Patent · US Expired

Semiconductor non-volatile latch device including embedded non-volatile elements

US5892712A · kind A · utility

52Cited by
8References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 29, 1997
Grant dateApr 6, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 29, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG11C14/0063
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A bistable non-volatile latch circuit adapted to store a non-volatile binary data state during a program operation, and to assume one of two stable states in response to a power up operation that correspond uniquely to the data state has first and second circuit sections. The first circuit section has a first non-volatile current path with means to set the impedance of the first current path in a non-volatile manner. A first end of the first current path is connected to provide a logic output signal, which represents a binary logic state depending on a voltage applied to the a first signal input node. The set/reset signal to the first current path varies between at least the power source voltage and a program voltage that is negative with respect to the power source voltage. A second circuit section generates an output voltage on a second output node that represents a binary logic state opposite from the output states of the first circuit section. Means are provided for connecting the first circuit section and the second circuit section into a bistable configuration.

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