Browsing by Author "Chen, Kuang-Chao"

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A Novel Random Telegraph Signal Method to Study Program/Erase Charge Lateral Spread and Retention Loss in a SONOS Flash Memory
(2011-03-01)
Ma, Huan-Chi
;
Chou, You-Liang
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Chiu, Jung-Piao
;
Chung, Yueh-Ting
;
Lin, Tung-Yang
A novel random telegraph signal (RTS) method is proposed to characterize the lateral distribution of injected charge in program and erase states in a NOR-type silicon-oxide-nitride-oxide-silicon Flash memory. The concept of this method is to use RTS to extract an oxide trap position in the channel and then to use the trap and RTS as internal probe to detect a local channel potential change resulting from injected charge during program/erase. By using this method, the lateral width of the injected charge-induced channel potential barrier is shown to be around 20 nm in channel hot electron (CHE) program. Our method also confirms that Channel Initiated Secondary ELectron (CHISEL) program has a broader injected charge distribution than CHE program. A mismatch of CHE program electrons and band-to-band tunneling erase holes is observed. Program-state V(t) retention loss models, charge vertical loss versus lateral migration, are reexamined by using this method. The polarity of a program-state charge distribution along the channel is explored within 10-20 program/erase cycles. Nitride charge vertical loss is verified by this method.
Characterization of nitride hole lateral transport in a charge trap flash memory by using a random telegraph signal method
(2017-07-17)
Liu, Yu-Heng
;
Jiang, Cheng-Min
;
Lin, Hsiao-Yi
;
Wang, Tahui
;
Tsai, Wen-Jer
We use a random telegraph signal method to investigate nitride trapped hole lateral transport in a charge trap flash memory. The concept of this method is to utilize an interface oxide trap and its associated random telegraph signal as an internal probe to detect a local channel potential change resulting from nitride charge lateral movement. We apply different voltages to the drain of a memory cell and vary a bake temperature in retention to study the electric field and temperature dependence of hole lateral movement in a nitride. Thermal energy absorption by trapped holes in lateral transport is characterized. Mechanisms of hole lateral transport in retention are investigated. From the measured and modeled results, we find that thermally assisted trap-to-band tunneling is a major trapped hole emission mechanism in nitride hole lateral transport. Published by AIP Publishing.
Electric Field Induced Nitride Trapped Charge Lateral Migration in a SONOS Flash Memory
(2017-01)
Liu, Yu-Heng
;
Jiang, Cheng-Min
;
Chen, Wei-Chun
;
Wang, Tahui
;
Tsai, Wen-Jer
We investigated electric field-induced trapped electron lateralmigration in a SONOS flash cell. The threshold voltage shift (Delta V-t) andgate-induceddrain leakage(GIDL) current were measured to monitor nitride electron movement in retention. We applied different voltages to the gate and the source/drain in retention to vary the vertical and lateral electric fields. Our study shows that: 1) GIDL current can be used tomonitor trapped charge lateralmigration and 2) nitride charge lateral migration exhibits strong dependence on the lateral electric field. Based on measured temperature and field dependence, a nitride trapped charge emission process via thermally assisted tunneling is proposed for electron lateral migration. The emission rates of thermally assisted tunneling, direct trap-to-band tunneling and Frenkel-Poole emission were compared.
Electric Field Induced Nitride Trapped Charge Lateral Migration in a SONOS Flash Memory
(2017-01)
Liu, Yu-Heng
;
Jiang, Cheng-Min
;
Chen, Wei-Chun
;
Wang, Tahui
;
Tsai, Wen-Jer
We investigated electric field-induced trapped electron lateralmigration in a SONOS flash cell. The threshold voltage shift (Delta V-t) andgate-induceddrain leakage(GIDL) current were measured to monitor nitride electron movement in retention. We applied different voltages to the gate and the source/drain in retention to vary the vertical and lateral electric fields. Our study shows that: 1) GIDL current can be used tomonitor trapped charge lateralmigration and 2) nitride charge lateral migration exhibits strong dependence on the lateral electric field. Based on measured temperature and field dependence, a nitride trapped charge emission process via thermally assisted tunneling is proposed for electron lateral migration. The emission rates of thermally assisted tunneling, direct trap-to-band tunneling and Frenkel-Poole emission were compared.
Grain Boundary Trap-Induced Current Transient in a 3-D NAND Flash Cell String
(2019-04-01)
Lin, Wei-Liang
;
Tsai, Wen-Jer
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Cheng, C. C.
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Ku, S. H.
;
Liu, Lenvis
Transient cell current caused by the trapping/detrapping of grain boundary traps in the polycrystalline silicon (poly-Si) channel of a 3-D NAND cell string is comprehensively studied in this paper. This transient has a time constant of 10 mu s or longer and is strongly dependent on the bias history. It is also affected by the trap distribution as revealed by TCAD simulations. Sensing offset between program verify and read results in "pseudo" charge loss/gain that reduces the sensing margin. The posttreatment of the poly-Si channel is suggested to mitigate this effect.
Hot-Carrier Injection-Induced Disturb and Improvement Methods in 3D NAND Flash Memory
(2019-01-01)
Lin, Wei-Liang
;
Tsai, Wen-Jer
;
Cheng, C. C.
;
Lu, Chun-Chang
;
Ku, S. H.
We investigate a hot-carrier injection- induced program disturb in a 3D NAND flash memory. As there exist specific coding patterns, a "down-coupling" region and a "pre-charge" regions are formed during program-verify and the following program phases, respectively, in the inhibit cell strings. A high heating field is built nearby the PGM wordline. Hot carriers may inject into the inhibit cells as Vpgm is applied. Soft ramp-down and pre-turn-on schemes are proposed to mitigate this disturb.
Investigation of Electron and Hole Lateral Migration in Silicon Nitride and Data Pattern Effects on ${V}_{{t}}$ Retention Loss in a Multilevel Charge Trap Flash Memory
(2019-12-01)
Liu, Yu-Heng
;
Zhan, Ting-Chien
;
Wang, Tahui
;
Tsai, Wen-Jer
;
Lu, Tao-Cheng
We investigate electron and hole lateral migration in retention loss in a multilevel charge trap flash memory. We use hot electron program and band-to-band tunneling hot hole erase to inject various amounts of electrons and holes at the two ends of a SONOS cell. A random telegraph signal (RTS) method is used to distinguish electron and hole lateral movements in silicon nitride. In retention measurement, we apply a voltage to the gate or the source/drain to enhance or retard trapped charge vertical loss and lateral migration. From the evolution characteristics of RTS and traces in retention, we are able to identify the separate roles of electron vertical loss, electron lateral migration, and hole lateral migration in different data patterns. Due to the interaction of stored electrons and holes, we find that retention loss in a program state exhibits a turnaround characteristic as program level increases. loss at low program levels is attributed to hole lateral migration from a neighboring bit. At higher program levels, the influence of hole lateral migration is reduced and loss is dominated by electron vertical loss and lateral migration.
Peripheral neuropathology of the upper airway in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome
(2013-04-01)
Tsai, Yi-Ju
;
Ramar, Kannan
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Liang, Yao-Jen
;
Chiu, Po-Han
;
Powell, Nelson
Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a common sleep disorder that leads to significant morbidity and mortality without adequate treatment. Though much emphasis on the pathogenesis of OSAS has been placed on a narrow upper airway space and associated muscular factors, possible neuropathy of the upper airway has not been fully elucidated. Increasing peer reviewed evidence suggests involvement of neurologic lesions of the upper airway in OSAS patients. In this article, we review the etiology and pathophysiology of OSAS, the evidence and possible mechanisms leading to upper airway neuropathy, and the relationship between upper airway neuropathy and OSAS. Further studies should focus on the long term effects of the upper airway neuropathy as related to the duration and severity of snoring and or apnea, and also on the potential methods of prevention and management of the neuropathy in sleep disordered breathing. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
V-t Retention Distribution Tail in a Multitime-Program MLC SONOS Memory Due to a Random-Program-Charge-Induced Current-Path Percolation Effect
(2012-05-01)
Chung, Yueh-Ting
;
Huang, Tzu-I
;
Li, Chi-Wei
;
Chou, You-Liang
;
Chiu, Jung-Piao
A V-t retention distribution tail in a multitime-program (MTP) silicon-oxide-nitride-oxide-silicon (SONOS) memory is investigated. We characterize a single-program-charge-loss-induced Delta V-t in NOR-type SONOS multilevel cells (MLCs). Our measurement shows the following: 1) A single-charge-lossinduced Delta V-t exhibits an exponential distribution in magnitudes, which is attributed to a random-program-charge-induced current-path percolation effect, and 2) the standard deviation of the exponential distribution depends on the program-charge density and increases with a program V-t level in an MLC SONOS. In addition, we measure a V-t retention distribution in a 512-Mb MTP SONOS memory and observe a significant V-t retention tail. A numerical V-t retention distribution model including the percolation effect and a Poisson-distribution-based multiple-charge-loss model is developed. Our model agrees with the measured V-t retention distribution in a 512-Mb SONOS well. The observed V-t tail is realized mainly due to the percolation effect.