Patent · US Expired

Non-volatile metal nitride oxide semiconductor device

US4017888A · kind A · utility

102Cited by
4References
5Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 31, 1975
Grant dateApr 12, 1977
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 31, 1995

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH10D84/83
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A metal nitride oxide semiconductor device capable of use within a memory cell, having a more heavily doped region of the same type as the substrate provided directly under the channel of the depletion mode device. Application of a positive write voltage to the gate of the device, with the substrate at 0 volts potential and the source and drain biased to a suitable positive level, results in avalanche operation of the device whereby charge is stored in a nitride oxide interface under the gate, thereby converting the device to enhancement mode operation. The charge can be removed with the source and drain biased to the 0 volt potential of the substrate and a positive erase signal applied to the gate. A four device memory cell is disclosed.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.