Patent · US Expired

Two transistor flash EEprom cell and method of operating same

US5862082A · kind A · utility

32Cited by
16References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 16, 1998
Grant dateJan 19, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 16, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG11C16/0433
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A flash electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM) cell fabricated in a semiconductor substrate. A first well region having a first conductivity type is located in the semiconductor substrate. A second well region having a second conductivity type, opposite the first conductivity type, is located in the first well region. A non-volatile memory transistor and an independently controllable access transistor are fabricated in the second well region. The non-volatile memory transistor and the access transistor are connected in series, such that the source of the access transistor is coupled to the drain of the non-volatile memory transistor. The first well region, the second well region, the non-volatile memory transistor and the access transistor are biased such that electrons are transferred from the first well region to a floating gate of the non-volatile memory transistor by Fowler-Nordheim tunneling during an erase mode, and electrons are transferred from the floating gate of the non-volatile memory transistor through the access transistor by Fowler-Nordheim tunneling during a program mode. None of the biasing voltages exceed 12 Volts, thereby enabling the flash …

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