Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for voltage equalization for pillars of a memory array are described. In some examples, a memory array may be configured with conductive pillars that are each coupled with a respective set of memory cells, and may be selectively coupled with an access line. To support a dissipation or equalization of charge from unselected pillars, the memory array may be configured with a material layer or level that provides a dissipative coupling, such as a coupling having a relatively high resistance or a degree of capacitance, with a ground voltage or other voltage source (e.g., to support a passive equalization). Additionally, or alternatively, a memory array may be configured to support an active dissipation of accumulated charge or voltage by selectively coupling pillars that have been operated in a floating condition with a ground voltage or other voltage source (e.g., to perform a dynamic equalization).

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus related to memory devices. In one approach, a vertical three-dimensional cross-point memory device uses digit line decoders that include, on the digit line side of memory cells, a current limiter and sensing circuit configured to control program current in either of positive or negative program polarities, as selected by a controller. Two current limiters are each used on the digit line side of each memory cell. A negative polarity current limiter is used for pull-up, and a positive polarity current limiter is used for pull-down. A negative polarity sensing circuit is used between the respective digit line decoder and a positive supply voltage. A positive polarity sensing circuit is used between the respective digit line decoder and a negative supply voltage. The current limiter and sensing circuit pair of the same polarity is coupled to each digit line decoder based on the selected program polarity.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for a source follower-based sensing architecture and sensing scheme are described. In one example, a memory device may include a sense circuit that includes two source followers that are coupled to each other and to a sense amplifier. A method of operating the memory device may include transferring a digit line voltage to one of the source followers and transferring a reference voltage to the other source follower. After transferring the digit line voltage and the reference voltage, the source followers may be enabled so that signals representative of the digit line voltage and the reference voltage are transferred from the outputs of the source followers to the sense amplifier for sensing.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for accessing an array of memory cells, including storing a set of user data in a plurality of memory cells, storing, in a portion of the array, additional information representative of a voltage difference between a first threshold voltage and a second threshold voltage of the memory cells programmed to a first logic state, applying to the array a read voltage to activate a first group of memory cells corresponding to a preset number of memory cells, determining that the first group of memory cells has been activated based on applying the read voltage, wherein the read voltage is equal to the first threshold voltage when the first group of memory cells has been activated, and based on the additional data information, applying the voltage difference to the array to activate a second group of memory cells programmed to the first logic state.

Abstract: A method, a circuit, and a system for reading memory cells. The method may include: applying a first voltage with a first polarity to a plurality of the memory cells; applying a second voltage with a second polarity to one or more of said plurality of the memory cells; applying at least a third voltage with the first polarity to one or more of said plurality of the memory cells; detecting electrical responses of memory cells to the first voltage, the second voltage, and the third voltage; and determining a logic state of respective memory cells based on the electrical responses of the memory cells to the first voltage, the second voltage, and the third voltage.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for a single plate configuration and memory array operation are described. A non-volatile memory array may utilize a single plate to cover a subset of the array. One or more memory cells of the subset may be selected by operating the plate and an access line of an unselected memory cell at a fixed voltage. A second voltage may be applied to an access line of the selected cell, and subsequently reduced to perform an access operation. Removing the applied voltage may allow for the memory cell to undergo a recovery period prior to a subsequent access operation.

Abstract: A method for reading memory cells is described. The method may include applying a first read voltage to a plurality of memory cells, detecting first threshold voltages exhibited by the plurality of memory cells in response to application of the first read voltage, associating a first logic state to one or more cells of the plurality of memory cells, applying a second read voltage to the plurality of memory cells, where the second read voltage has the same polarity of the first read voltage and a higher magnitude than an expected highest threshold voltage of memory cells in the first logic state, and detecting second threshold voltages exhibited by the plurality of memory cells in response to application of the second read voltage, among other aspects. A related circuit, a related memory device and a related system are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices related to counter-based sense amplifier method for memory cells are described. The counter-based read algorithm may comprise the following phases: storing in a counter associated to an array of memory cells the value of the number of bits having a predetermined logic value of the data bits stored in the memory array; reading from said counter the value corresponding to the number of bits having the predetermined logic value; reading the data stored in the array of memory cells by applying a ramp of biasing voltages; counting the number of bits having the predetermined logic value during the data reading phase; stopping the data reading phase when the number of bits having the predetermined logic value is equal to the value stored in said counter.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for memory cell sensing using an averaged reference voltage are described. A memory device may generate the averaged reference voltage that is specific to operating conditions or characteristics. The averaged reference voltage thus may track variations in cell use and cell characteristics. The memory device may generate the averaged reference voltage by shorting together reference nodes to determine an average of values associated with the reference nodes. The reference nodes may be associated with a codeword, which may store values corresponding to the reference nodes. The codeword may be balanced or nearly balanced to include equal or nearly equal quantities of different logic values.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for accessing an array of memory cells, comprising the steps of storing user data in a plurality of memory cells of a memory array, storing, in a counter associated to the array of memory cells, count data corresponding to a number of bits in the user data having a predetermined first logic value, applying a read voltage to the memory cells to read the user data stored in the array of memory cells, applying the read voltage to the cells of the counter to read the count data stored in the counter and to provide a target value corresponding to the number of bits in the user data having the first logic value, wherein, during the application of the read voltage, the count data are read simultaneously to the user data in such a way that the target value is provided during the reading of the user data, and based on the target value of the counter, stopping the application of the read voltage when the number of bits in the user data having the first logic value corresponds

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for memory cell sensing using an averaged reference voltage are described. A memory device may generate the averaged reference voltage that is specific to operating conditions or characteristics. The averaged reference voltage thus may track variations in cell use and cell characteristics. The memory device may generate the averaged reference voltage by shorting together reference nodes to determine an average of values associated with the reference nodes. The reference nodes may be associated with a codeword, which may store values corresponding to the reference nodes. The codeword may be balanced or nearly balanced to include equal or nearly equal quantities of different logic values.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for a single plate configuration and memory array operation are described. A non-volatile memory array may utilize a single plate to cover a subset of the array. One or more memory cells of the subset may be selected by operating the plate and an access line of an unselected memory cell at a fixed voltage. A second voltage may be applied to an access line of the selected cell, and subsequently reduced to perform an access operation. Removing the applied voltage may allow for the memory cell to undergo a recovery period prior to a subsequent access operation.

Abstract: Methods and systems include memory devices with a memory array comprising a plurality of memory cells. The memory devices include a control circuit operatively coupled to the memory array and configured to receive a read request for data and to apply a first voltage at a first time duration to the memory array based on the read request. The control circuit is additionally configured to count a number of the plurality of memory cells that have switched to an active read state based on the first voltage and to derive a second time duration. The control circuit is further configured to apply a second voltage at the second duration to the memory array. The control circuit is also configured to return the data based at least on bits stored in a first and a second set of the plurality of memory cells.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a memory device comprising an array of memory cells arranged in a multideck configuration comprising a plurality of superimposed decks, a plurality of access lines comprising at least a first plurality of access lines arranged in a first level, a second plurality of access lines arranged in a second level, and a third plurality of access lines arranged in a third level between the first plurality of access lines and the second plurality of access lines, the third plurality of access lines being arranged between two decks of the plurality of decks, a plurality of drivers configured to drive signals to the access lines, and connection elements configured to electrically connect the access lines to the respective drivers. The connections elements and the access lines are arranged so that a single driver of the plurality of drivers is configured to drive at least one access line of each level of the at least three levels. Related memory systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for a read algorithm for a memory device are described. When performing a read operation, the memory device may access a memory cell to retrieve a value stored by the memory cell. The memory device may compare a set of reference voltages with a signal output by the memory cell based on accessing the memory cell. Thus, the memory device may determine a set of candidate values stored by the memory cell, where each candidate value is associated with one of the reference voltages. The memory device may determine and output the value stored by the memory cell based on determining the set of candidate values. In some cases, the memory device may determine the value stored by the memory cell based on performing an error control operation on each of the set of candidate values to detect a quantity of errors within each candidate value.

Abstract: Methods and systems include memory devices with a memory array comprising a plurality of memory cells. The memory devices include a control circuit operatively coupled to the memory array and configured to receive a read request for data and to apply a plurality of read voltages to the memory array based on the read request. The control circuit is further configured to perform a data analysis for a first set of data read based on the application of the plurality of read voltages and to derive a demarcation bias voltage (VDM) based on the data analysis. The control circuit is also configured to apply the VDM to the memory array to read a second set of data.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses with counter-based reading are described. A memory cells of a codeword are accessed and respective voltages are generated. A reference voltage is generated and a logic state of each memory cell is determined based on the reference voltage and the respective generated cell voltage. The reference voltage is modified until a count of memory cells determined to be in a predefined logic state with respect to the last modified reference voltage value meets a criterium. In some embodiments the criterium may be an exact match between the memory cells count and an expected number of memory cells in the predefined logic state. In other embodiments, an error correction (ECC) algorithm may be applied while the difference between the count of cells in the predefined logic state and the expected number of cells in that state does not exceed a detection or correction power of the ECC.

Abstract: Methods and devices for reading a memory cell using a sense amplifier with split capacitors is described. The sense amplifier may include a first capacitor and a second capacitor that may be configured to provide a larger capacitance during certain portions of a read operation and a lower capacitance during other portions of the read operation. In some cases, the first capacitor and the second capacitor are configured to be coupled in parallel between a signal node and a voltage source during a first portion of the read operation to provide a higher capacitance. The first capacitor may be decoupled from the second capacitor during a second portion of the read operation to provide a lower capacitance during the second portion.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for compensating for signal drop in memory. Compensating for signal drop can include applying a first signal to a terminal of a particular transistor and mirroring the first signal to a decoder replica. Compensating for signal drop can also include applying a second signal to a gate of the particular transistor, the second signal comprising a sensing signal and a signal drop on the decoder replica and sensing a state of the particular transistor.

Abstract: Methods and systems include memory devices with a memory array comprising a plurality of memory cells. The memory devices include a control circuit operatively coupled to the memory array and configured to receive a read request for data and to apply a first voltage at a first time duration to the memory array based on the read request. The control circuit is additionally configured to count a number of the plurality of memory cells that have switched to an active read state based on the first voltage and to derive a second time duration. The control circuit is further configured to apply a second voltage at the second duration to the memory array. The control circuit is also configured to return the data based at least on bits stored in a first and a second set of the plurality of memory cells.