Abstract:
An apparatus and method for repairing a semiconductor memory device includes a first memory cell array, a first redundant cell array and a repair circuit configured to nonvolatilely store a first address designating at least one defective memory cell in the first memory cell array. A first volatile cache stores a first cached address corresponding to the first address designating the at least one defective memory cell. The repair circuit distributes the first address designating the at least one defective memory cell of the first memory cell array to the first volatile cache. Match circuitry substitutes at least one redundant memory cell from the first redundant cell array for the at least one defective memory cell in the first memory cell array when a first memory access corresponds to the first cached address.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 11/714,979, filed Mar. 7, 2007, pending, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 11/170,260, filed Jun. 29, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,215,586, issued May 8, 2007. The disclosure of each of the previously referenced U.S. patent application and patent referenced is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Field of the Invention: The present invention relates generally to semiconductor memories and, more specifically, to dynamically detecting and repairing faults in semiconductor memories by testing memory blocks and remapping failed memory blocks with unassigned spare memory blocks.  
         [0003]     Semiconductor memories generally include a multitude of memory cells arranged in rows and colIus. Each memory cell is structured for storing digital information in the form of a “1” or a “0” bit. To write (i.e., store) a bit into a memory cell, a binary memory address having portions identifying the cell&#39;s row (the “row address”) and column (the “column address”) is provided to addressing circuitry in the semiconductor memory to activate the cell, and the bit is then supplied to the cell. Similarly, to read (i.e. retrieve) a bit from a memory cell, the cell is again activated using the cell&#39;s memory address, and the bit is then output from the cell.  
         [0004]     Semiconductor memories are typically tested after they are fabricated to determine if they contain any failing memory cells (i.e., cells to which bits cannot be dependably written or from which bits cannot be dependably read). Generally, when a semiconductor memory is found to contain failing memory cells, an attempt is made to repair the memory by replacing the failing memory cells with redundant memory cells provided in redundant rows or columns in the memory.  
         [0005]     Conventionally, when a redundant row is used to repair a semiconductor memory containing a failing memory cell, he failing cell&#39;s row address is permanently stored (typically in predecoded form) on a chip on which the semiconductor memory is fabricated by programming a nonvolatile element (e.g., a group of fuses, antifuses, or FLASH memory cells) on the chip. Then, during normal operation of the semiconductor memory, if the memory&#39;s addressing circuitry receives a memory address including a row address that corresponds to the row address stored on he chip, redundant circuitry in the memory causes a redundant memory cell in the redundant row to be accessed instead of the memory cell identified by the received memory address. Since every memory cell in the failing cell&#39;s row has the same row address, every cell in the failing cell&#39;s row, both operative and failing, is replaced by a redundant memory cell in the redundant row.  
         [0006]     Similarly, when a redundant column is used to repair the semiconductor memory, the failing cell&#39;s column address is permanently stored (typically in predecoded form) on the chip by programming a nonvolatile element on the chip. Then, during normal operation of the semiconductor memory, if the memory&#39;s addressing circuitry receives a memory address including a column address that corresponds to the column address stored on the chip, redundant circuitry in the memory causes a redundant memory cell in the redundant column to be accessed instead of the memory cell identified by the received memory address. Since every memory cell in the failing cell&#39;s column has the same column address, every cell in the failing cell&#39;s column, both operative and failing, is replaced by a redundant memory cell in the redundant column.  
         [0007]     The process described above for repairing a semiconductor memory using redundant rows and columns is well known in the art, and is described in various forms in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,459,685; 4,598,388; 4,601,019; 5,031,151; 5,257,229; 5,268,866; 5,270,976; 5,287,310; 5,355,340; 5,396,124; 5,422,850; 5,471,426; 5,502,674; 5,511,028; 5,544,106; 5,572,470; 5,572,471; 5,583,463 and 6,199,177. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,125,067 and 6,005,813 disclose repairing a semiconductor memory using redundant subarrays.  
         [0008]     One problem that arises with repairing semiconductor memories utilizing redundant memory elements such as rows, columns, subrows and subcolumns is that such repair is typically done at some point in the fabrication and test process. This is typically done by remapping the redundant spare memory elements to replace failed memory elements by programming nonvolatile elements (e.g., groups of fuses, antifuses, or FLASH memory cells).  
         [0009]     In order to program these nonvolatile elements, higher than normal (e.g., operating) voltages are typically required. Thus, a relatively high voltage may be selectively applied to “blow” fuses or antifuses, or program FLASH memory cells. This relatively high voltage typically requires the nonvolatile elements be placed at a safe distance from sensitive devices that could be permanently damaged by such extreme voltages an/or currents. Generally, these nonvolatile elements are not formed using minimum feature dimensions and therefore, do not lend themselves to reductions in dimensions as are exhibited on successive generation memory cells. As memory cell access times increase, the propagation time of addresses and data values for comparison becomes critical. Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a method and system for making the nonvolatilely stored memory repair information more expeditiously available to memory addressing circuitry in order to reduce memory access times of redundant memory repair blocks.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     An apparatus and method for repairing a semiconductor memory is provided. In one embodiment of the present invention, a method of repairing a sequence of memory cells on a memory device includes nonvolatilely programming on a memory device a group of programmable elements to store a first address designating at least one defective memory cell in a first array of memory cells. The first address designating the at least one defective memory cell is volatilely stored as a first cached address. At least one redundant memory cell is substituted for the at least one defective memory cell when a first memory access corresponds to the first cached address.  
         [0011]     In another embodiment of the present invention, a memory device repair circuit is provided, The repair circuit includes a plurality of antifuses and programming logic configured to nonvolatilely program the plurality of antifuses in response to program data corresponding to repairing a sequence of memory cells on a memory device. The repair circuit further includes first antifuse logic configured to nonvolatilely store a first address designating at least one defective memory cell in a first array of memory cells, wherein he first antifuse logic is further configured to distribute the first address designating the at least one defective memory cell to a first volatile cache on the memory device.  
         [0012]     In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a memory device is provided. The memory device includes a first memory cell array and a first redundant cell array. A repair circuit is configured to nonvolatilely store a first address designating at least one defective memory cell in the first memory cell array. A first volatile cache is configured to store a first cached address corresponding to the first address designating the at least one defective memory cell. The repair circuit is further configured to distribute the first address designating the at least one defective memory cell of the first memory cell array to the first volatile cache on the memory device. The memory device further includes a match circuit configured to substitute at least one redundant memory cell from the first redundant cell array for the at least one defective memory cell in the first memory cell array when a first memory access corresponds to the first cached address.  
         [0013]     In a further embodiment of the present invention, a semiconductor substrate having a memory device fabricated thereon is provided. The semiconductor substrate includes a memory device comprising a first memory cell array, a first redundant cell array and a repair circuit configured to nonvolatilely store a first address designating at least one defective memory cell in the first memory cell array. A first volatile cache stores a first cached address corresponding to the first address designating the at least one defective memory cell and the repair circuit distributes the first address designating the at least one defective memory cell of the first memory cell array to the first volatile cache on the memory device. A match circuit substitutes at least one redundant memory cell from the first redundant cell array for the at least one defective memory cell in the first memory cell array when a first memory access corresponds to the first cached address.  
         [0014]     In a yet further embodiment of the present invention, an electronic system is provided. The electronic system includes an input device, an output device, a memory device, and a processor device coupled to the input, output, and memory devices, wherein at least one of the input, output, memory, and processor devices includes a memory device. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]     In the drawings, which illustrate what is currently considered to be the best mode for carrying out the invention:  
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a memory device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a memory block of a memory device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of a repair logic circuit, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 4  is a logic diagram of antifuse logic and a remote antifuse cache, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0020]      FIG. 5  is a circuit diagram of antifuse logic configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0021]      FIG. 6  is a circuit diagram of a cache latch for a remote antifuse cache, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0022]      FIG. 7  illustrates a semiconductor wafer including a memory device configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0023]      FIG. 8  is a block diagram of an electronic system including a memory device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0024]     In the following detailed description of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. The embodiments are intended to describe aspects of the invention in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments may be utilized and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims.  
         [0025]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a memory device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Various aspects of a memory device  100  are similar to a conventional memory device and, as such, conventional elements have not been show in order to avoid obscuring the present invention. The memory device  100  includes memory blocks  101  which each include a memory array ( FIG. 2 ) and a redundant cell array ( FIG. 2 ) employed to replace defective memory cells in the memory array. Remapping of defective memory cells to the redundant memory arrays is accomplished in repair circuit  103  by programing a programmable device, such as an antifuse ( FIG. 3 ).  
         [0026]     In one embodiment of the present invention, the memory device  100  includes centralized repair circuit  103  configured to receive program data  107  as determined in a previously administered testing process for determining defective memory cells within the memory array. The specifics of a testing process for determining defective memory cells is known by those of ordinary skill in the art and is not further discussed herein. The repair circuit  103  includes stored or programmed information identifying the locations of the defective memory cells for each of the memory arrays within the memory device  100 . The antifuses within repair circuit  103  can be grouped to uniquely identify respective memory blocks.  
         [0027]     In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the memory device  100  includes storage capacity that is partitioned into separate regions or memory blocks  101 . While the present illustration exhibits four separate memory blocks.  101 A- 101 D, such a quantity is merely illustrative and is not to be considered as limiting of the scope of the present invention. Consistent with the partitioning of the memory blocks  101  within memory device  100 , each of the memory blocks  101 A- 101 D includes an antifuse cache  131 , exemplarity illustrated as respective antifuse caches  131 A- 131 D.  
         [0028]     While the repair circuit  103  is a programmable device and maintains the nonvolatile programmed identification of defective memory devices for each of the memory blocks  101 A- 101 D of the memory device  100 , the memory block-specific defective memory cell remapping information is sent via respective serial data buses  133 A- 133 D to the respective memory blocks  101 A- 101 D for local volatile caching.  
         [0029]     Memory device  100  includes, by way of example and not limitation, a synchronous dynamic random access memory device (SDRAM). The memory device of  FIG. 1  includes one or more memory blocks  101 , as detailed with respect to  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 2  is a block diagram of one embodiment of a memory block  101  according to the invention. As shown in  FIG. 2 , memory block  101  includes a memory array  102 . Memory array  102  typically includes dynamic random access memory (DRAM) devices, which may be further segmented into one or more memory banks. Each memory array  102  includes memory cells arranged in rows and columns in the form of a plurality of storage cells, illustrated as storage cell array  104 , and one or more redundant cells, illustrated herein as redundant cell array  106 . A row decoder  108  and a column decoder  110  access the rows and columns of memory array  102  in response to an address provided on address bus  112  (ADDRESS). An input/output buffer  114  is connected to a data bus  116  (DATA) for bi-directional data communication with memory array  102 . A memory control circuit  118  controls data communication between the memory block  101  and external devices by responding to an input clock signal (CLK) and control signals provided on control lines  120  (CONTROL). The control signals include, but are not limited to, Chip Select (CS*), Row Access Strobe (RAS*), Column Access Strobe (CAS*), and Write Enable (WE*).  
         [0030]     Memory block  101  further includes a read/write circuit  122  connected to the storage cells via a plurality of digit lines D 0 -DN and connected to column decoder  110  via column select lines  127 . Read/write circuit  122  is also connected to input/output buffer  114  through read and write registers (not shown). A redundant read/write circuit  124  is provided which is connected to the redundant cells via a plurality of paired redundant digit lines DR 0 -DRX.  
         [0031]     In addition, memory block  101  includes a redundancy address match circuit  130  which receives the present address from the address bus  112  and compares the address against addresses which are known, through previous testing of the memory array, to contain defective memory cells. The information identifying the addresses of defective memory cells is locally stored or cached in antifuse cache  131  within the memory block  101 . When a match between the present address and values stored within antifuse cache  131  occurs, the match circuit  130  generates a match signal indicating a bad bit within a column of the storage cells in the present address. While the present illustration identifies a defective memory cell in a column and a redundant replacement, the interchangeability of rows for columns and columns for rows is understood by those of ordinary skill in the art and such interchangeability is contemplated to be within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0032]     In a read operation, control circuit  118  decodes a combination of control signals on line  120  and present address on address bus  112  to initiate the read operation. One of column select lines  127  activates a certain column select (Col Sel X) in response to address bus  112  to access a column of storage cells in storage cell array  104 . Accessed data or bits of the storage cells are transmitted to read/write circuit  122  via digit lines D 0 -DN. At the same time, control circuit  118  activates the redundancy address match circuit  130  to compare the present column address with programmed column addresses having bad storage cells as identified in antifuse cache  131 . If there is no match between the present column address and the programmed column addresses stored in antifuse cache  131 , the data of storage cells are output to a data read register (not shown) and subsequently to input/output buffer  114  and data bus  116 .  
         [0033]     However, a match identified in the match circuit  130  between the present column address indicates that the column being accessed has a bad bit. In this case, redundancy address match circuit  130  activates a redundant column select signal and connects redundant cells from redundant cell array  106  through one of the redundant digit lines DR 0 -DRX to redundant read/write circuit  124  and then to read/write circuit  122  for substitution of the defective memory cells from the storage cell array  104 . The data from the nondefective memory cells of storage cell array  104  and the replacement or redundant memory cells from redundant cell array  106  are output to a data read register (not shown) and subsequently to input/output buffer  114  and data bus  116 .  
         [0034]     In a write operation, data is written into storage cells or redundant cells in an opposite path. Data or bits at data bus  116  are transmitted to input/output buffer  114  and then to a data write register (not shown). From the data write register, the data are transmitted to read/write circuit  122 . If there is no match between the present column address and the programmed addresses stored in antifuse cache  131 , then the data are transmitted to digit lines D 0 -DN and into storage cell array  104 .  
         [0035]     However, a match identified in the match circuit  130  between the present column address indicates that the column being accessed has a bad bit. In this case, redundancy address match circuit  130  activates a redundant column select signal and connects redundant cells from redundant cell array  106  through one of the redundant digit lines DR 0 -DRX to redundant read/write circuit  124  and then to read/write circuit  122  for substitution of the defective memory cells from the storage cell array  104 . The bit (or bits) is subsequently written into one of the redundant cells or redundant cell array  106 .  
         [0036]      FIG. 3  illustrates a defective memory cell repair circuit and methodology, in accordance wit an embodiment of the present invention. The various embodiments of the present invention are drawn to repairing defective memory arrays through the use of redundant memory cells. The repair methodology repairs a sequence of memory cells of a memory device by testing the various memory arrays of the memory device and identifying defective memory cells. The memory device includes nonvolatilely programmable elements capable of storing addresses or other designators which may be used to identify the addresses of defective memory cells. In one embodiment, the programmable elements are configured as antifuses, the specific fabrication and function of which are known by those of ordinary skill in the art.  
         [0037]     The repair methodology utilizes a repair circuit  103  for receiving, retaining and making available to the various memory blocks information identifying defective memory cells. In one embodiment of the present invention, the repair circuit  103  is collectively and may be even centrally located. It is well known that technological advances enable a reduction in memory cell dimensions and in the dimensions of essential supporting circuitry (e.g., sense amplifiers) as well as a reduction in the operating voltages and currents. Additionally, technological advances enable reduction in dimensions of the various elements of a memory block. However, it is also well known that the programming of programmable elements, such as antifuses, requires the use of larger voltages and/or currents to effectively alter storage elements causing the storage elements to retain a programmed state. While the programmable elements may also technologically evolve to smaller dimensions requiring reduced voltages and/or current, placement of higher potentials in close proximity to sensitive memory block components is undesirable.  
         [0038]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the repair circuit  103  includes one or more antifuse logic blocks  109  which each contain one or more programmable elements described herein as antifuses. In order to program the programmable elements, program antifuse logic  105  receives program data  107  identifying the addresses of the defective memory cells. Program antifuse logic  105  is coupled to the antifuse logic blocks  109  and programs the defective memory cell addresses into the respective programmable elements. Program antifuse logic  105  may be configured as a serial-load, parallel-output register that couples to each of the respective antifuse logic blocks  109 .  
         [0039]     The defective memory cell repair methodology of the present invention further includes distribution or transmission of the antifuse data of each of the antifuse logic blocks to the respective memory blocks and corresponding memory arrays to which the data applies. Accordingly, each antifuse logic block  109  couples to respective antifuse caches  131  by way of a serial data bus  133  with the respective antifuse data being, on one embodiment, synchronously transferred according to CLK 1   111 A and/or CLK 2   111 B. According to the exemplary illustration of  FIG. 3 , an exemplary quantity of four antifuse logic blocks  109 A- 109 D are illustrated as coupling via respective serial data buses  133 A- 133 D to antifuse caches  131 A- 131 D.  
         [0040]     It is appreciated that a great incentive exists to efficiently utilize the available area on a memory device. Accordingly, one embodiment of the present invention implements serial data buses  133  as serial distribution lines with the antifuse data stored in each of the antifuse logic blocks being converted from a parallel storage format into a serial output format. Distribution of the antifuse data nonvolatilely resident in the repair circuit  103  may be distributed to the respective volatile antifuse caches  131  during a startup phase of the memory device, such as following power up of the memory device.  
         [0041]      FIG. 4  illustrates a block diagram of the antifuse logic block and the antifuse cache, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Each of the antifuse logic blocks  109  is nonvolatilely programmed via a program interface  119 - 1  through  119 -X of at least a portion  105 ′ of the program antifuse logic  105  ( FIG. 3 ). Those of skill in the art appreciate that programming of programmable elements such as antifuses, utilizes much larger voltages and/or currents than are utilized during the conventional data storage and retrieval function of the memory device.  
         [0042]     Accordingly, the antifuses  13 - 1  through  113 -X may be generally arranged in a location that minimizes and prevents the deleterious effects from larger voltages and/or larger currents upon the conventional memory elements of a memory device. Therefore, the antifuse block logic block  109  of the present invention includes antifuses  113  that are configured with circuitry and logic for nonvolatilely storing and retrieving from a storage element the respective logic states. The antifuses  113  are further configured to retrieve the logic states and convey them according to a parallel-to-serial transmission methodology. Specifically, a CLK 1   111  synchronously clocks each of the antifuses  113 - 1  through  113 -N until each of the logic states stored in antifuse logic block  109  are serially transferred across the serial data bus  133  from the antifuse logic block  109  to the respective antifuse cache  131 .  
         [0043]     The antifuse cache  131  is configured to provide local caching of the stored values in a location that is generally adjacent and accessible to match circuit  130  of each of the memory arrays. Since the antifuse cache  131  does not need to accommodate high antifuse programming voltages and/or currents, the antifuse cache  131  may be implemented as memory storage elements that are fabricated with area dimensions similar to those of the surrounding memory block  101  components. Additionally, since antifuse cache  131  includes circuit and logic elements of feature sizes and dimensions of the surrounding memory block circuitry, the antifuse cache  131  may also undergo process feature size reductions and integration with the related memory cell arrays.  
         [0044]     Antifuse cache  131 , of the present invention, may be configured to include a series of storage elements arranged as cache latch_ 1  though cache latch_N. In the specific illustration of  FIG. 4 , an arbitrary quantity, 5, of latches_X is shown and corresponds to a respective quantity of antifuses  113 . Such an illustrated quantity is not to be considered as limiting. Continuing with respect to  FIG. 4 , cache latch  115 - 1  through cache latch  115 - 5  are configured to be serially loaded with antifuse data received over serial data buses  133  from the nonvolatile antifuse logic block  109 . In one embodiment, the antifuse data is serially loaded by a CLK 2   117  which sequences the antifuse data through to the respective latches. Once the antifuse data is cached in the respective cache latches  115  of the antifuse cache  131 , the data is available to match circuit  130  for address comparison over cache latch outputs  125 - 1  through  125 - 5 .  
         [0045]      FIG. 5  illustrates an antifuse, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As stated, an antifuse  113  is configured to be programmed to nonvolatilely retain a programmed state of a portion of an address corresponding to a detected defective memory cell. Additionally, antifuse  113  is further configured to load the stored logic state onto a serial bus and to serially transfer other stages of the data through the antifuse  113  along the serial bus. Specifically, antifuse  113  includes an antifuse storage element  200  which is nonvolatilely programmed through a program signal  119  from program antifuse logic portion  105 ′. By way of example and not limitation, antifuse storage element  200  is illustrated as an antifuse capacitor but may by configured as any number of programmable devices as known by those of ordinary skill in the art.  
         [0046]     Once nonvolatilely programmed, a load signal  202 , upon, for example, a memory device power-up state, switches the impedance of antifuse storage element  200  onto the serial signal line  121  which, in one embodiment, is pulled up by a precharge device  204 . The resultant logic level of the serial signal line  121  is input to a first latch  206  and clocked by CLKL 1   111  to a second latch  208  by a first pass gate  210 . Once the logic value of antifuse storage element  200  is “trapped” between the first pass gate  210  and a second pass gate  212 , the load signal  202  disconnects the impedance of the antifuse storage element  200  from the serial signal line  121  to accommodate the serial propagation of the logic level of a previous antifuse (N−1)  113  on another phase of the CLK 1   111  through first latch  206 . The subsequent phase of CLK 1   111  also advances the logic level retained at second latch  208  to pass on line  123  to a subsequent antifuse (N+1)  113 . The CLK 1   111  cycles the number of times necessary for sequencing each of the antifuse data through the antifuse logic block  109  ( FIG. 4 ).  
         [0047]      FIG. 6  illustrates a cache latch, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As stated, a cache latch  115  is configured to volatilely retain a programming state of a portion of an address corresponding to a detected defective memory cell. Additionally, cache latch  115  is further configured to receive the stored logic state from a serial bus and to serially transfer the antifuse data trough the cache latch  115  along successive serial stages of cache latches.  
         [0048]     Specifically, cache latch  115  includes a first latch  220  for receiving antifuse data from a serial signal line  135 . The resultant logic level of the serial signal line  135  is input to a first latch  220  and clocked by CLK 2   117  to a second latch  222  by a first pass gate  224 . Once the logic level of the antifuse data is “trapped” between first pass gale  224  and a second pass gate  226 , the logic level is either retained and output as antifuse cache data on cache latch output  125  or if the entire serial sequence of antifuse data has not been completely loaded into the antifuse cache  131  ( FIG. 4 ), then the logic level is forwarded on line  129  on a subsequent phase of CLK 2   117  to a subsequent one of cache latch (N+1)  115  The CLK 2   117  cycles the number of times necessary for sequencing each of the antifuse data through the antifuse cache  131  ( FIG. 4 ). Once the entire sequence of antifuse data is loaded into the cache latches  115 - 1  through  115 - 5  of antifuse cache  131 , the clocking stops and the antifuse data is available to the match circuit  130 ′ over the cache latch outputs  125 - 1  through  125 - 5 .  
         [0049]     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the memory device  100  as described above is fabricated on a semiconductor wafer  250 . It should be understood that the memory device  100  may also be fabricated on a wide variety of other semiconductor substrates. Memory device  100  farther includes at least one memory block  101  and repair circuit  103  as described herein above.  
         [0050]     As shown in  FIG. 8 , an electronic system  260  includes an input device  262 , an output device  264 , a processor device  266 , and a memory device  268  that incorporate the memory device  100  as described with respect to one or more embodiments of the present invention. Also, it should be noted that the memory device  100  may be incorporated into any one of the input, output, and processor devices  262 ,  264 , and  266 .  
         [0051]     Although the present invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, the invention is not limited to these described embodiments. Rather, the invention is limited only by the appended claims, which include within their scope all equivalent devices or methods that operate according to the principles of the invention as described.