• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.270-274
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• 2020

In this study, a read-out integrated circuit (ROIC) that can be applied to a colorimetry-based optical sensor for analyzing total phosphorus and total nitrogen was developed and characterized. The proposed ROIC minimizes the effect on temperature fluctuation, improves sensitivity, and extends the dynamic range by utilizing a dual optical path and feedback control circuit. Using a dual optical path makes it possible to calibrate the output signal of the optical sensor automatically, along with the temperature fluctuation. The calibrated voltage is fed back into the measurement stage; thus, the output current of the measurement is adaptively controlled. As a result, the sensitivity and dynamic range of the proposed ROIC are improved. Finally, a total-phosphorus analysis was conducted by utilizing the ROIC. The ROIC was found to operate stably over a wide temperature range.

• JSTS:Journal of Semiconductor Technology and Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.88-94
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• 2011

In this paper, we design a 1-kb OTP (Onetime programmable) memory IP in consideration of BCD process based EM (Electro-migration) and resistance variations of eFuse. We propose a method of precharging BL to VSS before activation of RWL (Read word-line) and an optimized design of read NMOS transistor to reduce read current through a non-programmed cell. Also, we propose a sensing margin test circuit with a variable pull-up load out of consideration for resistance variations of programmed eFuse. Peak current through the non-programmed eFuse is reduced from 728 ${\mu}A$ to 61 ${\mu}A$ when a simulation is done in the read mode. Furthermore, BL (Bit-line) sensing is possible even if sensed resistance of eFuse has fallen by about 9 $k{\Omega}$ in a wafer read test through a variable pull-up load resistance of BL S/A (Sense amplifier).

• Journal of IKEEE
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• v.1 no.1 s.1
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• pp.11-18
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• 1997

By utilizing the technique to monitor the DC cell node voltages through circuit simulation, degradation of the static read operating margin In high load-resistor SRAM cell was examined, which is caused by parasitic resistances and transistor asymmetries in this cell structure. By selectively adding the parasitic resistances to an ideal cell, the influence of each parasitic resistance on the operating margin was examined, and then the cases with parasitic resistances in pairs were also examined. By selectively changing the channel width of cell transistors to generate cell asymmetry, the influence of cell asymmetry on the operating margin was also examined. Analyses on the operating margins were performed by comparing the supply voltage values at which two cell node voltages merge to a single value and the differences of cell node voltages at VDD=5V in the simulated node voltage characteristics. By determining the parasitic resistances and the transistor asymmetries which give the most serious effect on the static read-operation of SRAM cell from this analysis based on circuit simulated, a criteria was provided, which can be referred in the design of new SRAM cell structures.

• ETRI Journal
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.910-921
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• 2023

In this study, we designed a 6T-SRAM cell using 16-nm CMOS process and analyzed the performance in terms of read-speed latency. The temperaturedependent Cu and multilayered graphene nanoribbon (MLGNR)-based nanointerconnect materials is used throughout the circuit (primarily bit/bit-bars [red lines] and word lines [write lines]). Here, the read speed analysis is performed with four different chip operating temperatures (150K, 250K, 350K, and 450K) using both Cu and graphene nanoribbon (GNR) nano-interconnects with different interconnect lengths (from 10 ㎛ to 100 ㎛), for reading-0 and reading-1 operations. To execute the reading operation, the CMOS technology, that is, the16-nm PTM-HPC model, and the16-nm interconnect technology, that is, ITRS-13, are used in this application. The complete design is simulated using TSPICE simulation tools (by Mentor Graphics). The read speed latency increases rapidly as interconnect length increases for both Cu and GNR interconnects. However, the Cu interconnect has three to six times more latency than the GNR. In addition, we observe that the reading speed latency for the GNR interconnect is ~10.29 ns for wide temperature variations (150K to 450K), whereas the reading speed latency for the Cu interconnect varies between ~32 ns and 65 ns for the same temperature ranges. The above analysis is useful for the design of next generation, high-speed memories using different nano-interconnect materials.

• Journal of IKEEE
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.309-314
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• 2021

The proposed preamplifier for the static random access memory reduces the time required for the sense amplifier enable during the read operation by 55%, which leads to a significant speed up the total spped. This is attirbuted to the novel circuit techqniue that cancels out the transistor mismatch which is induced by the process variation. In addition, a selective enable circuit for preamplifier circuit is proposed, so the proposed preamplifier is enabled only when it is required. Accordingly the energy overhead is limited below 4.45%.

• ETRI Journal
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.457-462
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• 2007

This work presents a low-voltage static random access memory (SRAM) technique based on a dual-boosted cell array. For each read/write cycle, the wordline and cell power node of selected SRAM cells are boosted into two different voltage levels. This technique enhances the read static noise margin to a sufficient level without an increase in cell size. It also improves the SRAM circuit speed due to an increase in the cell read-out current. A 0.18 ${\mu}m$ CMOS 256-kbit SRAM macro is fabricated with the proposed technique, which demonstrates 0.8 V operation with 50 MHz while consuming 65 ${\mu}W$/MHz. It also demonstrates an 87% bit error rate reduction while operating with a 43% higher clock frequency compared with that of conventional SRAM.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.14 no.8
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• pp.1877-1886
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• 2010

In this paper, we design a redundancy control circuit for 1T-SRAM repair using electrical fuse programming. We propose a dual port eFuse cell to provide high program power to the eFuse and to reduce the read current of the cell by using an external program supply voltage when the supply power is low. The proposed dual port eFuse cell is designed to store its programmed datum into a D-latch automatically in the power-on read mode. The layout area of an address comparison circuit which compares a memory repair address with a memory access address is reduced approximately 19% by using dynamic pseudo NMOS logic instead of CMOS logic. Also, the layout size of the designed redundancy control circuit for 1T-SRAM repair using electrical fuse programming with Dongbu HiTek's $0.11{\mu}m$ mixed signal process is $249.02 {\times}225.04{\mu}m^{2}$.

• Journal of IKEEE
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.954-961
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• 2019

This paper suggests an advanced 8T SRAM which can operate properly in subthreshold voltage regime. The memory cell consists of symmetric 8 transistors, in which the latch storing data is controlled by a column-wise assistline. During the read, the data storage nodes are temporarily decoupled from the read path, thus eliminating the read disturbance. Additionally, the cell keeps the noise-vulnerable 'low' node close to the ground, thereby improving the dummy-read stability. In the write, the boosted wordline facilitates to change the contents of the memory bit. At 0.4 V supply, the advanced 8T cell achieves 65% higher dummy-read stability and 3.7 times better write-ability compared to the commercialized 8T cell. The proposed cell and circuit techniques have been verified in a 16-kbit SRAM array designed with an industrial 180-nm low-power CMOS process.

• 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 $189.625{\mu}m{\times}138.850{\mu}m(=0.0263mm^2)$.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Telematics and Electronics C
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• v.35C no.6
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• pp.48-55
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• 1998

In this work, the testable CAM(Content Addressable Memory) is designed to perform the test effectively by inserting the ECC(Error Checking Circuit) inside the CAM. The designed CAM has the circuit which is capable of testing the functional faults in read, write, and match operations. In general the test circuit inserted causes the increase of total circuit area, Thus this work, utilizes the new MTA code to reduce the overhead of an area of the built-in test circuit which has a conventional parallel comparator. The designed circuit was verified using the VHDL simulator and the layout was performed using the 0.8${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ double metal CMOS process. About 30% reduction of a circuit area wad achieved in the proposed CAM using the XOR circuit