IP Library Granted Patent US 9,812,204
Granted Patent B1
US 9,812,204 · App. 15/391,982 · Granted Nov 7, 2017

Ferroelectric memory cell without a plate line

Inventors: Tianhong Yan (Saratoga, CA); Yung-Tin Chen (Santa Clara, CA)
Assignee: AUCMOS Technologies USA, Inc.
G11C14/0072H01L27/1104H01L27/11502
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,812,204
App. No.
15/391,982
Granted
Nov 7, 2017
Kind
B1
Abstract

A ferroelectric static random access memory (FeSRAM) cell includes (a) first and second cross-coupled inverters connected between a power supply voltage signal and a ground reference voltage signal and holding a data signal represented in a complementary manner in first and second common data terminals; (b) first and second select transistors coupled respectively to the first and second common data terminals of the cross-coupled inverters; and (c) first, second, third and fourth ferroelectric capacitors, wherein the first and second ferroelectric capacitors couple the first common data terminal to the power supply voltage signal and the ground reference voltage signal, respectively, and wherein the third and the fourth ferroelectric capacitors couple the second common data terminal to the power supply voltage signal and the ground reference voltage signal, respectively.

Claims (7)

1. A ferroelectric static random access memory (FeSRAM) cell, capable of operating under a static random access memory (SRAM) phase and a ferroelectric capacitor programming phase, comprising:

first and second cross-coupled inverters connected between a power supply voltage signal and a ground reference voltage signal and holding a data signal represented in a complementary manner in first and second common data terminals;

first and second select transistors coupled respectively to the first and second common data terminals of the cross-coupled inverters; and

first, second, third and fourth ferroelectric capacitors, wherein, during the SRAM phase, the first and second ferroelectric capacitors couple the first common data terminal to the power supply voltage signal and the ground reference voltage signal, respectively, and wherein the third and the fourth ferroelectric capacitors couple the second common data terminal to the power supply voltage signal and the ground reference voltage signal, respectively.

2. The FeSRAM cell of claim 1 , wherein first select transistor is formed at the surface of a semiconductor substrate, and wherein the first and second ferroelectric capacitors are implemented between conductor layers above the select transistor within the silicon footprint of the first select transistor.

3. The FeSRAM cell of claim 1 , wherein the power supply voltage signal selectably provides a first voltage and a second voltage and wherein the second voltage selectably programs one or more of the ferroelectric capacitors to a non-volatile state.

4. The FeSRAM cell of claim 3 , wherein the first voltage selectably programs one or more of the ferroelectric capacitors to a volatile state.

Assignments (6)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 14, 2025
From: AUCMOS TECHNOLOGIES, USA, INC.
To: PASCALINE SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 072908/0856 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 3, 2024
From: AUCMOS TECHNOLOGIES USA, INC.
To: CHEN, YUNG-TIN
Reel/Frame 067314/0379 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 27, 2022
From: LIU, JEFFREY
To: AUCMOS TECHNOLOGIES USA, INC.
Reel/Frame 062215/0452 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENT NUMBERS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 048520 FRAME: 0905. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded Mar 25, 2019
From: AUCMOS TECHNOLOGIES USA, INC.
To: LIU, JEFFREY
Reel/Frame 048694/0301 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 6, 2019
From: AUCMOS TECHNOLOGIES USA, INC.
To: LIU, JEFFREY
Reel/Frame 048520/0905 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 4, 2018
From: YAN, TIANHONG
To: AUCMOS TECHNOLOGIES USA, INC.
Reel/Frame 046517/0131 →
Continuity (1)
Provisional Application 62414530 · Oct 28, 2016