IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,482,507
Granted Patent B2
US 12,482,507 · App. 18/329,215 · Granted Nov 25, 2025

Memory device configured to generate read current based on size of memory cell and value of read current actually applied to memory cell

Inventor: Daeshik Kim (Suwon-si, KR)
Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
G11C11/1673G11C11/1655G11C11/1657G11C11/1675
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,482,507
App. No.
18/329,215
Granted
Nov 25, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed is a memory device which includes a memory cell array that includes a plurality of memory cells and divided into a first region and a second region, and a sensing circuit that generates a first read current for determining data stored in memory cells belonging to the first region from among the plurality of memory cells wherein the second region configured to store a value of the first read current determined based on a value of a reference resistance for distinguishing a parallel state and an anti-parallel state of a memory cell where the data is stored and a value of an initial read current applied to the memory cell.

Claims (49)

1 . A memory device comprising:

a memory cell array including a plurality of memory cells and divided into a first region and a second region;

a sensing circuit configured to generate a first read current for determining data stored in memory cells belonging to the first region from among the plurality of memory cells,

a voltage generator configured to generate a code value; and

a write driver configured to perform a program operation on the first region based on the code value,

wherein the second region is configured to store

a value of the first read current determined based on a value of a reference resistance for distinguishing a parallel state and an anti-parallel state of a memory cell where the data is stored, and

a value of an initial read current applied to the memory cell, and wherein the write driver includes

first-type transistors each including a first end connected with a first power supply voltage and a second end connected with an output node, and

second-type transistors each including a first end connected with a second power supply voltage and a second end connected with the output node.

2 . The memory device of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of memory cells includes:

a cell transistor including a first end connected with a source line, and a gate electrode connected with a word line; and

a magnetic tunneling junction element including a first end connected with a second end of the cell transistor and a second end connected with a bit line.

3 . The memory device of claim 1 , wherein the sensing circuit includes:

a first current source configured to generate the first read current;

a second current source configured to generate a second read current; and

a sense amplifier configured to amplify a difference between a voltage drop at a first node according to an application of the first read current to a first bit line connected with a selected memory cell and a voltage drop at a second node according to an application of the second read current to a reference bit line.

4 . The memory device of claim 3 , wherein a resistance having the value of the reference resistance is connected with the reference bit line.

5 . The memory device of claim 4 , wherein the resistance having the value of the reference resistance and a gate electrode of a transistor constituting the memory cell array are implemented with poly silicon.

6 . The memory device of claim 3 , wherein at least one dummy memory cell being identical in structure to the selected memory cell is connected with the reference bit line.

7 . The memory device of claim 1 , wherein

the code value includes a first code value and a second code value,

the first-type transistors are configured to receive corresponding bits of the first code value from the voltage generator, respectively, and

the second-type transistors are configured to receive corresponding bits of the second code value from the voltage generator, respectively.

8 . The memory device of claim 1 , wherein the second region is implemented with an anti-fuse cell array.

9 . A memory device comprising:

a memory cell array including a first region configured to store data and a second region configured to store a current value;

a column decoder configured to select a bit line connected with a memory cell selected from memory cells of the first region;

a row decoder configured to drive a word line connected with the selected memory cell; and

a sensing circuit configured to generate a first read current based on the current value to determine data stored in a memory cell of the first region,

wherein the current value is determined based on a value of a reference resistance for distinguishing a parallel state and an anti-parallel state of the memory cell where the data is stored and a value of an initial read current applied to the memory cell, and

wherein the value of the reference resistance is determined based on a first result of counting a number of fail bits of the first region programmed to the parallel state for each resistance value and a second result of counting a number of fail bits of the first region programmed to the anti-parallel state for each resistance value.

10 . The memory device of claim 9 , wherein each of the memory cells of the first region includes:

a cell transistor including a first end connected with a source line and a gate electrode connected with a word line; and

a magnetic tunneling junction element including a first end connected with a second end of the cell transistor and a second end connected with a bit line.

11 . The memory device of claim 9 , wherein the sensing circuit includes:

a first current source configured to generate the first read current;

a second current source configured to generate a second read current; and

a sense amplifier configured to amplify a difference between a voltage drop at a first node according to an application of the first read current to a bit line connected with the selected memory cell and a voltage drop at a second node according to an application of the second read current to a reference bit line.

12 . The memory device of claim 9 , further comprising:

a voltage generator configured to generate a code value; and

a write driver configured to perform a program operation on the first region based on the code value,

wherein the write driver, includes

first-type transistors each including a first end connected with a first power supply voltage and a second end connected with an output node, and

second-type transistors each including a first end connected with a second power supply voltage and a second end connected with the output node.

13 . The memory device of claim 12 , wherein

the code value includes a first code value and a second code value,

the first-type transistors are configured to receive corresponding bits of the first code value from the voltage generator, respectively, and

the second-type transistors are configured to receive corresponding bits of the second code value from the voltage generator, respectively.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 12, 2023
From: KIM, DAESHIK
To: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 063917/0266 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2022-0102952 · Aug 17, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240062795A1 · Feb 22, 2024
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