• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.405-413
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• 2013

In this paper, a high-reliability differential paired 24-bit eFuse OTP memory with program-verify-read mode for PMICs is designed. In the proposed program-verify-read mode, the eFuse OTP memory can do a sensing margin test with a variable pull-up load in consideration of programmed eFuse resistance variation and can output a comparison result through a PFb (pass fail bar) pin by comparing a programmed datum with its read one. It is verified by simulation results that the sensing resistance is lower with $4k{\Omega}$ in case of the designed differential paired eFuse OTP memory than $50k{\Omega}$ in case of its dual-port eFuse OTP memory.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.1455-1462
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• 2012

In this paper, a BCD process based high-reliability 24-bit dual-port eFuse OTP Memory for PMICs is designed. We propose a comparison circuit at program-verify-read mode to test that the program datum is correct by using a dynamic pseudo NMOS logic circuit. The comparison result of the program datum with its read datum is outputted to PFb (pass fail bar) pin. Thus, the normal operation of the designed OTP memory can be verified easily by checking the PFb pin. Also we propose a sensing margin test circuit with a variable pull-up load out of consideration for resistance variations of programmed eFuse at program-verify-read mode. We design a 24-bit eFuse OTP memory which uses Magnachip's $0.35{\mu}m$ BCD process, and the layout size is $289.9{\mu}m{\times}163.65{\mu}m$ ($=0.0475mm^2$).

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.17 no.10
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• pp.2359-2368
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• 2013

In this paper, an IRD (internal read data) circuit preventing the reentry into the read mode while keeping the read-out DOUT datum at power-up even if noise such as glitches occurs at signal ports such as an input signal port RD (read) when a power IC is on, is proposed. Also, a pulsed WL (word line) driving method is used to prevent a DC current of several tens of micro amperes from flowing into the read transistor of a differential paired eFuse OTP cell. Thus, reliability is secured by preventing non-blown eFuse links from being blown by the EM (electro-migration). Furthermore, a compared output between a programmed datum and a read-out datum is outputted to the PFb (pass fail bar) pin while performing a sensing margin test with a variable pull-up load in consideration of resistance variation of a programmed eFuse in the program-verify-read mode. The layout size of the 8-bit eFuse OTP IP with a $0.18{\mu}m$ process is $189.625{\mu}m{\times}138.850{\mu}m(=0.0263mm^2)$.

• The Journal of Korea Institute of Information, Electronics, and Communication Technology
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.310-318
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• 2015

In this paper, dual-port eFuse OTP (one-time programmable) memory cells with smaller cell sizes are used, a single VREF (reference voltage) is used in the designed eFuse OTP IP (intellectual property), and a BL (bit-line) sensing circuit using a S/A (sense amplifier) based D F/F is proposed. With this proposed sensing technique, the read current can be reduced to 3.887mA from 6.399mA. In addition, the sensing resistances of a programmed eFuse cell in the program-verify-read and read mode are also reduced to $9k{\Omega}$ and $5k{\Omega}$ due to the analog sensing. The layout size of the designed 32-bit eFuse OTP memory is $187.845{\mu}m{\times}113.180{\mu}m$ ($=0.0213{\mu}m2$), which is confirmed to be a small-area implementation.

• The Journal of Korea Institute of Information, Electronics, and Communication Technology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.168-175
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• 2017

In this paper, a 5V small-area NMOS-diode eFuse OTP memory cell is proposed. This cell which is used in PMICs consists of a 5V NMOS transistor and an eFuse link as a memory part, based on a BCD process. Also, a regulated voltage of V2V ($=2.0V{\pm}10%$) instead of the conventional VDD is used to the pull-up loads of a VREF circuit and a BL S/A circuit to obtain a wider operational voltage range of the eFuse memory cell. When this proposed cells are used in the simulation, their sensing resistances are found to be $15.9k{\Omega}$ and $32.9k{\Omega}$, in the normal read mode and in the program-verify-read mode, respectively. Furthermore, the read current flowing through a non-blown eFuse is restricted to $97.7{\mu}A$. Thus, the eFuse link of a non-blown eFuse OTP memory cell is kept non-blown. The layout area of the designed 1kb eFuse OTP memory IP based on Dongbu HiTek's BCD process is $168.39{\mu}m{\times}479.45{\mu}m(=0.08mm^2)$.

• The Journal of Korea Institute of Information, Electronics, and Communication Technology
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.558-569
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• 2017

In this paper, a 256Kb EEPROM IP aimed at battery applications using a single supply of 1.5V which is embedded into an MCU is designed. In the conventional cross-coupled VPP (boosted voltage) charge pump using a body-potential biasing circuit, cross-coupled PMOS devices of 5V in it can be broken by the junction or gate oxide breakdown due to a high voltage of 8.53V applied to them in exiting the program or erase mode. Since each pumping node is precharged to the input voltage of the pumping stage at the same time that the output node is precharged to VDD in the cross-coupled charge pump, a high voltage of above 5.5V is prevented from being applied to them and thus the breakdown does not occur. Also, all erase, even program, odd program, and all program modes are supported to reduce the times of erasing and programming 256 kilo bits of cells. Furthermore, disturbance test time is also reduced since disturbance is applied to all the 256 kilo bits of EEPROM cells at once in the cell disturb test modes to reduce the cell disturbance testing time. Lastly, a CG driver with a short disable time to meet the cycle time of 40ns in the erase-verify-read mode is newly proposed.

• JSTS:Journal of Semiconductor Technology and Science
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.316-324
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• 2010

In this paper, we design a 256 kbits EEPROM for a MCU (Microcontroller unit) with the wide voltage range of 1.8 V to 5.5 V. The memory space of the EEPROM is separated into a program and data region. An option memory region is added for storing user IDs, serial numbers and so forth. By making HPWs (High-voltage P-wells) of EEPROM cell arrays with the same bias voltages in accordance with the operation modes shared in a double word unit, we can reduce the HPW-to-HPW space by a half and hence the area of the EEPROM cell arrays by 9.1 percent. Also, we propose a page buffer circuit reducing a test time, and a write-verify-read mode securing a reliability of the EEPROM. Furthermore, we propose a DC-DC converter that can be applied to a MCU with the wide voltage range. Finally, we come up with a method of obtaining the oscillation period of a charge pump. The layout size of the designed 256 kbits EEPROM IP with MagnaChip's 0.18 ${\mu}m$ EEPROM process is $1581.55{\mu}m{\times}792.00{\mu}m$.