Non-volatile storage device refresh time detector
US5852582A · kind A · utility
17Cited by
2References
27Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 18, 1997 |
| Grant date | Dec 22, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 18, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11C16/3418
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A timing apparatus for monitoring when a memory array in a non-volatile storage device needs to be refreshed includes a programmable semiconductor device and detecting means for detecting when the amount of charge on the programmable semiconductor device has diminished to at most a threshold amount. In one embodiment, the programmable semiconductor device is a floating gate transistor programmed by adding charge to the floating gate. The detecting means monitors the I.sub.DS current of the transistor and determines an array refresh time when more than a negligible amount of I.sub.DS current is detected.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.