Abstract: A method to fabricate a resistive change element array may include depositing a resistive change material over a substrate and forming a first insulating material over the resistive change material. The method may also include etching a trench in the resistive change material and the first insulating material and forming a cavity in a sidewall of the trench by recessing the resistive change material. The method may further include flowing a conductive material in the cavity and depositing a second insulating material in the trench.

Abstract: A method to fabricate a resistive change element array may include depositing a resistive change material over a substrate and forming a first insulating material over the resistive change material. The method may also include etching a trench in the resistive change material and the first insulating material and forming a cavity in a sidewall of the trench by recessing the resistive change material. The method may further include flowing a conductive material in the cavity and depositing a second insulating material in the trench.

Abstract: A method to fabricate a resistive change element array may include depositing a resistive change material over a substrate and forming a first insulating material over the resistive change material. The method may also include etching a trench in the resistive change material and the first insulating material and forming a cavity in a sidewall of the trench by recessing the resistive change material. The method may further include flowing a conductive material in the cavity and depositing a second insulating material in the trench.

Abstract: A one time programmable nonvolatile memory formed from metal-insulator semiconductor cells. The cells are at the crosspoints of conductive gate lines and intersecting lines formed in a semiconductor substrate. Among others, features include forming the gate lines with polysilicon layers of one conductivity type and the intersecting lines with dopants of the opposite conductivity type in the substrate; forming the intersecting lines with differing dopant concentrations near the substrate surface and deeper in the substrate; and forming the widths of the gate lines and intersecting lines with the minimum feature size that can be patterned by a particular semiconductor technology.

Abstract: A one time programmable nonvolatile memory formed from metal-insulator semiconductor cells. The cells are at the crosspoints of conductive gate lines and intersecting lines formed in a semiconductor substrate. Among others, features include forming the gate lines with polysilicon layers of one conductivity type and the intersecting lines with dopants of the opposite conductivity type in the substrate; forming the intersecting lines with differing dopant concentrations near the substrate surface and deeper in the substrate; and forming the widths of the gate lines and intersecting lines with the minimum feature size that can be patterned by a particular semiconductor technology.

Abstract: A one time programmable nonvolatile memory formed from metal-insulator semiconductor cells. The cells are at the crosspoints of conductive gate lines and intersecting lines formed in a semiconductor substrate. Among others, features include forming the gate lines with polysilicon layers of one conductivity type and the intersecting lines with dopants of the opposite conductivity type in the substrate; forming the intersecting lines with differing dopant concentrations near the substrate surface and deeper in the substrate; and forming the widths of the gate lines and intersecting lines with the minimum feature size that can be patterned by a particular semiconductor technology.

Abstract: A one time programmable nonvolatile memory formed from metal-insulator-semiconductor cells. The cells are at the crosspoints of conductive gate lines and intersecting doped semiconductor lines formed in a semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A one time programmable nonvolatile memory formed from metal-insulator semiconductor cells. The cells are at the crosspoints of conductive gate lines and intersecting lines formed in a semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A one time programmable nonvolatile memory formed from metal-insulator-semiconductor cells. The cells are at the crosspoints of conductive gate lines and intersecting doped semiconductor lines formed in a semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a programmable memory array including a plurality of memory cells. At least one and preferably each memory cell of the plurality of memory cells include an isolation layer formed of a dielectric material, a field effect transistor, and a programmable element. The programmable element includes a conductive gate, a gate insulator present beneath the conductive gate, and a semiconductor body present under the gate insulator. The semiconductor body of the programmable element is of a different doping type then the doping of the channel region of the field effect transistor. Apart from these components, the memory cell also includes a bit line connected to the source of the field effect transistor, a select word line connected to the gate of the field effect transistor and a program word line connected to the conductive gate of the programmable element.

Abstract: The present invention provides a programmable memory array including a plurality of memory cells. At least one and preferably each memory cell of the plurality of memory cells include an isolation layer formed of a dielectric material, a field effect transistor, and a programmable element. The programmable element includes a conductive gate, a gate insulator present beneath the conductive gate, and a semiconductor body present under the gate insulator. The semiconductor body of the programmable element is of a different doping type then the doping of the channel region of the field effect transistor. Apart from these components, the memory cell also includes a bit line connected to the source of the field effect transistor, a select word line connected to the gate of the field effect transistor and a program word line connected to the conductive gate of the programmable element.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory structure based on gate oxide break down is constructed in a deep N-well. Thus, the electrical field over the programmable element during the transient procedure of gate oxide break down can be controlled to achieve the best memory programming results. The conductivity of the programmed memory cell is increased greatly and conductivity variation between the memory cells is reduced. This is achieved by adding a body bias during the programming process. The body here refers to a P-well formed within the deep N-Well. Furthermore, the read voltage offset is reduced greatly with this new memory configuration. These improved programming results will allow faster read speed and lower read voltage. This new structure also reduces current leakage from a memory array during programming.

Abstract: In example embodiments, methods are provided for reducing bit line leakage current. In an example embodiment, an unselected program word line is biased to a bias voltage. The unselected program word line is connected to a memory cell and the memory cell includes a plurality of transistors. In another example embodiment, an unselected memory cell is biased to a negative bias voltage during read operations.

Abstract: In example embodiments, methods are provided for reducing bit line leakage current. In an example embodiment, an unselected program word line is biased to a bias voltage. The unselected program word line is connected to a memory cell and the memory cell includes a plurality of transistors. In another example embodiment, an unselected memory cell is biased to a negative bias voltage during read operations.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for decreasing oxide stress and increasing reliability of memory transistors are disclosed. Duration and frequency of exposure of memory transistor gates to read signals are significantly reduced. In some embodiments, after a short read cycle, the content of the memory cell is latched and maintained as long as the subsequent read attempts are directed to the same memory cell. In these embodiments the read cycle need only be long enough to latch the memory content of the cell, and as long as the subsequent read attempts target the same memory cell the latched value will be used instead of repeating the read process.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory structure based on gate oxide break down is constructed in a deep N-well. Thus, the electrical field over the programmable element during the transient procedure of gate oxide break down can be controlled to achieve the best memory programming results. The conductivity of the programmed memory cell is increased greatly and conductivity variation between the memory cells is reduced. This is achieved by adding a body bias during the programming process. The body here refers to a P-well formed within the deep N-Well. Furthermore, the read voltage offset is reduced greatly with this new memory configuration. These improved programming results will allow faster read speed and lower read voltage. This new structure also reduces current leakage from a memory array during programming.

Abstract: Memory cells including an SRAM and an OTP memory unit that combine the advantages of both technologies and can be fabricated by standard CMOS manufacturing without additional masking. The concepts and details may be applied to and utilized in other systems requiring memory and/or employing other fabrication technologies. Among other advantages, the SRAM part of memory cells allows countless programming of the cell, which is useful, for example, during the prototyping. The OTP part is utilized to permanently program the memory cell by either using external data or the data already existing in the SRAM part of the cell. The value held by the OTP unit may also be written directly into the SRAM part of the cell.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for decreasing oxide stress and increasing reliability of memory transistors are disclosed. Duration and frequency of exposure of memory transistor gates to read signals are significantly reduced. In some embodiments, after a short read cycle, the content of the memory cell is latched and maintained as long as the subsequent read attempts are directed to the same memory cell. In these embodiments the read cycle need only be long enough to latch the memory content of the cell, and as long as the subsequent read attempts target the same memory cell the latched value will be used instead of repeating the read process.

Abstract: A programmable memory cell formed useful in a memory array having column bitlines and row wordlines. The memory cell including a breakdown transistor having its gate connected to a program wordline and a write transistor connected in series at a sense node to said breakdown transistor. The gate of the write transistor is connected to a write wordline. Further, a first sense transistor has its gate connected to the sense node. A second sense transistor is connected in series to the first sense transistor and has its gate connected to a read wordline. The second sense transistor has its source connected to a column bitline.

Abstract: A method of testing a memory cell is disclosed. The memory cell has a data storage element constructed around an ultra-thin dielectric, such as a gate oxide, which is used to store information by stressing the ultra-thin dielectric into breakdown (soft or hard breakdown) to set the leakage current level of the memory cell. In order to ensure that the gate oxide underlying the data storage elements are of sufficient quality for programming, the memory cells of a memory array may be tested by applying a voltage across the gate oxide of the data storage element and measuring the current flow. Resultant current flow outside of a predetermined range indicates a defective memory cell.