Intermediate size non-volatile electrically alterable semiconductor memory device
US5764586A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 10, 1996 |
| Grant date | Jun 9, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 10, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11C16/26
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A semiconductor memory device that operates as a normal memory device as long as existing memory is being addressed, but appears to external hardware and software to have a larger size (or standard size) memory array than is actually present in the semiconductor memory device is disclosed. To external hardware and software, the semiconductor memory device operates as if it has more addressable memory cells than in fact actually exist in the memory array. When addressing missing memory cells, the semiconductor memory device emulates or mimics their presence for the benefit of the external hardware or software. Preferably, the semiconductor memory device is a non-volatile electrically alterable semiconductor memory device. A method for emulating missing memory cells is also disclosed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.