IP Library Granted Patent US 8,456,941
Granted Patent B2
US 8,456,941 · App. 13/481,582 · Granted Jun 4, 2013

Table lookup voltage compensation for memory cells

Inventors: Boon-Aik Ang (Santa Clara, CA); Derric J. H. Lewis (Sunnyvale, CA)
Assignee: Spansion LLC
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,456,941
App. No.
13/481,582
Granted
Jun 4, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods of regulating voltage at a memory cell are disclosed. An address for the memory cell is determined. Table lookups based on the address are performed. The table lookups yield voltage compensation parameters that can be used to set voltages on the terminals (e.g., source and drain) of the memory cell.

Claims (30)

1. A computer-implemented voltage compensation method, said method comprising:

selecting a first voltage compensation parameter from a first lookup table (LUT) using a two-dimensional address of a memory cell in an array of memory cells, wherein one axis of said first LUT corresponds to a first dimension of said two-dimensional address and another axis of said first LUT corresponds to a second dimension of said two-dimensional address, and wherein said first voltage compensation parameter comprises the sum of a voltage compensation parameter that is a function of said first dimension and a voltage compensation parameter that is a function of said second dimension;

combining said first voltage compensation parameter and an uncompensated voltage value to determine a compensated voltage value; and

setting a voltage at a terminal of said memory cell to said compensated voltage value.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said terminal comprises a region selected from the group consisting of: a source region of said memory cell; a drain region of said memory cell.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising selecting a second voltage compensation parameter from a second LUT using said two-dimensional address, said second voltage compensation parameter a function of distance between said memory cell and an electrical contact closest to said memory cell, and wherein said second voltage compensation parameter is combined with said first compensation parameter and said uncompensated voltage value to determine said compensated voltage value.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said terminal comprises a drain region of said memory cell.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising encoding said compensated voltage value as a bit string.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising inputting said bit string to a voltage regulator that sets said voltage at said terminal to said compensated voltage value.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising selecting said first LUT from a first set of LUTs if said memory cell is soft programmed, wherein otherwise said first LUT is selected from a second set of LUTs.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising updating entries in said first LUT such that values of said entries are replaced with different values.

9. A system comprising:

an array of memory cells; and

a microcontroller coupled to said memory cells and operable for selecting a first voltage compensation parameter from a first lookup table (LUT) using a two-dimensional address of a memory cell in said array of memory cells, wherein one axis of said first LUT corresponds to a first dimension of said two-dimensional address and another axis of said first LUT corresponds to a second dimension of said two-dimensional address, and wherein said first voltage compensation parameter comprises the sum of a voltage compensation parameter that is a function of said first dimension and a voltage compensation parameter that is a function of said second dimension, said microcontroller further operable for combining said first voltage compensation parameter and an uncompensated voltage value to determine a compensated voltage value; and wherein a compensated voltage value that is based on said first voltage compensation value is applied to a terminal of said memory cell.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said terminal comprises a region selected from the group consisting of: a source region of said memory cell; a drain region of said memory cell.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein said microcontroller is further operable for selecting a second voltage compensation parameter from a second LUT using said two-dimensional address, said second voltage compensation parameter a function of distance between said memory cell and an electrical contact closest to said memory cell, and wherein said second voltage compensation parameter is combined with said first compensation parameter and said uncompensated voltage value to determine said compensated voltage value.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said terminal comprises a drain region of said memory cell.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein said microcontroller is operable for encoding said compensated voltage value as a bit string.

14. The system of claim 13 further comprising a voltage regulator that receives said bit string, wherein said voltage regulator comprises a digital-to-analog converter that supplies said compensated voltage value to said terminal.

15. The system of claim 9 wherein said first LUT is selected from a first plurality of LUTs if said memory cell is soft programmed, wherein otherwise said first LUT is selected from a second plurality of LUTs.

16. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon, computer-executable instructions that, responsive to execution by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:

selecting a first voltage compensation parameter from a first lookup table (LUT) using a two-dimensional address of a memory cell in an array of memory cells, wherein one axis of said first LUT corresponds to a first dimension of said two-dimensional address and another axis of said first LUT corresponds to a second dimension of said two-dimensional address, and wherein said first voltage compensation parameter comprises the sum of a voltage compensation parameter that is a function of said first dimension and a voltage compensation parameter that is a function of said second dimension;

combining said first voltage compensation parameter and an uncompensated voltage value to determine a compensated voltage value; and

setting a voltage at a terminal of said memory cell to said compensated voltage value.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16 wherein said operations further comprise selecting a second voltage compensation parameter from a second LUT using said two-dimensional address, said second voltage compensation parameter a function of distance between said memory cell and an electrical contact closest to said memory cell, and wherein said second voltage compensation parameter is combined with said first compensation parameter and said uncompensated voltage value to determine said compensated voltage value.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 wherein said operations further comprise updating entries in said first and second LUTs such that values of said entries are replaced with different values.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 16 wherein said operations further comprise:

encoding said compensated voltage value as a bit string; and

inputting said bit string to a voltage regulator that sets said voltage at said terminal to said compensated voltage value.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 16 wherein said terminal comprises a region selected from the group consisting of: a source region of said memory cell; a drain region of said memory cell.

Assignments (6)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 15, 2022
From: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
To: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES LLC
Reel/Frame 059721/0467 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 16, 2022
From: MUFG UNION BANK, N.A.
To: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION; SPANSION LLC
Reel/Frame 059410/0438 →
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 AND ASSUMPTION OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Recorded Oct 28, 2019
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: MUFG UNION BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 050896/0366 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 2, 2015
From: SPANSION, LLC
To: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 036055/0276 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 21, 2015
From: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION; SPANSION LLC
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 035240/0429 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 13107724 · May 13, 2011
Continuation 12710153 · Feb 22, 2010
Continuation 12006744 · Jan 4, 2008
Related Publication 20120230142A1 · Sep 13, 2012