Circuit techniques for a 1.8-V-only NAND flash memory

Focusing on internal high-voltage (V_pp) switching and generation for low-voltage NAND flash memories, this paper describes a V _(pp) switch, row decoder, and charge-pump circuit. The proposed nMOS V_pp switch is composed of only intrinsic high-voltage transistors without channel implantation, which realizes both reduction of the minimum operating voltage and elimination of the V _pp leakage current. The proposed row decoder scheme is described in which all blocks are in selected state in standby so as to prevent standby current from flowing through the proposed V_pp switches in the row decoder. A merged charge-pump scheme generates a plurality of voltage levels with an individually optimized efficiency, which reduces circuit area in comparison with the conventional scheme that requires a separate charge-pump circuit for each voltage level. The proposed circuits were implemented on an experimental NAND flash memory. The charge pump and V_pp switch successfully operated at a supply voltage of 1.8 V with a standby current of 10 μA. The proposed pump scheme reduced the area required for charge-pump circuits by 40%