set of preamplifier output voltages during the application of a second plate line pulse; and
a plurality of sense amplifiers for comparing the first and second sets of preamplifier output voltages to provide a plurality of data output signals corresponding to the data in a subset of the array of 1T/1C ferroelectric memory cells. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification