Patent ID: 8488361

Claim:
A method for non-destructive reading of data stored in a memory comprising a first wordline, a first bitline, a second bitline, and a first ferroelectric transistor, the first ferroelectric transistor having a first conduction terminal coupled to the first bitline, a second conduction terminal coupled to the second bitline, and a control terminal coupled to the first wordline, the first ferroelectric transistor further comprising a layer of ferroelectric material in a stable state of polarization and capable of assuming high and low logic values, the method comprising: applying to the first wordline a first reading voltage to bias the control terminal of the first ferroelectric transistor to a first biasing value so as not to cause a variation of the stable state of polarization of the layer of ferroelectric material; generating a first sense voltage between the first and second bitlines; generating a first value representative of a current that flows between the first and second bitlines during application of the first reading voltage and of the first sense voltage; applying to the first wordline a second reading voltage to bias the control terminal of the first ferroelectric transistor to a second biasing value different from the first biasing value so as not to cause a variation of the stable state of polarization of the layer of ferroelectric material; generating a second sense voltage between the first and second bitlines; generating a second value representative of a current that flows between the first and second bitlines during application of the second reading voltage and the second sense voltage; and comparing the first and second values, and determining a logic value of the data based thereupon.