Electrically alterable non-volatile memory device

US4780750A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Sierra Semiconductor · US

Inventors

• Joseph G. Nolan, III · San Jose, US
• Michael A. Van Buskirk · Saratoga, US
• Te-Long Chiu · Houston, US
• Ying K. Shum · Cupertino, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 3, 1986
• Grant date: Oct 25, 1988
• Expiry date: Jan 3, 2006

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H10D30/683

Abstract

In this invention, an Electrically Alterable Non-Volatile Memory (EANOM) cell is disclosed. The EANOM ceil comprises an MOS transistor, having a source, a gate and a drain. The EANOM cell also has a two-terminal tunnel device, one end of which is connected to the gate of the MOS transistor. The other terminal being labelled "T". The tunnel device causes charges to be stored or removed from the gate of the MOS transistor. In a preferred embodiment, a four-terminal EANOM cell is disclosed. The four terminals of the EANOM cell are terminals T, S (source of the MOS transistor), D (drain of the MOS transistor) and a terminal C which is capacitively coupled to the gate of the MOS transistor. The EANOM cell can be used in a memory circuit to increase the reliability thereof. Two or more EANOM cells are connected in tandem and operate simultaneously. Catastrophic failure of one EANOM cell results in an open circuit with the other EANOM cell continuing to function.