A Reference-less Sense Amplifier to Sense pA Currents in Ferroelectric Tunnel Junction Memories

Reuben JR, Fey D, Slesazeck S (2023)

Publication Type: Conference contribution

Publication year: 2023

Publisher: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.

Conference Proceedings Title: 2023 12th International Conference on Modern Circuits and Systems Technologies, MOCAST 2023 - Proceedings

Event location: Athens GR

ISBN: 9798350321074

DOI: 10.1109/MOCAST57943.2023.10176774

Abstract

Ferroelectric Tunnel Junction (FTJ) is an emerging non-volatile memory technology with increasing applications in memory and computing. Although the low currents of FTJ memories is an advantage from energy point of view, sensing of these memories is a challenge due to the pA read-out currents. In this work, we propose a Sense Amplifier (SA) specifically designed for FTJ memory technology. The proposed SA accumulates the charge at the gate of a read transistor and thus converts the pA current to hundreds of nA. A Schmitt-Trigger circuit is then used to differentiate between these two currents by using the threshold-voltage of the Schmitt-Trigger as reference. The proposed SA consumes an energy of 82 fJ/bit and also does not require an absolute voltage/current reference for sensing, thus conserving on-chip area.

Authors with CRIS profile

John Reuben Prabahar Lehrstuhl für Informatik 3 (Rechnerarchitektur) Dietmar Fey Lehrstuhl für Informatik 3 (Rechnerarchitektur)

Involved external institutions

NaMLab gGmbH DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Reuben, J.R., Fey, D., & Slesazeck, S. (2023). A Reference-less Sense Amplifier to Sense pA Currents in Ferroelectric Tunnel Junction Memories. In 2023 12th International Conference on Modern Circuits and Systems Technologies, MOCAST 2023 - Proceedings. Athens, GR: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc..

MLA:

Reuben, John Reuben, Dietmar Fey, and Stefan Slesazeck. "A Reference-less Sense Amplifier to Sense pA Currents in Ferroelectric Tunnel Junction Memories." Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Modern Circuits and Systems Technologies, MOCAST 2023, Athens Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2023.

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