Abstract: A multiple polarity reversible charge pump circuit is disclosed which, in certain embodiments, may be configured to generate a positive voltage at times and may be reversed to generate a negative voltage at other times. Such a charge pump circuit is advantageous if both the positive and negative voltage are not simultaneously required. In certain other embodiments, a charge pump circuit generates a high output current for only a positive boosted voltage in one mode of operation, but lower current positive and negative boosted voltage outputs in another mode of operation. Use with certain erasable memory array technologies is disclosed, particularly certain resistive passive element memory cells, and more particularly in a three-dimensional memory array.

Abstract: An exemplary amplifier circuit includes a first group of spatially distributed final amplifier stages having a first configuration, and a second group of spatially distributed final amplifier stages having a second configuration different than the first configuration. Both groups share the same control node for their respective final amplifier stages, and both groups share the same amplifier output node. Each group is typically enabled at a time that the other is disabled. In certain embodiments incorporating a memory array, only one critical analog node must be routed throughout the memory array.

Abstract: An exemplary amplifier circuit includes a first group of spatially distributed final amplifier stages having a first configuration, and a second group of spatially distributed final amplifier stages having a second configuration different than the first configuration. Both groups share the same control node for their respective final amplifier stages, and both groups share the same amplifier output node. Each group is typically enabled at a time that the other is disabled. In certain embodiments incorporating a memory array, only one critical analog node must be routed throughout the memory array.

Abstract: A multiple polarity reversible charge pump circuit is disclosed which, in certain embodiments, may be configured to generate a positive voltage at times and may be reversed to generate a negative voltage at other times. Such a charge pump circuit is advantageous if both the positive and negative voltage are not simultaneously required. In certain other embodiments, a charge pump circuit generates a high output current for only a positive boosted voltage in one mode of operation, but lower current positive and negative boosted voltage outputs in another mode of operation. Use with certain erasable memory array technologies is disclosed, particularly certain resistive passive element memory cells, and more particularly in a three-dimensional memory array.

Abstract: A multiple polarity reversible charge pump circuit is disclosed which, in certain embodiments, may be configured to generate a positive voltage at times and may be reversed to generate a negative voltage at other times. Such a charge pump circuit is advantageous if both the positive and negative voltage are not simultaneously required. In certain other embodiments, a charge pump circuit generates a high output current for only a positive boosted voltage in one mode of operation, but lower current positive and negative boosted voltage outputs in another mode of operation. Use with certain erasable memory array technologies is disclosed, particularly certain resistive passive element memory cells, and more particularly in a three-dimensional memory array.

Abstract: A multiple polarity reversible charge pump circuit is disclosed which, in certain embodiments, may be configured to generate a positive voltage at times and may be reversed to generate a negative voltage at other times. Such a charge pump circuit is advantageous if both the positive and negative voltage are not simultaneously required. In certain other embodiments, a charge pump circuit generates a high output current for only a positive boosted voltage in one mode of operation, but lower current positive and negative boosted voltage outputs in another mode of operation. Use with certain erasable memory array technologies is disclosed, particularly certain resistive passive element memory cells, and more particularly in a three-dimensional memory array.

Abstract: An exemplary amplifier circuit includes a first group of spatially distributed final amplifier stages having a first configuration, and a second group of spatially distributed final amplifier stages having a second configuration different than the first configuration. Both groups share the same control node for their respective final amplifier stages, and both groups share the same amplifier output node. Each group is typically enabled at a time that the other is disabled. In certain embodiments incorporating a memory array, only one critical analog node must be routed throughout the memory array.

Abstract: An exemplary amplifier circuit includes a first group of spatially distributed final amplifier stages having a first configuration, and a second group of spatially distributed final amplifier stages having a second configuration different than the first configuration. Both groups share the same control node for their respective final amplifier stages, and both groups share the same amplifier output node. Each group is typically enabled at a time that the other is disabled. In certain embodiments incorporating a memory array, only one critical analog node must be routed throughout the memory array.

Abstract: A multiple polarity reversible charge pump circuit is disclosed which, in certain embodiments, may be configured to generate a positive voltage at times and may be reversed to generate a negative voltage at other times. Such a charge pump circuit is advantageous if both the positive and negative voltage are not simultaneously required. In certain other embodiments, a charge pump circuit generates a high output current for only a positive boosted voltage in one mode of operation, but lower current positive and negative boosted voltage outputs in another mode of operation. Use with certain erasable memory array technologies is disclosed, particularly certain resistive passive element memory cells, and more particularly in a three-dimensional memory array.

Abstract: A multiple polarity reversible charge pump circuit is disclosed which, in certain embodiments, may be configured to generate a positive voltage at times and may be reversed to generate a negative voltage at other times. Such a charge pump circuit is advantageous if both the positive and negative voltage are not simultaneously required. In certain other embodiments, a charge pump circuit generates a high output current for only a positive boosted voltage in one mode of operation, but lower current positive and negative boosted voltage outputs in another mode of operation. Use with certain erasable memory array technologies is disclosed, particularly certain resistive passive element memory cells, and more particularly in a three-dimensional memory array.

Abstract: Reading data from a core memory consumes more power when the data sets being driven change state, especially when bursting out the data at high speed. Power saving for a burst mode implementation improves the power consumed by inverting the data sets whenever a majority of the data changes states from set to set and including a separate output indicating whether the data being driven is inverted. Present data is selected from the core memory and clocked into the power saving arrangement. The present data is compared with previously selected data to determine whether the majority of data presently selected has changed from the previously selected data. In addition, the present selected data is also delayed and then subjected to a logical XOR function with the majority determination above. Finally, the data subjected to the logical XOR function and the majority determination are driven separately to external elements requesting the present data.

Abstract: A core memory containing an array of core cell memory elements are accessed using a cascode barrel reading arrangement and method. The cascode barrel read uses a plurality of cascodes and a plurality of sense amplifiers to read core cells that have consecutive array addresses. The core cells are connected with the plurality of cascodes via a core cell selector. After data from a core cell from a particular cascode has been read and the next consecutive core cell is being read from a different cascode, the original cascode looks ahead to the core cell with the next highest address. Consequently, when the sense amplifier is ready to sense the original cascode again, the data from the core cell with the next highest address has already been loaded and is immediately ready to be read.

Abstract: A voltage boost circuit (111) for a flash memory (100) includes a boosting circuit (110), which is capable of boosting a portion of a power supply voltage (VCC) of the flash memory to a word line voltage level adequate for accessing a core cell in a core cell array (102) of the memory. The voltage boost circuit further includes a balancing or clamping circuit (112) for providing a nonzero adjustment voltage (VCL) to the boosting circuit to reduce the portion of the supply voltage that is available for boosting by the boosting circuit when the power supply voltage exceeds a certain value.

Abstract: A flash memory having word line decoding and selection architecture is described. The flash memory include first and second sectors of memory cells, first and second local driver circuits, first, second and third decoding circuits, and a driving circuit. The first sectors of first memory cells include a first plurality of word lines coupled to the first memory cells, each being capable of being a first selected word line. The second sectors of second memory cells include a similar Local driver circuits are independently coupled to each word line of the first and second pluralities of word lines of the first sectors. Each decoding circuits comprise a first and a second side of decoding circuitry. The first side of decoding circuitry activates a first selected plurality of local driver circuits and the second side of decoding circuitry activates a second selected plurality of local driver circuits.

Abstract: Reading data from a core memory consumes more power when the data sets being driven change state, especially when bursting out the data at high speed. Power saving for a burst mode implementation improves the power consumed by inverting the data sets whenever a majority of the data changes states from set to set and including a separate output indicating whether the data being driven is inverted. Present data is selected from the core memory and clocked into the power saving arrangement. The present data is compared with previously selected data to determine whether the majority of data presently selected has changed from the previously selected data. In addition, the present selected data is also delayed and then subjected to a logical XOR function with the majority determination above. Finally, the data subjected to the logical XOR function and the majority determination are driven separately to external elements requesting the present data.

Abstract: A device for performing redundant reading in a flash memory is provided. The device includes arrays of regular memory cells and arrays of redundant memory cells. Some of the regular memory cells may be defective and those will have defective addresses. A regular sense amplifier will read the regular memory cells at their accessed address while at a time no later a redundant sense amplifier will read the redundant memory cells. A first array of CAM's will store the defective addresses of the defective memory cells while a second array of CAM's will store the input/output designators of the defective memory cells. Address matching circuitry will compare the accessed addresses with the defective addresses to determine whether the accessed address is defective. Before the end of the reading intervals of the sense amplifiers, decoding circuitry will decode the input/output designators of both the defective and non-defective memory cells.

Abstract: Power saving on the fly improves both the speed and power consumed in reading data from a core memory. Present data is selected from the core memory and clocked into the power saving arrangement. The present data is compared with previously selected data to determine whether the majority of data presently selected has changed from the previously selected data. In addition, the present selected data is also delayed and then subjected to a logical XOR function with the majority determination above. Finally, the data subjected to the logical XOR function and the majority determination are driven separately to external elements requesting the present data. Power is saved as the state of the majority of the data being driven from one data set to the next remains unchanged. Speed is increased as the data, once clocked into the arrangement, is driven in less than a clock pulse.

Abstract: A voltage boost circuit (111) for a memory (100) includes a boosting circuit (110) which is coupled to a boosted node (120) to boost a word line voltage for accessing a core cell of the memory. The voltage boost circuit further includes a reset circuit (112) coupled to the boosted node and including a switchable zero-threshold transistor (202) for resetting the boosted node to a reset voltage (VCC).