Improving the overall RRAM test quality, enabling mass commercialization of RRAMs.
Abstract:
” Industry is prototyping and commercializing Resistive Random Access Memories (RRAMs). Unfortunately, RRAM devices introduce new defects and faults. Hence, high-quality test solutions are urgently needed. Based on silicon measurements, this paper identifies a new RRAM unique fault, the Intermittent Undefined State Fault (IUSF); this fault causes the RRAM device to intermittently change its switching mechanism from bipolar to complementary switching, resulting in undefined state faults. First, we characterize the IUSF by analyzing RRAM devices, and demonstrate that a single RRAM device can suffer from the IUSF up to 1.068 % of its switching cycles; we relate the IUSF to two defects: capping layer doping, and over-forming. This clearly shows the importance of detecting this fault. Second, we develop a device-aware defect model that accurately describes the physical behavior of these defects and gives essential insights into the IUSF’s behavior and its detection. Third, we perform fault modeling by applying the device-aware defect model, and the results are used to develop high-quality test solutions for the IUSF. The contributions in this work improve the overall RRAM test quality, which enables mass commercialization of RRAMs.”
Find the technical paper here.
M. Fieback, G. C. Medeiros, A. Gebregiorgis, H. Aziza, M. Taouil and S. Hamdioui, “Intermittent Undefined State Fault in RRAMs,” 2021 IEEE European Test Symposium (ETS), 2021, pp. 1-6, doi: 10.1109/ETS50041.2021.9465401.
ITRI had discovered this years ago; it was not intermittent but could be reproduced under certain SET conditions. Likewise, the solution is also an appropriate operation, which can be found easily.