# Patent

## Title
Ferroelectric random access memory circuits for guarding against operation with out-of-range voltages and methods of operating same

## Abstract

A method of operating a ferroelectric random access memory (FRAM) can include reading a low-voltage FRAM monitoring memory array and preventing a read/write-back of an FRAM memory cell array if data read from the low-voltage FRAM monitoring memory array is corrupted.

## Background
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS
This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2005-0068950, filed on Jul. 28, 2005, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to semiconductor devices, and more particularly, to ferroelectric random access memory (FRAM) cell arrays.
BACKGROUND
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of a conventional ferroelectric random access memory (FRAM) cell 10. Referring to FIG. 1, the FRAM cell 10 includes a switching transistor 11 and a ferroelectric capacitor 13 that are connected between a corresponding word line WL and a corresponding bit line BL. A FRAM is a next generation non-volatile memory using the polarization characteristics of ferroelectrics.
A write operation and a read operation are performed on the FRAM cell 10 based on a plate pulse applied to a plate line PL of the ferroelectric capacitor 13.
If a plate pulse is applied to the plate line PL in order to read data (for example, data “1”) stored in the ferroelectric capacitor 13, the data “1” stored in the ferroelectric capacitor 13 is changed to data “0”. Thus, in order to restore the data “1” stored in the ferroelectric capacitor 13 at the end of the read operation, the data “1” is written to the ferroelectric capacitor 13. This operation is called “write-back”.
FIG. 2 is a timing diagram of a normal read operation performed on the conventional FRAM cell 10. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the timing of a normal read operation based on an address signal ADD is largely divided into a charge sharing interval t1, a sensing interval t2, and a write-back interval t3.
In the charge sharing interval t1, charge sharing occurs in response to a plate pulse PPLS and a sense amplifier enable signal SAEN. In the sensing interval t2, data stored in the FRAM cell 10 is sensed by a sense amplifier (not shown). In the write-back interval t3, the original data, specifically, data “1”, which can be damaged during a read operation, is restored (i.e., the read of the cell is destructive).
However, in the write-back interval t3, if a low voltage is applied to the plate line PL at a timing when the data “1” is restored in the FRAM cell 10, a normal write-back operation may not occur such that data stored in the ferroelectric capacitor 13 may be destroyed or changed.
SUMMARY
Embodiments according to the invention can provide ferroelectric random access memory circuits for guarding against operation with out-of-range voltages and methods of operating same a semiconductor device. Pursuant to these embodiments, a method of operating a ferroelectric random access memory (FRAM) can include reading a low-voltage FRAM monitoring memory array and preventing a read/write-back of an FRAM memory cell array if data read from the low-voltage FRAM monitoring memory array is corrupted.
In some embodiments according to the invention, preventing includes comparing the data read from the low-voltage FRAM monitoring memory array to test data to provide a read prevention control signal and preventing the read of the FRAM memory cell array from beginning based on a state of the read prevention control signal. In some embodiments according to the invention, the state of the read prevention control signal is active if the data read from the low-voltage FRAM monitoring memory array and test data do not match and the state of the read prevention control signal is inactive if the data read from the low-voltage FRAM monitoring memory array and the test data matches.
In some embodiments according to the invention, preventing includes providing a low voltage level to the low-voltage FRAM monitoring memory array that is less than a normal voltage level provided to the FRAM memory cell array, both being substantially susceptible to noise to reduce the low voltage level and the normal voltage level. In some embodiments according to the invention, the noise reduces the low voltage level below where the low-voltage FRAM monitoring memory array will operate properly.
In some embodiments according to the invention, a ferroelectric random access memory (FRAM) circuit includes a data protection circuit configured to read predetermined test data from a low-voltage FRAM monitoring memory array and preventing a read/write-back of an FRAM memory cell array if data read from the low-voltage FRAM monitoring memory array is corrupted.
In some embodiments according to the invention, the data protection circuit is configured to compare the data read from the low-voltage FRAM monitoring memory array to test data to provide a read prevention control signal. In some embodiments according to the invention, the low-voltage FRAM monitoring memory array includes a low voltage level provided thereto that is less than a normal voltage level provided to the FRAM memory cell array, both being substantially susceptible to noise to reduce the low voltage level and the normal voltage level.
In some embodiments according to the invention, the circuit further includes a controller circuit, coupled to data protection circuit, configured to receive the read prevention control signal and to initiate a read to the FRAM memory cell array based on a state of the read prevention control signal.
In some embodiments according to the invention, a ferroelectric random access memory (FRAM) circuit includes a low-voltage FRAM monitoring memory array, separate from a FRAM memory cell array used to store data for retrieval, configured to receive a low voltage level provided thereto that is less than a normal voltage level provided to the FRAM memory cell array, both being substantially susceptible to noise to reduce the low voltage level and the normal voltage level.
In some embodiments according to the invention, the low-voltage FRAM monitoring memory array is used to test whether normal operation of the FRAM memory cell array can be provided with the noise affecting the normal voltage level.



BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of a conventional ferroelectric random access memory (FRAM) cell;
FIG. 2 is a timing diagram of a normal read operation performed on the conventional FRAM cell;
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a memory device according to some embodiments of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a memory device according to some embodiments of the present invention; and
FIG. 5 is a timing diagram illustrating changes in a first voltage and a second voltage, caused by noise, etc.



DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS ACCORDING TO THE INVENTION
The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the invention are shown. However, this invention should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. As used herein the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly coupled” to another element, there are no intervening elements present.
It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. Thus, a first element could be termed a second element without departing from the teachings of the present invention.
Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a memory device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 3, the memory device such as a semiconductor device 100 includes a voltage generation circuit 110, a ferroelectric random access memory (FRAM) cell array (or, a first memory) 130, a low-voltage monitoring memory cell array (or, a second memory) 150, a controller 170, and a data protection circuit 190.
The voltage generation circuit 110 generates a first voltage Vnor and a second voltage VLow. The voltage generation circuit 110 includes a power source 111 and a voltage dividing circuit 113. The power source generates a supply voltage, and the voltage dividing circuit 113 receives the supply voltage and divides the supply voltage to generate the first voltage Vnor and the second voltage VLow The first voltage Vnor is higher than the second voltage VLow.
The FRAM cell array 130 includes a plurality of FRAM cells. Predetermined data is written to or read from each FRAM cell according to the first voltage Vnor. The first voltage Vnor means at least one of voltages supplied to word lines, bit lines, and plate lines.
The low-voltage monitoring memory cell array 150 includes a plurality of FRAM cells. Predetermined data is written to or read from each FRAM cell according to the second voltage VLow The second voltage VLow is also at least one of voltages supplied to the word lines, the bit lines, and the plate lines.
The controller 170 generates a write access signal W_ACC for writing corresponding data to the FRAM cell array 130 and/or the low-voltage monitoring memory cell array 150, or a read access signal R_ACC for reading corresponding data from the FRAM cell array 130 and/or the low-voltage monitoring memory cell array 150, in response to a reset signal RESET, an address signal ADD, a read command READ, a write command WRITE, and a chip enable signal CE.
A write operation is performed on each of the FRAM cell array 130 and the low-voltage monitoring memory cell array 150 in response to the write access signal W_ACC and a read operation in response to the read access signal R_ACC, under the control of the controller 170.
The data protection circuit 190 compares test data with reference data in response to a control signal R_IND output from the controller 170, and generates a read prevention control signal DET on the basis of the comparison result. The control signal R_IND is associated with the read command READ.
The data protection circuit 190 includes a data storage circuit 191, a data reading circuit 193, and a comparison circuit 195.
The data storage circuit 191, which may be a register, stores the reference data (for example, data “1”). The data reading circuit 193 reads the test data from the low voltage memory cell array 150 using the second voltage VLow, in response to the control signal R_IND.
The comparison circuit 195 compares the test data read by the data read circuit 193 with the reference data stored in the data storage circuit 191, and generates the read prevention control signal DET on the basis of the comparison result. The test data has data “1” or data “0” according to the second voltage VLow which is changed by noise, etc.
If the comparison circuit 195 is embodied as a NAND gate 197, the NAND gate 197 generates a deactivated read prevention control signal DET when the test data is equal to the reference data (when a read operation or a write-back operation is normally performed).
On the contrary, when the test data is different from the reference data (when the read operation or the write-back operation is not normally performed or the write-back operation may not be normally performed), the NAND gate 197 generates an activated read prevention control signal DET.
The controller 170 performs a read operation based on the read prevention control signal DET. For example, the controller 170 does not allow the read operation to be performed on the FRAM cell array 130 when the read prevention control signal DET is activated (when the second voltage VLow is lower than an initially set voltage due to noise, etc., and thus, a write-back operation may fail when data is read from the low-voltage monitoring memory cell array 150).
Also, when the read prevention control signal DET is activated while a read operation is performed on the FRAM cell array 130, the controller 170 delays stopping the read operation on the FRAM cell array 130 until the read operation is completed. This process is performed to prevent data stored in a predetermined memory from being destroyed during a read operation.
In other words, in some embodiments according to the invention, near the end of a read operation to the FRAM cell array 130, a write back operation is typically performed because if a read operation ends before a write back operation is done, data may be lost. Accordingly, when the read prevention control signal DET is activated during a read operation to the FRAM cell array 130, the controller 170 delays stopping the read operation to the FRAM cell array 130 until the write back operation is performed.
Also, the controller 170 controls read operations to be performed on the FRAM cell array 130 and the low-voltage monitoring memory cell array 150 at the same timing.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the memory device such as a semiconductor device 100 of FIG. 3 according to the embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the data protection circuit 190 of the semiconductor device 100 determines whether a write operation or read operation is normally being performed on the low-voltage monitoring memory cell array 150, when a supply voltage is initially applied to the semiconductor device 100 and a reset is released thereon.
The controller 170 or the data protection circuit 190 writes test data (for example, data “1”) to the low-voltage monitoring memory cell array 150 using the second voltage VLow (operation S410).
At the same time when the controller 170 performs a read operation on the FRAM cell array 130, the data protection circuit 190 reads the test data from the low-voltage monitoring memory cell array 150 or data that is performed write-back, using the second voltage VLow (operation S420).
The data protection circuit 190 may read data “1” or data “0” based on a level of the second voltage VLow. Also, the data protection circuit 190 may read data “1” or data “0” after a write-back operation.
The data protection circuit 190 determines whether the read test data (“1” or “0”) is equal to reference data (“1”) (operation S430).
If the test data is the same as the reference data, that is, if data “1” is read from the low-voltage monitoring memory cell 150 or if a write-back operation is normally performed thereon regardless of a drop of the second voltage VLow, the data protection circuit 190 generates a deactivated read prevention control signal DET. Accordingly, the controller 170 controls a read operation preformed on the FRAM cell array 130 during the read operation (operation S440).
However, if data “1” cannot be read since the second voltage VLow becomes lower than an initially set voltage due to noise, etc. or if data read after a write-back operation is not the data “1”, the data protection circuit 190 generates an activated read prevention control signal DET. Accordingly, the controller 170 prevents data from being read from the FRAM cell array 130 (operation S450).
If the data read operation on the FRAM cell array 130 has already been started before the read prevention control signal DET is activated, the controller 170 delays stopping the read operation on the FRAM cell array 130 even when the read prevention control signal DET is activated. This process is performed to prevent data from being destroyed during a read operation. The semiconductor device 100 performs operations S410 through S450 whenever a read operation is performed.
Accordingly, since the semiconductor device 100 prevents a read operation from being performed on the FRAM cell array 130 at a low voltage lower than the first voltage Vnor, for example, at a voltage lower than the second voltage VLow, thereby preventing data stored in the FRAM cell array 130 from being destroyed or changed.
Since a read operation is normally performed on the conventional semiconductor device regardless of a supply voltage lower than an initially set voltage due to noise, etc., data “1” cannot be restored and may be destroyed or changed in the write-back operation.
FIG. 5 is a timing diagram illustrating changes in a first voltage Vnor and a second voltage VLow, caused by noise, etc. Referring to FIG. 5, assuming that the first voltage Vnor falls to a third voltage Vth1 by a voltage drop ΔV due to noise and the second voltage VLow falls to a fourth voltage Vth2 by a voltage drop ΔV due to the noise, the semiconductor device 100 of FIG. 3 determines whether a read operation (or a write-back operation) is being normally performed on the low-voltage monitoring memory cell array 150 on the basis of the fourth voltage Vth2, and prevents a read operation from being performed on the FRAM cell array 130 at the third voltage Vth1 according to the determination result. In this case, the controller 170 can output a signal Sarm informing a user of this fact.
That is, if an error occurs or may occur during a read operation on the low-voltage monitoring memory cell array 150 due to a voltage drop when a read operation is performed, the semiconductor device 100 prevents a read operation from being performed on the FRAM cell array 130 from being read. Accordingly, the semiconductor device 100 can prevent data stored in the FRAM cell array 130 from being destroyed during a read operation, thereby increasing the stability of data stored in the semiconductor device 100.
As described above, in a semiconductor device having a data protection circuit, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent data stored in a FRAM cell array from being destroyed due to a drop in a supply voltage during a read operation. As a result, the data protection performance of a semiconductor device is enhanced.
While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.

## Claims

1. A semiconductor device comprising:
a first ferroelectric random access memory to which a first voltage is applied;
a second ferroelectric random access memory to which a second voltage is applied, the second voltage being lower than the first voltage; and
a data protection circuit determining whether test data is normally read from the second ferroelectric random access memory or whether a write-back operation is normally performed on the second ferroelectric random access memory on the basis of the second voltage, and generating a read prevention control signal to control whether a read operation is to be performed on the first ferroelectric random access memory according to the determination result.

2. The semiconductor device of claim 1, further comprising a controller controlling a write operation or a read operation on at least one of the first ferroelectric random access memory and the second ferroelectric random access memory,
wherein the controller prevents data from being read from the first FRAM in response to the read prevention control signal.

3. The semiconductor device of claim 1, wherein the data protection circuit comprises:
a data storage circuit storing reference data;
a data read circuit reading the test data from the second ferroelectric random access memory in response to a control signal; and
a comparison circuit comparing the test data with the reference data, determining whether the test data is normally read or whether the write-back operation is normally performed on the basis of the comparison result, and generating the read prevention control signal on the basis of the determination result.

4. A semiconductor device comprising:
a first memory which data is written to or read from according to a first voltage;
a second memory which test data is written to or read from according to a second voltage;
a data protection circuit reading the test data from the second memory in response to a control signal, comparing the test data with reference data, and generating a read prevention control signal on the basis of the comparison result, during a read operation; and
a controller controlling reading of the data from the first memory when the read operation is performed,
wherein the controller determines whether to read the data from the first memory in response to the read prevention control signal.

5. The semiconductor device of claim 4, further comprising a voltage generation circuit generating the first voltage and the second voltage,
wherein the first voltage is greater than the second voltage.

6. The semiconductor device of claim 4, wherein the data protection circuit comprises:
a data storage circuit storing the reference data;
a data read circuit reading the test data from the second memory in response to the control signal; and
a comparison circuit comparing the test data with the reference data and generating the read prevention control signal according to the comparison result.

7. The semiconductor device of claim 4. wherein when the test data is different from the reference data, the data protection circuit generates an activated read prevention control signal, and the controller prevents the data from being read from the first memory in response to the activated read prevention control signal.

8. The semiconductor device of claim 4, wherein the first memory and the second memory are ferroelectric random access memories.

9. A semiconductor device comprising:
a power source generating a supply voltage;
a voltage dividing circuit generating a first voltage and a second voltage according to the supply voltage;
a first ferroelectric random access memory which data is written to or read from according to the first voltage;
a second ferroelectric random access memory which test data is written to or read from according to the second voltage;
a data protection circuit reading the test data from the second ferroelectric random access memory in response to a control signal, comparing the test data with reference data, and generating a read prevention control signal on the basis of the comparison result, during a read operation; and
a controller controlling reading of the data from the first ferroelectric random access memory during the read operation,
wherein the controller disables reading of the data from the first ferroelectric random access memory in response to the read prevention control signal.

10. The semiconductor device of claim 9, wherein the data protection circuit comprises:
a data storage circuit storing the reference data;
a data read circuit reading the test data from the second ferroelectric random access memory in response to the control signal; and
a comparison circuit comparing the test data with the reference data and generating the read prevention control signal according to the comparison result.

11. A method of reading data from a normal ferroelectric random access memory when a read operation is performed on a semiconductor device which includes the normal FRAM to which a first voltage is applied and a low-voltage test FRAM to which a second voltage is applied, the method comprising:
reading test data from the low-voltage test FRAM;
comparing the test data with reference data; and
when the test data is different from the reference data, preventing the data from being read from the normal FRAM.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the reading test data from the low voltage test FRAM, the test data is read from the low-voltage test FRAM at the same timing when the data is read from the normal FRAM, using the second voltage lower than the first voltage.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising delaying the preventing the data from being read from the normal FRAM when a read operation is performed on the normal FRAM before the preventing the data from being read from the normal FRAM.

14. A method of operating a ferroelectric random access memory (FRAM) comprising:
reading a low-voltage FRAM monitoring memory array; and
preventing a read/write-back of an FRAM memory cell array if data read from the low-voltage FRAM monitoring memory array is corrupted.

15. A method according to claim 14 wherein preventing comprises:
comparing the data read from the low-voltage FRAM monitoring memory array to test data to provide a read prevention control signal; and
preventing the read of the FRAM memory cell array from beginning based on a state of the read prevention control signal.

16. A method according to claim 15 wherein the state of the read prevention control signal is active if the data read from the low-voltage FRAM monitoring memory array and test data do not match; and
wherein the state of the read prevention control signal is inactive if the data read from the low-voltage FRAM monitoring memory array and the test data matches.

17. A method according to claim 14 wherein preventing comprises:
providing a low voltage level to the low-voltage FRAM monitoring memory array that is less than a normal voltage level provided to the FRAM memory cell array, both being substantially susceptible to noise to reduce the low voltage level and the normal voltage level.

18. A method according to claim 17 wherein the noise reduces the low voltage level below where the low-voltage FRAM monitoring memory array will operate properly.

19. A ferroelectric random access memory (FRAM) circuit comprising:
a data protection circuit configured to read predetermined test data from a low-voltage FRAM monitoring memory array and preventing a read/write-back of an FRAM memory cell array if data read from the low-voltage FRAM monitoring memory array is corrupted.

20. A circuit according to claim 19 wherein the data protection circuit is configured to compare the data read from the low-voltage FRAM monitoring memory array to test data to provide a read prevention control signal.

21. A circuit according to claim 20 wherein the low-voltage FRAM monitoring memory array comprises a low voltage level provided thereto that is less than a normal voltage level provided to the FRAM memory cell array, both being substantially susceptible to noise to reduce the low voltage level and the normal voltage level.

22. A circuit according to claim 21 further comprising:
a controller circuit, coupled to data protection circuit, configured to receive the read prevention control signal and to initiate a read to the FRAM memory cell array based on a state of the read prevention control signal.