Abstract: In various embodiments, a memory circuit is provided. The memory circuit may include a plurality of electrically programmable memory cells arranged in an electrically programmable non-volatile memory cell array along a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, a plurality of word lines, each word line coupled with a plurality of word portions of the plurality of memory cells, wherein each word portion is configured to store a data word, and at least one overlay word line coupled with a plurality of overlay portions, each overlay portion comprising a plurality of overlay memory cells, wherein each of the plurality of overlay portions comprises an overlay word, wherein the memory circuit is configured to read, for each of the plurality of word lines, from each of the word portions simultaneously with an overlay portion of the plurality of overlay portions, thereby providing, as an output of the read operation, a result of a logic operation performed on the data word and the overlay word.

Abstract: A memory circuit may include a plurality of electrically programmable memory cells arranged in a non-volatile memory cell array along a rows and columns, a plurality of word lines, each word line coupled with one or more memory cells, a plurality of non-volatile marking memory cells, wherein at least one word line of the plurality of word lines is associated with one or more marking memory cells, and a plurality of marking bit lines, each associated with marking memory cells, a plurality of marking source lines, each associated with marking memory cells, wherein, for marking memory cells, a physical connection from an associated marking source line and/or from an associated marking bit line to the marking memory cells defines those marking memory cells to a non-changeable state, wherein the marking memory cells are configured to identify the associated word line of respective marking memory cells in the non-changeable memory state.

Abstract: An embodiment relates to a method for determining a health state of a non-volatile memory comprising: determining the health state based on at least one indicator for determining a predictable failure of the non-volatile memory.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a method of using a memory device is provided. The method may include storing data units, check units of a first code and check units of a second code in memory cells of the memory device, wherein the data units and the check units of the first code form code words of the first code, and wherein the data units and the check units of the second code form code words of the second code, applying the second code for error correction in at least a portion of the data units and/or in at least a portion of the check units of the first code, after the correcting the errors, retaining at least a retaining portion of the data units and of the check units of the first code and deleting at least a deleting portion of the check units of the second code, thereby freeing the memory cells that are occupied by the deleting portion of the check units of the second code, and during a subsequent using of the memory device, storing data in at least a reuse portion of the freed-up memory cells.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a chip is described comprising a transistor level, a semiconductor region in, below, or in and below the transistor level, a test signal circuit configured to supply a test signal to the semiconductor region, a determiner configured to determine a behavior of the semiconductor region in response to the test signal and a detector configured to detect a change of geometry of the semiconductor region based on the behavior and a reference behavior of the semiconductor region in response to the test signal.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a chip is described comprising a substrate; an energy source configured to provide energy to the substrate; an energy receiver configured to receive energy from the energy source via the substrate and a determiner configured to determine a value of a parameter of the energy transmission between the energy source and the energy receiver, to check whether the value matches a predetermined value of the parameter and to output a signal depending on the result of the check.

Abstract: An embodiment relates to a method for determining a health state of a non-volatile memory comprising: determining the health state based on at least one indicator for determining a predictable failure of the non-volatile memory.

Abstract: An example relates to a method for data processing comprising: mapping between a logical address and a physical address of a memory, wherein the memory comprises several pages, wherein a group of pages comprises at least one page that comprises at least two portions, and wherein the at least two portions of each page of the group are not part of a single-page logical address space.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic memory system, and more specifically, to a system for providing voltage supply protection in a memory device, and a method for providing voltage supply protection in a memory device. According to an embodiment, a system for providing voltage supply protection in a memory device is provided, the system including a memory array including a plurality of memory cells arranged in a plurality of groups of memory cells, and a plurality of current limiting elements, wherein each group of memory cells is associated with at least one current limiting element.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods including a step of switching between two or more erase operations and/or two or more write operations for erasing of and/or writing to least one memory cell of a nonvolatile memory enabling to select a most suitable erase and/or write operation for a particular erase and/or write operation within the memory.

Abstract: A method of operating an integrated circuit includes determining at least one characteristic of at least one memory cell and conducting an operation for the at least one memory cell, wherein based on the at least one characteristic determined a disturbance for at least one additional memory cell is adjusted.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a chip is described comprising a transistor level, a semiconductor region in, below, or in and below the transistor level, a test signal circuit configured to supply a test signal to the semiconductor region, a determiner configured to determine a behavior of the semiconductor region in response to the test signal and a detector configured to detect a change of geometry of the semiconductor region based on the behavior and a reference behavior of the semiconductor region in response to the test signal.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a non-volatile memory having a plurality of memory cells, a memory controller, and an evaluator. The memory controller is configured to provide control signals to the non-volatile memory causing the non-volatile memory, or a selected memory section of the non-volatile memory, to be in one of a read state and a weak erase state, wherein the weak erase state causes the plurality of memory cells to maintain different states depending on different physical properties of the plurality of memory cells. The evaluator is configured to read out the plurality of memory cells and to provide a readout pattern during the read state, wherein the readout pattern that is provided after a preceding weak erase state corresponds to a physically unclonable function (PUF) response of the electronic device uniquely identifying the electronic device.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and systems for reading a memory cell and in particular, an STT MRAM. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a method for reading a memory cell includes combining a cell current from a memory cell with a reference current from a reference source to create an average current, enabling the average current to flow through a first mirror transistor in a sense path and a second mirror transistor in a reference path, storing the current mismatch on a capacitor coupled to the gates of the first mirror transistor and the second mirror transistor, disconnecting the memory cell from the reference path and disconnecting the reference source from the sense path, enabling the cell current only to flow through the sense path, and determining the output level of the memory cell.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a chip is described comprising a substrate; an energy source configured to provide energy to the substrate; an energy receiver configured to receive energy from the energy source via the substrate and a determiner configured to determine a value of a parameter of the energy transmission between the energy source and the energy receiver, to check whether the value matches a predetermined value of the parameter and to output a signal depending on the result of the check.

Abstract: An embodiment relates to a method for data processing that includes reading data, the data comprising overhead information and payload information, and determining a state of each portion of the data, wherein the state is one of a first binary state, a second binary state, and an undefined state. The method also includes decoding at least one portion of data that has an undefined state based on its location and based on the overhead information.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an electronic memory system, and more specifically, to a system for adaptive bit rate programming of a memory device, and a method for adaptive bit rate programming of a memory device. According to an embodiment, a system for adaptive bit rate programming of a memory device including a plurality of memory cells is provided, wherein the memory cells are configured to be electrically programmable by application of a current supplied by a current source, the system including selection devices for selecting memory cells for programming based on availability of current from the current source.

Abstract: A method for data processing is disclosed. A blank state is determined for several data bits based on a majority decision. Each data bit is represented by a group of at least two memory cells. The at least two memory cells of this group are complementary cells of a differential read memory.

Abstract: An embodiment relates to a method for data processing that includes reading data, the data comprising overhead information and payload information, and determining a state of each portion of the data, wherein the state is one of a first binary state, a second binary state, and an undefined state. The method also includes decoding at least one portion of data that has an undefined state based on its location and based on the overhead information.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and systems for reading a memory cell and in particular, an STT MRAM. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a system for reading a memory cell includes a read path and a precharge path. The reference current is provided through the read path and is sampled via a sampling element in the read path. Subsequently, a current from the memory cell is provided through the same sampling element and read path. The output level is then determined by the cell current working against the sampled reference current.