A 64-kbit block addressed charge-coupled memory

This paper describes the design and performance of a 64-kbit (65 536 bits) block addressed charge-coupled serial memory. By using the offset-mask charge-coupled device (CCD) electrode structure to obtain a small cell size, and an adaptive system approach to utilize nonzero defect memory chips, the system cost per bit of charge-coupled serial memory can be reduced to provide a solid-state replacement of moving magnetic memories and to bridge the gap between high cost random access memories (RAM´s) and slow access magnetic memories. The memory chip is organized as 64K words by 1 bit in 16 blocks of 4 kbits. Each 4-kbit block is organized as a serial-parallel-serial (SPS) array. The chip is fully decoded with write/recirculate control and two-dimensional decoding to permit memory matrix organization with X-Y chip select control. All inputs and the ouput are TTL compatible. Operated at a data rate of 1 MHz, the mean access time is about 2 ms and the average power dissipation is 1 µW/bit. The maximum output data rate is 10 MHz, giving a mean access time of about 200 µs, and an average power dissipation of 10 µW/bit. The memory chip is fabricated using an n-channel polysilicon gate process. Using tolerant design rules (8-µm minimum feature size and ±2-µm alignment tolerance) the CCD cell size is 0.4 mil²and the total chip size is 218 × 235 mil². The chip is mounted in a 22-pin 400-mil wide ceramic dual in-line package.