IP Library Granted Patent US 7,876,599
Granted Patent B2
US 7,876,599 · App. 12/398,256 · Granted Jan 25, 2011

Spatial correlation of reference cells in resistive memory array

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,876,599
App. No.
12/398,256
Granted
Jan 25, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure relates to methods of selectively placing a reference column or reference row in a memory array. The method includes measuring a resistance state resistance value for a plurality of variable resistive memory cells within a memory array and mapping a location of each measured variable resistive memory cell to form a map of the resistance state resistance values for a plurality of variable resistive memory cells within a memory array. Then a column or row is selected to be a reference column or reference row based on the map of the resistance state resistance value for a plurality of variable resistive memory cells within a memory array, to minimize read operation errors, and forming a variable resistive memory cell memory array.

Claims (30)

1. A method, comprising:

measuring a resistance state resistance value for a plurality of variable resistive memory cells within a memory array;

mapping a location of each measured variable resistive memory cell to form a map of the resistance state resistance values for a plurality of variable resistive memory cells within a memory array; and

selecting a column or row in the memory array to be a reference column or reference row based on the map of the resistance state resistance value for a plurality of variable resistive memory cells within a memory array, to minimize read operation errors, and forming a variable resistive memory cell memory array.

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the resistance state resistance value comprises a high resistance state resistance value.

3. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the resistance state resistance value comprises a low resistance state resistance value.

4. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the resistance state resistance value comprises a low resistance state resistance value and a high resistance state resistance value.

5. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the selecting step comprises selecting two or more columns or rows in a memory array to be reference columns or reference rows.

6. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising forming subsequent variable resistive memory cell memory arrays having the reference column or row placed in the memory array at the selected column or row location in the variable resistive memory cell memory array.

7. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the selecting step comprises selecting two or more columns or rows in the memory array to be reference columns or reference rows based on the map of the resistance state resistance value for a plurality of variable resistive memory cells within a memory array.

8. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the selecting step comprises selecting at least one column and at least one row in the memory array to be a reference column and a reference row based on the map of the resistance state resistance value for a plurality of variable resistive memory cells within a memory array.

9. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the selecting step comprises performing a spatial correlation analysis of the map of the resistance state resistance value for a plurality of variable resistive memory cells within a memory array.

10. A method according to claim 9 , wherein the spatial correlation analysis comprises determining relative distance, direction and resistance value of each measured variable resistive memory in the map of the resistance state resistance values.

11. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the selecting step increases a sensing margin of the memory array.

12. A method, comprising:

measuring a high resistance state resistance value and a low resistance state resistance value for a plurality of magnetic tunnel junction data cells within a memory array;

mapping a location of each measured magnetic tunnel junction data cell to form a map of the high and low resistance state resistance values for a plurality of magnetic tunnel junction data cells within a memory array; and

selecting a column or row in the memory array to be a reference column or reference row based on the map of the resistance state resistance value for a plurality of magnetic tunnel junction data cells within a memory array, to increase a sense margin of the memory array and minimize read operation errors, and forming a magnetic tunnel junction data cell memory array.

13. A method according to claim 12 , wherein the selecting step comprises selecting two or more columns or rows in a memory array to be reference columns or reference rows.

14. A method according to claim 12 , further comprising forming subsequent magnetic tunnel junction data cell memory arrays having the reference column or row placed in the memory array at the selected column or row location in the magnetic tunnel junction data cell memory array.

15. A method according to claim 12 , wherein the selecting step comprises selecting two or more columns or rows in the memory array to be reference columns or reference rows based on the map of the resistance state resistance value for a plurality of magnetic tunnel junction data cells within a memory array.

16. A method according to claim 12 , wherein the selecting step comprises selecting at least one column and at least one row in the memory array to be a reference column and a reference row based on the map of the resistance state resistance value for a plurality of magnetic tunnel junction data cells within a memory array.

17. A method according to claim 12 , wherein the selecting step comprises performing a spatial correlation analysis of the map of the resistance state resistance value for a plurality of magnetic tunnel junction data cells within a memory array.

18. A method of placing a reference column or reference row in a memory array, comprising the steps of:

measuring a resistance value for a plurality of magnetic tunnel junction data cells within a memory array;

mapping a location of each measured magnetic tunnel junction data cell to form a map of the resistance values for a plurality of magnetic tunnel junction data cells within a memory array;

performing statistical analysis on the map of the resistance values to determine a spatial correlation of the map of the resistance values; and

selecting a column or row in the memory array to be a reference column or reference row based on the statistical analysis map of the resistance state resistance value for a plurality of magnetic tunnel junction data cells within a memory array, to increase a sense margin of the memory array and minimize read operation errors, and forming a magnetic tunnel junction data cell memory array.

19. A method according to claim 18 , wherein the selecting step comprises selecting two or more columns or rows in a memory array to be reference columns or reference rows.

20. A method according to claim 18 , further comprising forming subsequent magnetic tunnel junction data cell memory arrays having the reference column or row placed in the memory array at the selected column or row location in the magnetic tunnel junction data cell memory array.

Assignments (6)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 23, 2025
From: THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA
To: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY; SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY; SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY HDD HOLDINGS; I365 INC.; SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC; SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL; SEAGATE HDD CAYMAN; SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY (US) HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 072193/0001 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Jul 19, 2013
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT AND SECOND PRIORITY REPRESENTATIVE
To: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC; EVAULT INC. (F/K/A I365 INC.); SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL; SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY US HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 030833/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 24, 2011
From: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 026010/0350 →
RELEASE Recorded Jan 19, 2011
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY HDD HOLDINGS; MAXTOR CORPORATION; SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC; SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL
Reel/Frame 025662/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 15, 2009
From: MAXTOR CORPORATION; SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC; SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND FIRST PRIORITY REPRESENTATIVE; WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT AND SECOND PRIORITY REPRESENTATIVE
Reel/Frame 022757/0017 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 5, 2009
From: CHEN, YIRAN; LI, HAI; ZHU, WENZHONG; WANG, XIAOBIN; HUANG, HENRY; LIU, HONGYUE
To: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
Reel/Frame 022351/0056 →