Variations of $V_{t}$ Retention Loss in a SONOS Flash Memory Due to a Current-Path Percolation Effect

Discrete nitride program charge loss in a small-area SONOS Flash memory cell during retention is observed. Our measurement shows that a retention V
_t
of a programmed SONOS cell exhibits a stepwise evolution with retention time. Individual single-program charge-loss-induced threshold voltage shifts (ΔV
_t
) are characterized. We find the following: 1) The magnitude of ΔV
_t
exhibits an exponential distribution, which is believed due to a current-path percolation effect caused by random program charges and substrate dopants, and 2) program-state V
_t
retention loss has large variations in different cells and P/E cycles due to the percolation effect. We develop a Monte Carlo analysis to take into account the distribution of ΔV
_t
and a tunneling front model to study the spread of a retention V
_t
distribution in a SONOS Flash memory.