Title :
Fast identification of operating current for toggle MRAM by spiral search
Author :
Wang, Sheng-Hung ; Chen, Ching-Yi ; Wu, Cheng-Wen
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Electr. Eng., Nat. Tsing Hua Univ., Hsinchu, Taiwan
Abstract :
Magnetic Random Access Memory (MRAM) is a non-volatile memory which is widely studied for its high speed, high density, small cell size, and almost unlimited endurance. However, for deep-submicron process technologies, significant variation in MRAM cells´ operating regions results in write failures in cells and reduces the production yield. Currently, memory designers characterize failed MRAM chips to find a suitable current level for reconfiguring their operating current, which is time-consuming. In this paper, we propose an efficient operating current search method and a built-in circuit for toggle MRAM, which can rapidly find a customized operating current for each MRAM chip. With the built-in circuit, an MRAM chip can dynamically reconfigure its operating current automatically. Production yield and product life-time thus can be increased.
Keywords :
MRAM devices; deep-submicron process technologies; magnetic random access memory; nonvolatile memory; operating current search method; spiral search; toggle MRAM; Circuit testing; Magnetic materials; Magnetic tunneling; Mass production; Nonvolatile memory; Performance evaluation; Random access memory; Search methods; Semiconductor device measurement; Spirals; BIST; MRAM; characterization; reliability; testing; yield enhancement;
Conference_Titel :
Design Automation Conference (DAC), 2010 47th ACM/IEEE
Conference_Location :
Anaheim, CA
Print_ISBN :
978-1-4244-6677-1