Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a bandgap circuit that outputs a reference voltage. The bandgap circuit may include a bandgap core circuit and a startup circuit coupled to the bandgap core circuit. The startup circuit may connect a voltage source to a node that corresponds to an output of the bandgap core circuit in response to the bandgap core circuit being initialized. The startup circuit may also disconnect the voltage source from the node in response to the output voltage being equal to or greater than a desired voltage (e.g., a threshold voltage) and one or more local voltages of the bandgap core circuit being equal to or greater than a local threshold voltage.

Abstract: A storage system has a memory with memory cells that can store a non-power-of-two number of states. A map is used to distribute data bits in the memory. The map can be a modified version of a quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) map. The mapping can be done by a controller in the storage system or by the memory die. Performing the mapping in the memory die can reduce data traffic between the controller and the memory die, which can provide an improvement to performance and power consumption.

Abstract: A system includes a random access memory organized into individually addressable words. Streaming access control circuitry is coupled to word lines of the random access memory. The streaming access control circuitry responds to a request to access a plurality of individually addressable words of a determined region of the random access memory by generating control signals to drive the word lines to streamingly access the plurality of individually addressable words of the determined region. The request indicates an offset associated with the determined region and a pattern associated with the streaming access.

Abstract: A spatial disturbance that occurs when an access is concentrated in a specific memory area in a volatile semiconductor memory like DRAM is properly solved by a memory controller. The memory controller includes a concentration access detection part generating a concentration access detection signal when an address for accessing a specific memory area among memory areas of volatile semiconductor memory is concentratedly received. In the case that the concentration access detection signal is generated, the memory controller includes a controller for easing or preventing corruption of data which memory cells of the specific memory area and/or memory cells of memory areas adjacent to the specific memory area hold.

Abstract: The invention relates to DRAM with sustainable storage architecture. The DRAM comprises a DRAM cell with an access transistor and a storage capacitor, and a word-line coupled to a gate terminal of the access transistor. During the period between the word-line being selected to turn on the access transistor and the word line being unselected to turn off the access transistor, either a first voltage level or a second voltage level is stored in the DRAM cell, wherein the first voltage level is higher than a voltage level of a signal ONE utilized in the DRAM, and the second voltage level is lower than a voltage level of a signal ZERO utilized in the DRAM.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a memory device. The memory device includes an active current path including a data storage element; and a reference current path including a reference resistance element. The reference resistance element has a resistance that differs from a resistance of the data storage element. A delay-sensing element has a first input coupled to the active current path and a second input coupled to the reference current path. The delay-sensing element is configured to sense a timing delay between a first signal on the active current path and a second signal on the reference current path. The delay-sensing element is further configured to determine a data state stored in the data storage element based on the timing delay.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device according to an embodiment comprises a memory cell array configured from a plurality of row lines and column lines that intersect one another, and from a plurality of memory cells disposed at each of intersections of the row lines and column lines and each including a variable resistance element. Where a number of the row lines is assumed to be N, a number of the column lines is assumed to be M, and a ratio of a cell current flowing in the one of the memory cells when a voltage that is half of the select voltage is applied to the one of the memory cells to a cell current flowing in the one of the memory cells when the select voltage is applied to the one of the memory cells is assumed to be k, a relationship M2<2×N×k is satisfied.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a protection circuit electrically connected to first and second voltage domains. The protection circuit includes a first silicon-controlled rectifier (SCR) and a second SCR connected in anti-parallel configuration. The first SCR is configured to connect the first voltage domain and the second voltage domain based on detection of a first triggering condition. The second SCR is configured to connect the second voltage domain and the first voltage domain based on detection of a second triggering condition. The protection circuit is configured to isolate the first and second voltage domains without the triggering conditions.

Abstract: A flash memory system may include a flash memory and a circuit for performing operations on the flash memory. The circuit may be configured to obtain reference voltages from one or more read samples, and a plurality of sets of reference voltages. The circuit may be configured to obtain a plurality of distances, each being a distance between a point corresponding to the obtained reference voltages and a point corresponding to a respective set of reference voltages. The circuit may be configured to determine a first set of reference voltages such that a distance between the point corresponding to the obtained reference voltages and a point corresponding to the first set of reference voltage is a minimum distance of the plurality of distances. The circuit may be configured to perform read operations on locations of the flash memory with the first set of reference voltages.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to selectively performing a read with increased accuracy, such as a self-reference read, from a memory. In one aspect, data is read from memory cells, such as magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM) cells, of a memory array. In response to detecting a condition associated with reading from the memory cells, a self-reference read can be performed from at least one of the memory cells. For instance, the condition can indicate that data read from the memory cells is uncorrectable via decoding of error correction codes (ECC). Selectively performing self-reference reads can reduce power consumption and/or latency associated with reading from the memory compared to always performing self-reference reads.

Abstract: A memory device according to the present technology includes a memory cell array configured to include planes having a plurality of memory cells, a page buffer connected to at least one memory cell among the memory cells through a bit line and configured to perform a sensing operation of reading data stored in the at least one memory cell connected to the bit line, a common reference voltage generator configured to generate a common reference voltage, a plurality of merged buffers configured to generate a reference signal using the common reference voltage, and control logic configured to control an operation of the common reference voltage generator and the merged buffers so that page buffer control signals generated based on the reference signal are supplied to the page buffer.

Abstract: A sense amplifier includes a bit line sense amplifier including a first transistor and a second transistor spaced apart from each other in a first direction, a second conductive line configured to electrically connect the first transistor to the second transistor and extending in the first direction and a local sense amplifier configured to at least partially overlap the second conductive line and disposed between the first transistor and the second transistor.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a first wiring, a first memory transistor connected to the first wiring, a first transistor connected between the first wiring and the first memory transistor, a second transistor connected between the first wiring and the first transistor, and second to fourth wirings respectively connected to gate electrodes of the first memory transistor, the first transistor, and the second transistor. From a first timing to a second timing, a voltage difference between the first wiring and the third wiring is maintained at a predetermined value, a voltage difference between the third wiring and the fourth wiring is maintained at a predetermined value, a voltage of the first wiring becomes larger than a voltage of the third wiring, and the voltage of the third wiring becomes larger than a voltage of the fourth wiring.

Abstract: A non-volatile data retention circuit includes a complementary latch configured to generate and store complementary non-volatile spin states corresponding to an input signal when in a write mode, and to concurrently generate a first charge current signal and a second charge current corresponding to the complementary non-volatile spin states when in read mode, and a differential amplifier coupled to the complementary latch and configured to generate an output signal based on the first and second charge current signals.

Abstract: A system includes a charge pump to charge wordlines of a memory array, a pump regulator coupled including a level detector, and dynamic clock logic coupled between the level detector and an oscillator. The logic provides clock signals to the charge pump and is to perform operations including causing the oscillator to output, to the charge pump during a first time period of a recovery period of the charge pump, a first clock signal having a lower frequency than output during a time period preceding the recovery period. The operations further include causing the oscillator to output, to the charge pump during a second time period of the recovery period that follows the first time period, a second clock signal having a higher frequency than output during the time period preceding the recovery period.

Abstract: A memory device includes a peripheral circuit area including a first substrate and circuit elements on the first substrate, at least a portion of the circuit elements providing a source driver, and a cell area including a second substrate stacked with the peripheral circuit area in a first direction, perpendicular to an upper surface of the first substrate, and cell blocks and dummy blocks arranged in a second direction, parallel to an upper surface of the second substrate.

Abstract: A set of two or more block families associated with a bin boundary of a first voltage bin is identified. A determination of at least a first voltage for a first block family of the plurality of block families and a second voltage for a second block family of the plurality of block families based on values of a data state metric for each of the plurality of block families. In response to a determination that a difference between the first voltage and the second voltage satisfies a block family combination criterion, the second block family is merged with the first block family.

Abstract: A memory system according to an embodiment includes a semiconductor memory, and a memory controller. The semiconductor memory comprises memory cells and word lines. Each of the word lines is connected to the memory cells. The memory controller executes a patrol operation including a read operation of the semiconductor memory. The word lines are classified into one of first and second groups. The memory controller executes patrol operations in which the word lines are respectively selected in a first patrol period and, in a second patrol period subsequent to the first patrol period, executes a patrol operation in which the word line included in the first group is selected and omits a patrol operation in which the word line included in the second group is selected.

Abstract: A fine-grained dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) includes a first memory bank, a second memory bank, and a dual mode I/O circuit. The first memory bank includes a memory array divided into a plurality of grains, each grain including a row buffer and input/output (I/O) circuitry. The dual-mode I/O circuit is coupled to the I/O circuitry of each grain in the first memory bank, and operates in a first mode in which commands having a first data width are routed to and fulfilled individually at each grain, and a second mode in which commands having a second data width different from the first data width are fulfilled by at least two of the grains in parallel.

Abstract: A memory device includes a page buffer circuit including a plurality of page buffer stages each including a plurality of page buffers. The memory device also includes a control circuit configured to generate page buffer control signals for controlling the plurality of page buffers. The control circuit is also configured to probe each of a plurality of page buffer control signal groups configured with the page buffer control signals through a probing path corresponding to each of the plurality of page buffer control signal groups.