Driver for a semiconductor memory and method thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9443569-B2
Application number	US-201414566202-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 10, 2014
Priority date	May 16, 2012
Publication date	Sep 13, 2016
Grant date	Sep 13, 2016

Abstract

A driver for semiconductor memory, comprising: a storage unit configured to match and store a memory cell address and bucket charge current data corresponding to the memory cell address; a selection controller configured to receive the memory cell address and a target charge current data, and output a bucket charge current select signal and a target charge current select signal corresponding to the bucket charge current data and the target charge current data, respectively, by referring to the storage unit; and a current supply unit configured to supply a bucket charge current and a target charge current in response to the bucket charge current select signal and the target charge current select signal, respectively.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A driver for semiconductor memory, comprising:
a storage unit configured to match and store a memory cell address and bucket charge current data corresponding to the memory cell address;
a selection controller configured to receive the memory cell address and target charge current data, and output a bucket charge current select signal and a target charge current select signal corresponding to the bucket charge current data and the target charge current data, respectively, by referring to the storage unit;
a current supply unit configured to supply a bucket charge current and a target charge current in response to the bucket charge current select signal and the target charge current select signal, respectively; and
a bucket charge current setting unit configured to set the bucket charge current data stored in the storage unit with respect to each memory cell address.

2. The driver of claim 1 , wherein the bucket charge current setting unit comprises:
a sampling unit configured to sample one or more values associated with a parasitic component within a memory cell corresponding to the memory cell address by using a test memory cell corresponding to the memory cell; and
an error calibrator configured to calibrate the bucket charge current,
wherein the bucket charge current is calibrated such that an error rate based on the sampled values of the parasitic component within the memory cell falls within a permissible error range.

3. The driver of claim 2 , wherein the test cell comprises one or more of parasitic components which are equal or similar to those of the corresponding memory cell.

4. The driver of claim 3 , wherein the error calibrator calibrates the bucket charge current by comparing a pre-charge voltage of the test memory cell when the sum of the bucket charge current and the target charge current flows into the test memory cell to a normal voltage of the test memory cell when the target charge current flows into the test memory cell.

5. The driver of claim 1 , wherein the current supply unit comprises:
a charge bucket configured to provide a different capacitance value in response to the bucket charge current select signal;
a bias unit configured to supply a predetermined current, the bias unit comprising a current source coupled between a power supply voltage and a ground terminal;
a negative feedback unit configured to output a negative feedback voltage according to a voltage obtained by coupling an output voltage of the charge bucket and an output voltage of the bias unit;
a current mirror unit configured to generate an output current using the negative feedback voltage and the target charge current select signal; and
a reset voltage generation unit configured to generate a reset voltage for resetting the current mirror unit after the output current is provided to the memory cell.

6. The driver of claim 5 , wherein the charge bucket comprises:
a plurality of capacitors coupled in parallel to each other, one or more of the plurality of capacitors being selectively switched in response to the bucket charge current select signal;
a reset switch coupled between the plurality of capacitors and the ground terminal and configured to reset the selectively switched capacitors; and
a bucket current switch coupled between the plurality of capacitors and the ground terminal and configured to discharge the selectively switched capacitors.

7. The driver of claim 5 , wherein the current mirror unit comprises:
a power supply voltage controller configured to control the power supply voltage using the negative feedback voltage;
a reference current provider coupled between the power supply voltage controller and the negative feedback unit and configured to pass a reference current; and
a mirrored current generator configured to selectively switch one or more of a plurality of current-mirror switching elements in response to the target charge current select signal so as to couple the memory cell to the power supply voltage and generate the output current, the plurality of current-mirror switching elements being coupled in parallel to each other.

8. The driver of claim 7 , wherein the reset voltage generation unit comprises:
a discharge unit comprising a discharge switch configured to decrease a control terminal voltage of the current-mirror switching elements to a predetermined first level; and
a charge unit comprising a charge switch configured to increase the control terminal voltage of the current-mirror switching elements to a predetermined second level.

9. A method of a driver for semiconductor memory, comprising:
selecting bucket charge current data based on an inputted memory cell address and target charge current data;
outputting a target charge current select signal and a bucket charge current select signal corresponding to the target charge current data and the bucket charge current data, respectively;
providing a bucket charge current to a memory cell corresponding to the memory cell address so as to pre-charge the memory cell corresponding to the memory cell address in response to the bucket charge current select signal;
providing a target charge current to the memory cell in response to the target charge current select signal; and
calibrating the bucket charge current data to pre-charge a parasitic component within the memory cell corresponding to the memory cell address.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein calibrating the bucket charge current comprises sampling values associated with the parasitic component within the memory cell corresponding to the memory cell address.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein sampling the values associated with the parasitic component comprises using a test cell corresponding to the memory cell.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the test cell comprises one or more of parasitic components which are equal or similar to those of the corresponding memory cell.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein calibrating the bucket charge current further comprises comparing a pre-charge voltage of the test cell when the sum of the bucket charge current and the target charge current flows into the test cell to a normal voltage of the test cell when the target charge current flows into the test cell.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein providing the bucket charge current comprises selectively switching a plurality of capacitors in response to the bucket charge current select signal.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein providing the target charge current comprises outputting an output current by selectively switching one or more of a plurality of current-mirror switching elements in response to the target charge current select signal, the plurality of current-mirror switching elements coupled in parallel to each other.

16. A driver for semiconductor memory, comprising:
a storage unit configured to store a bucket charge current value;
a selection controller configured to read the bucket charge current value stored in the storage unit based on an inputted memory cell address and a target charge current value, and output a bucket charge current select signal and a target charge current select signal corresponding to the bucket charge current value the target charge current value, respectively;
a current mirror unit; and
a current supply unit configured to supply a bucket charge current and a target charge current in response to the bucket charge current select signal and a target charge current select signal by using the current mirror unit.

17. The driver of claim 16 , wherein the current supply unit c

Assignees

• Sk Hynix Inc
• Korea Advanced Inst Sci & Tech

Inventors

• Cho Gyu Hyeong
• Choi Suk Hwan

Classifications

• G11C13/0038

  Power supply circuits · CPC title

• G11C13/0004

  comprising amorphous/crystalline phase transition cells · CPC title

• G11C5/145 Primary

  Applications of charge pumps; Boosted voltage circuits; Clamp circuits therefor (G11C5/141 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G11C13/0069

  Writing or programming circuits or methods · CPC title

• G11C5/14

  Power supply arrangements {, e.g. power down, chip selection or deselection, layout of wirings or power grids, or multiple supply levels} · CPC title