Random Telegraph Signal Threshold Determination in Noisy MOS Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Random telegraph signals (RTS) in submicron MOS devices and other microdevices cause degradation and malfunctions due to noise interference, making it difficult to analyze and distinguish between binary state levels, especially in high-noise environments, which is exacerbated by the reduction in semiconductor device sizes.

Innovation Solution

A method involving band-pass filter processing, histogram calculation, threshold determination, and binarization processing to remove noise and accurately determine coefficients τ, including adjusting section lengths and using maximum likelihood methods to analyze RTS with binary or higher state levels, and integrating differentiated data to extract coefficients τ.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single threshold level is used for RTS analysis, then the analysis is simple, but the measurement precision deteriorates in high-noise environments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanalysis complexityVSAvoidthreshold determination accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The signal data is divided into multiple sections, and a separate threshold is determined for each section based on local histogram analysis. This segmentation allows the threshold to adapt to local noise conditions, improving measurement precision while maintaining manageable analysis complexity through automated processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If section length is shortened for local threshold determination, then the adaptability to noise changes improves, but the productivity decreases due to increased processing overhead

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenoise condition adaptabilityVSAvoidanalysis speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The method determines thresholds for only the necessary sections of signal data rather than processing the entire signal uniformly. This partial action approach balances adaptability to local noise conditions with processing efficiency, avoiding excessive computation while maintaining accuracy where needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Reliability

If band-pass filter processing is applied, then the reliability of RTS analysis improves by removing noise, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveRTS analysis reliabilityVSAvoidsignal processing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Band-pass filter processing is applied as a preliminary step before threshold determination to remove noise from the signal. This preliminary action improves the reliability of subsequent RTS analysis by ensuring cleaner input data, while the filtering is implemented through standard signal processing techniques that maintain practical device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS8615034B2Method for analyzing random telegraph signal and threshold level determination method therefor

Publication Date: 2013.12.24 KEYSIGHT TECHNOLOGIES INC

AI summary

A method for analyzing a random telegraph signal according to the present invention includes the steps of: performing band-pass filter processing with respect to signal data; subsequently calculating a histogram; subsequently performing threshold determination processing; further performing, based on a result of the threshold determination, binarization processing with respect to the filtered signal data; and further obtaining, based on a result of the binarization, coefficients τ.