IP Library Granted Patent US 9,646,662
Granted Patent B2
US 9,646,662 · App. 14/989,678 · Granted May 9, 2017

Apparatuses, circuits, and methods for biasing signal lines

Inventors: Marco-Domenico Tiburzi (Avezzano, IT); Giulio-Giuseppe Marotta (Contigliano, IT)
Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
G11C8/08G11C7/12G11C7/22G11C8/10G11C8/18
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,646,662
App. No.
14/989,678
Granted
May 9, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

Apparatuses, circuits, and methods are disclosed for biasing signal lines in a memory array. In one such example the memory array includes a signal line coupled to a plurality of memory cells and is configured to provide access to the plurality of memory cells responsive to a biasing condition of the signal line. The memory array also includes a signal line driver coupled to the signal line, the signal line driver configured to provide a biasing signal to the signal line and to provide a preemphasis in the biasing signal responsive to a control signal. The control signal is responsive to an operating condition.

Claims (28)

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a memory array including a signal line coupled to a plurality of memory cells and configured to provide access to the plurality of memory cells responsive to a biasing condition of the signal line; and

a signal line driver coupled to the signal line, the signal line driver configured to provide a biasing signal to the signal line and to provide the biasing signal having a magnitude different than a magnitude of a target condition for the signal line for a duration of time responsive to a control signal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the signal line of the memory array has a propagation delay from a first end to a second end and the biasing signal having a magnitude different than a magnitude of a target condition for the signal line for a duration of time is provided at least in part due to the propagation delay.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of memory cells comprises a plurality of non-volatile memory cells.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the signal line comprises a word line and the signal driver is included in a row decoder.

5. An apparatus, comprising:

a memory array including a plurality of memory cells and a signal line coupled to the plurality of memory cells;

a signal line driver coupled to a signal line of a memory array, the signal line driver configured to provide a biasing signal to the signal line; and

a microcontroller coupled to the signal line driver, the microcontroller configured to control the signal line driver to provide the biasing signal having a magnitude different than a magnitude of a target condition for the signal line.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the microcontroller includes a lookup table configured to store information regarding the biasing signals to be provided by the signal line driver responsive to an operating condition.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the microcontroller is configured to calculate the biasing signals to be provided by the signal line driver responsive to an operating condition.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the microcontroller is further configured to control the signal line driver to provide the biasing signal having the magnitude different than the magnitude of the target condition for a duration based at least in part on an operating condition.

9. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the microcontroller is configured to control the signal line driver to provide the biasing signal having the magnitude different than the magnitude of a target condition for the signal line based at least in part on an address of a portion of the memory array.

10. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the microcontroller is configured to control the signal line driver to provide the biasing signal having the magnitude different than the magnitude of a target condition for the signal line based at least in part on an operating temperature.

11. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the microcontroller is configured to control the signal line driver to provide the biasing signal having the magnitude different than the magnitude of a target condition for the signal line based at least in part on a magnitude of a supply voltage.

12. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the microcontroller is configured to control the signal line driver to provide the biasing signal having the magnitude different than the magnitude of a target condition for the signal line based at least in part on an operating frequency.

13. A method, comprising:

adaptively providing a biasing signal to a signal line coupled to a plurality of memory cells, the biasing signal having a first magnitude for a first duration and a second magnitude for a second duration following the first duration to bias the plurality of memory cells for a memory operation.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the first magnitude of the biasing signal is greater than the second magnitude of the biasing signal.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the second magnitude is a target bias for accessing the plurality of memory cells.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the first magnitude is based on an operating condition.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the first duration is based on an operating condition.

18. A method, comprising:

determining characteristics of a biasing signal provided to a signal line coupled to a plurality of memory cells; and

providing the biasing signal to the signal line to bias the plurality of memory cells during a memory operation.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein determining characteristics of a biasing signal comprises determining a duration, shape, magnitude, or combinations thereof, for a first portion of the biasing signal.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein providing the biasing signal to the signal line comprises adaptively providing the biasing signal responsive to an operating condition.

Assignments (7)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 12, 2019
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.; MICRON SEMICONDUCTOR PRODUCTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 051028/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 9, 2019
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 050937/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 23, 2018
From: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 047243/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 13, 2018
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.; MICRON SEMICONDUCTOR PRODUCTS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 047540/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REPLACE ERRONEOUSLY FILED PATENT #7358718 WITH THE CORRECT PATENT #7358178 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 038669 FRAME 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded Jun 8, 2017
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 043079/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 2, 2016
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038954/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 12, 2016
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038669/0001 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 13651093 · Oct 12, 2012
Related Publication 20160118096A1 · Apr 28, 2016