Memory design for high temperature radiation environments

Abstract

This paper presents bulk CMOS memory circuits capable of both ultra-low voltage (subthreshold, i.e., VDD less than the transistor threshold voltage Vth) low power operation and high temperature operation at nominal VDD. One of the memory designs is radiation hardened by design (RHBD) using interleaved DICE storage cells, enclosed transistor geometries, and P-type guard rings. The other is not hardened against radiation. Experimental results are presented showing that the room temperature minimum VDD of the hardened device remains essentially unchanged from the pre-irradiation VDDMIN = 210 mV value after Co-60 irradiation to 4 Mrad(Si). The standby power supply current ISB of the device increases less than 2x from this level of irradiation. The RHBD memory design has been tested to be operational at temperatures of 225degC. The combined effects of high temperature and irradiation are also investigated for both designs.