IP Library Granted Patent US 7,443,746
Granted Patent B1
US 7,443,746 · App. 11/253,521 · Granted Oct 28, 2008

Memory array tester information processing system

Assignee: Spansion LLC
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,443,746
App. No.
11/253,521
Granted
Oct 28, 2008
Kind
B1
Abstract

A memory array tester information processing system includes executing a generation block to gather drain currents and gate voltages information for a memory array, utilizing an extraction block to obtain the drain currents and the gate voltages a portion of the memory array and an entire memory array from the generation block or stored information, and executing an analysis block to operate on the drain currents and the gate voltages from the extraction block to correlate operations on the portion of the memory array and the entire memory array. The system includes utilizing a presentation block to format the information used in the analysis block and the results of the analysis block to compute a peak threshold voltage for the memory array.

Claims (150)

1. A memory array tester information processing system comprising:

executing a generation block to gather drain currents and gate voltages information for a memory array;

utilizing an extraction block to obtain the drain currents and the gate voltages a portion of the memory array and an entire memory array from the generation block or stored information;

executing an analysis block to operate on the drain currents and the gate voltages from the extraction block to correlate operations on the portion of the memory array and the entire memory array; and

utilizing a presentation block to format the information used in the analysis block and the results of the analysis block to determine a peak threshold voltage for the entire memory array.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising performing a function of a memory erase (ER) without a erase verify (EV).

3. The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising performing a function of a program read (PR) without a program verify (PV).

4. The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising monitoring a state and a charge-loss level of the portion of the memory array.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising testing wafers with the peak threshold voltage monitored.

6. A memory array tester information processing system comprising:

executing a generation block to gather drain currents and gate voltages information for a memory array; and

executing an analysis block to determine an entire memory array peak threshold voltage at 1 μA by an execution of V t (1 μA)=V p +ΔV p,1 μA , wherein V p is a peak subthreshold voltage of the entire memory array and ΔV p,1 μA is the single cell offset between the X-intercept of the natural log of I d and 1 μA V t .

7. The system as claimed in claim 6 wherein executing the analysis block comprises determining the peak subthreshold voltage,

V

p

=

V

g

1

+

ln

K

(

N

,

S

,

Δ

,

σ

)

S

,

including an X-intercept V g1 and a function K of the number of cells of the entire memory array N, a parameter S, a width of a threshold distribution Δ, and a variance of the threshold distribution σ.

8. The system as claimed in claim 6 further comprising determining a threshold voltage distribution by

P

(

V

t

)

=

1

2

π

σ

-

(

(

V

t

-

V

p

)

2

2

σ

2

)

of the entire memory array.

9. The system as claimed in claim 6 further comprising determining an entire memory array current by I d,tot =e S(V g −V p ) K(N,S,Δ,σ), wherein a function K of the number of cells of the entire memory array N, a parameter S, a width of a threshold distribution Δ, and a variance of the threshold distribution σ.

10. The system as claimed in claim 6 further comprising determining an entire memory current by integrating a drain current, I d , of single memory cell and a threshold voltage distribution, P(V t ).

11. A memory array tester information processing system comprising:

generation circuitry to gather drain currents and gate voltages information for a memory array;

extraction circuitry to obtain the drain currents and the gate voltages a portion of the memory array and an entire memory array from the generation block or stored information;

analysis circuitry to operate on the drain currents and the gate voltages from the extraction block to correlate operations on the portion of the memory array and the entire memory array; and

presentation circuitry to format the information used in the analysis block and the results of the analysis block to determine a peak threshold voltage for the entire memory array.

12. The system as claimed in claim 11 further comprising circuitry for performing a function of a memory erase (ER) without a erase verify (EV).

13. The system as claimed in claim 11 further comprising circuitry for performing a function of a program read (PR) without a program verify (PV).

14. The system as claimed in claim 11 further comprising circuitry for monitoring a state and a charge-loss level of the portion of the memory array.

15. The system as claimed in claim 11 further comprising wafers with the peak threshold voltage monitored.

16. A memory array tester information processing system comprising:

generation circuitry to gather drain currents and gate voltages information for a memory array; and

analysis circuitry for executing an analysis to determine an entire memory array peak threshold voltage at 1 μA by an execution of V t (1 μA)=V p +ΔV p,1 μA , wherein V p is a peak subthreshold voltage of the entire memory array and ΔV p,1 μA is the single cell offset between the X-intercept of the natural log of I d and 1 μA V t .

17. The system as claimed in claim 16 wherein the analysis circuitry includes circuitry for determining the peak subthreshold voltage,

V

p

=

V

g

1

+

ln

K

(

N

,

S

,

Δ

,

σ

)

S

,

including an X-intercept V g1 and a function K of the number of cells of the entire memory array N, a parameter S, a width of a threshold distribution Δ, and a variance of the threshold distribution σ.

18. The system as claimed in claim 16 further comprising circuitry for determining a threshold voltage distribution by

P

(

V

t

)

=

1

2

π

σ

-

(

(

V

t

-

V

p

)

2

2

σ

2

)

of the entire memory array.

19. The system as claimed in claim 16 further comprising circuitry for determining an entire memory array current by I d,tot =e S(V g −V p ) K(N,S,Δ,σ), wherein a function K of the number of cells of the entire memory array N, a parameter S, a width of a threshold distribution Δ, and a variance of the threshold distribution σ.

20. The system as claimed in claim 16 further comprising circuitry for determining an entire memory current by integrating a drain current, I d , of single memory cell and a threshold voltage distribution, P(V t ).

Assignments (8)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE 8647899 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 035240 FRAME 0429. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTERST. Recorded Nov 3, 2020
From: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION; SPANSION LLC
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 058002/0470 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 14, 2016
From: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
To: MONTEREY RESEARCH, LLC
Reel/Frame 040911/0238 →
PARTIAL RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Aug 11, 2016
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION; SPANSION LLC
Reel/Frame 039708/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 30, 2015
From: SPANSION, LLC
To: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 036039/0406 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 21, 2015
From: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION; SPANSION LLC
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 035240/0429 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 13, 2015
From: BARCLAYS BANK PLC
To: SPANSION LLC; SPANSION INC.; SPANSION TECHNOLOGY LLC
Reel/Frame 035201/0159 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 4, 2010
From: SPANSION LLC; SPANSION INC.; SPANSION TECHNOLOGY INC.; SPANSION TECHNOLOGY LLC
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC
Reel/Frame 024522/0338 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 18, 2005
From: MELIK-MARTIROSIAN, ASHOT
To: SPANSION LLC
Reel/Frame 017121/0192 →