Patents Assigned to Qimonda Flash GmbH
  • Patent number: 7813169
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments relate to integrated circuits, a method to operate an integrated circuit, and a method to determine an electrical erase sequence. More particularly, the application relates to devices having at least two memory cells and methods relating to its operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Qimonda Flash GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Kux, Detlev Richter
  • Patent number: 7808833
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a method to operate an integrated circuit that includes a memory. The memory encompasses a first and a second threshold level. The invention further relates to integrated circuits including a memory with a first and a second threshold level and a method to determine an operating point of an integrated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Qimonda Flash GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Kux
  • Patent number: 7714377
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to integrated circuits having a memory cell arrangement and methods of manufacturing thereof. In one embodiment of the invention, an integrated circuit has a memory cell arrangement which includes a fin structure extending in its longitudinal direction as a first direction, including a first insulating layer, a first active region disposed above the first insulating layer, a second insulating layer disposed above the first active region, a second active region disposed above the second insulating layer, a charge storage layer structure disposed at least next to at least one sidewall of the fin structure covering at least a portion of the first active region and at least a portion of the second active region, and a control gate disposed next to the charge storage layer structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignees: Qimonda AG, Qimonda Flash GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Specht, Nicolas Nagel, Franz Hofmann, Thomas Mikolajick
  • Patent number: 7649779
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to integrated circuits, methods for manufacturing an integrated circuit, memory modules, and computing systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignees: Qimonda AG, Qimonda Flash GmbH
    Inventors: Eike Ruttkowski, Detlev Richter, Michael Specht, Joseph Willer, Dirk Manger, Kenny Oisin, Steffen Meyer, Klaus Knobloch, Holger Moeller, Doris Keitel Schulz, Jan Gutsche, Gert Koebernik, Christoph Friederich
  • Patent number: 7646647
    Abstract: An electronic circuit arrangement includes at least one memory element in which at least two electrical quantities can be stored. A switching unit is electrically connected to the memory element and has at least one first circuit path and a second circuit path. A storage unit has a first partial storage unit and a second partial storage unit. Each partial storage unit is set up for storing at least one electrical quantity. The switching unit is set up in such a way that it can sequentially pass a first one of the at least two electrical quantities along the first circuit path to the first partial storage unit and a second one of the at least two electrical quantities along the second circuit path to the second partial storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignees: Qimonda AG, Qimonda Flash GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Kern, Thomas Mikolajick, Jan-Malte Schley
  • Patent number: 7636258
    Abstract: In accordance with embodiments of the invention, there are provided integrated circuits, memory controller, a method for determining a level for programming or erasing a memory segment, and a method for determining a wear level score for a memory segment. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for determining a level for programming or erasing a memory segment is provided, wherein a first level for programming or erasing a memory segment is determined as a function of an initial program/erase level. Furthermore, a first updated level is determined for a subsequent program/erase operation of the memory segment and a second level for programming or erasing the memory segment subsequent to programming or erasing the memory segment is determined using the first level, wherein the second level is determined as a function of the first updated level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Qimonda Flash GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Kux, Detlev Richter, Gert Koebernick, Juergen Engelhardt, Sudhindra Prasad
  • Patent number: 7616492
    Abstract: An electronic circuit arrangement includes a storage unit set up for storing at least two analog electrical quantities. A first evaluation circuit is coupled to the storage unit and is set up in such a way that it assesses the at least two analog electrical quantities and provides a first assessment result. A second evaluation circuit is coupled to the storage unit and is set up in such a way that it assesses at least one of the at least two analog electrical quantities with a predetermined threshold value and provides a second assessment result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignees: Qimonda AG, Qimonda Flash GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Kern, Thomas Mikolajick, Jan-Malte Schley
  • Publication number: 20090273017
    Abstract: A method for forming trenches on a surface of a semiconductor substrate is described. The method may include: etching a first plurality of trenches into the surface of the semiconductor substrate; filling the first plurality of trenches with at least one material; and etching a second plurality of trenches into every second trench of the first plurality of trenches. Furthermore, a method for forming floating-gate electrodes on a semiconductor substrate and an integrated circuit is described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Applicant: QIMONDA FLASH GMBH
    Inventors: Josef Willer, Michael Specht, Christoph Friederich, Doris Keitel-Schulz
  • Publication number: 20090261397
    Abstract: An integrated circuit is described. The integrated circuit may comprise a multitude of floating-gate electrodes, wherein at least one of the floating-gate electrodes has a lower width and an upper width, the lower width being larger than the upper width, and wherein the at least one of the floating-gate electrodes comprises a transition metal. A corresponding manufacturing method for an integrated circuit is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicants: QIMONDA FLASH GMBH, QIMONDA AG
    Inventors: Josef Willer, Franz Hofmann, Michael Specht, Christoph Friederich, Doris Keitel-Schulz, Lars Bach, Thomas Melde
  • Patent number: 7602649
    Abstract: In an embodiment of the invention, a method of operating an integrated circuit for reading the logical state of a selected one of a plurality of memory cells included within a memory cell string in the integrated circuit is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignees: Qimonda AG, Qimonda Flash GmbH
    Inventors: Josef Willer, Detlev Richter
  • Patent number: 7583532
    Abstract: A method for leveling bit errors in a charge-trapping memory device is included. The memory device has a first and a second sector of memory cells. The first sector is validated by counting a number of bit failures occurring in memory cells of the first sector, the bit failures caused by accessing memory cells of the second sector. Data stored in the first sector is backed up if the validating indicates a likelihood of a forthcoming failure in the first sector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Qimonda Flash GmbH
    Inventor: Tholasampatti Subramanian Sudhindra Prasad
  • Publication number: 20090196110
    Abstract: An integrated circuit and a method for transferring data is provided. One embodiment provides a method for transferring data in an integrated circuit. The method includes driving a first line in accordance with data to be transferred. The data is transmitted from the first line to a second line based on a capacitive coupling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Applicant: QIMONDA FLASH GMBH
    Inventors: Konrad Seidel, Reinhard Ronneberger, Mario Wallisch
  • Patent number: 7554856
    Abstract: A method of reading memory includes sensing a plurality of memory cells simultaneously and providing a data signal corresponding to one of a plurality of programming states. The plurality of programming states include a number of programming states equal to twice a number of memory cells in the plurality of memory cells. The data signal is processed, providing binary data representative of the data signal. The binary data includes a number of information bits equal to the number of memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Qimonda Flash GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Giacomo Curatolo, Rico Srowik
  • Publication number: 20090072274
    Abstract: An integrated circuit including a first gate stack and a second gate stack and a method of manufacturing is disclosed. One embodiment provides non-volatile memory cells including a first gate stack and a gate dielectric on a first surface section of a main surface of a semiconductor substrate, and a second gate stack including a memory layer stack on a second surface section. A first pattern is transferred into the first gate stack and a second pattern into the second gate stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicants: QIMONDA AG, QIMONDA FLASH GMBH
    Inventors: Roman Knoefler, Michael Specht, Josef Willer
  • Patent number: 7489563
    Abstract: A memory device is provided including memory cells that are capable of switching between at least two states, where the threshold of a sense signal for detecting the current state depends on a data content of the memory cell. Parallel to a user data block, a primary control word including a predetermined number of bits of a first state is stored in a check section of the cell array. The check section is read by applying sense signals of different amplitudes, where in each case a secondary control word is obtained. By checking in each secondary control word the number of bits of the first state, the margins of the current sense signal amplitude towards the sense window limits may be checked and the sense signal amplitude may be adapted permanently to a sense window drift, so as to enhance the reliability of the memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Qimonda Flash GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Detlev Richter, Mirko Reissmann, Volker Zipprich-Rasch, Gert Köbernik, Uwe Augustin, Konrad Seidel, Andreas Kux, Hans Heitzer, Daniel-André Löhr, Sören Irmer
  • Patent number: 7457144
    Abstract: A memory device comprises a plurality of first and second non-volatile memory cells arranged as an array. Each memory cell stores information. The memory device further comprises an access unit coupled to the array. The access unit stores information in the plurality of first and second non-volatile memory cells. The memory device further comprises a verifying unit coupled to the array. The verifying unit verifies the information stored in a group of the first and second memory cells by verifying only a subset of the group. The subset comprises at least one of the second memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Qimonda Flash GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Kux, Detlev Richter
  • Publication number: 20080195903
    Abstract: A memory device including a cell array is disclosed. One embodiment includes a plurality of memory cells, wherein each memory cell is capable of showing at least two distinguishable states, a programmable read voltage source adapted to supply an alterable read voltage and a test control unit. The test control unit includes a voltage control unit that is capable of controlling the read voltage source, a counter unit that is capable of counting the memory cells exhibiting a predetermined state and an analysis unit that is capable of rating a currently determined number of memory cells exhibiting a predetermined state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2007
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Applicant: QIMONDA FLASH GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Volker Zipprich-Rasch
  • Publication number: 20080181012
    Abstract: A memory device is provided including memory cells that are capable of switching between at least two states, where the threshold of a sense signal for detecting the current state depends on a data content of the memory cell. Parallel to a user data block, a primary control word including a predetermined number of bits of a first state is stored in a check section of the cell array. The check section is read by applying sense signals of different amplitudes, where in each case a secondary control word is obtained. By checking in each secondary control word the number of bits of the first state, the margins of the current sense signal amplitude towards the sense window limits may be checked and the sense signal amplitude may be adapted permanently to a sense window drift, so as to enhance the reliability of the memory device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Applicant: QIMONDA FLASH GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Detlev Richter, Mirko Reissmann, Volker Zipprich-Rasch, Gert Kobernik, Uwe Augustin, Konrad Seidel, Andreas Kux, Hans Heitzer, Daniel-Andre Lohr, Soren Irmer
  • Patent number: 7349254
    Abstract: A charge-trapping memory device includes an array of non-volatile memory cells. The array has at least a first sector and a second sector. Each sector includes a multiplicity of memory cells. Each memory cell is adapted to trap an amount of charge indicative of a programming state. A control circuit is operationally connected to the array and is adapted to access a memory cell of the array by means of storing charge in or removing charge from the memory cell. A disturb detection circuit is operationally connected to the array or the control circuit and is adapted to detect a disturbance level of the first sector based on a disturbance caused by accessing at least one memory cell of the second sector. A disturb leveling circuit is operationally connected to the array and the disturb detection circuit and is adapted to backup the programming state of memory cells of the first sector if the detected disturbance level exceeds a predefined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Qimonda Flash GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Tholasampatti Subramanian Sudhindra Prasad
  • Patent number: RE40532
    Abstract: Memory cell transistors with back-channel isolation are produced without using an SOI substrate. With the word line stack acting as a mask, the semiconductor material is etched on both sides of the world line, first anisotropically and then isotropically to widen the etch hole and form an undercut beneath the gate electrode and at a distance from the ONO storage layer forming the gate dielectric. The undercut is filled, whereby a buried oxide layer of at least 20 nm maximum thickness is formed underneath the channel region. The latter is p-doped at a density of at least 1017 cm?3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Qimonda Flash GmbH
    Inventors: Josef Willer, Franz Hofmann, Armin Kohlhase, Christoph Ludwig