Programmable non-volatile bidirectional switch for programmable logic
US5640344A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 25, 1995 |
| Grant date | Jun 17, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 25, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03K17/687
- WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A bidirectional passgate switch for connecting two conductors utilizes technology such as electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM). The switch includes two EEPROM components wherein the floating gates of the components are shared. In one embodiment a first n-channel passgate transistor is used for programming and storage of the state of the switch. The oxide of the first transistor is a thin oxide to enable ease of programming. A second n-channel passgate transistor functions as the bidirectional switch wherein the source and drain terminals are coupled to the routing lines to be selectively connected. The second transistor oxide is a thick oxide to minimize the leakage due to tunneling. Thus, the programming lines and routing lines are separated, making the programming process simpler while minimizing leakage.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.