Pyroelectric current method for measuring ferroelectric memory cell retention at high temperatures

The pyroelectric current and phase detection method (PCPD) for characterizing the high temperature retention behavior of a ferroelectric memory cell is presented. Since the polarization states of a ferro-electric memory cell can be reflected by their pyroelectric response, the retention behavior of the cell can be obtained by measuring the pyroelectric current and phase of the cell as a function of time at different temperatures. PCPD compares favorably with conventional pulse retention measurements.