Patent · US Expired

Flash memory wordline tracking across whole chip

US6163481A · kind A · utility

10Cited by
1References
4Claims
0Family size

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Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 29, 1999
Grant dateDec 19, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 29, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG11C8/14
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A wordline tracking structure for use in an array of Flash EEPROM memory cells is provided. The tracking structure serves to match reference and sector core wordline voltages across the entire chip regardless of sector location. The tracking structure includes a second VPXG conductor line operatively connected between sector wordlines of a "far" sector and a reference cell mini-array. The second VPXG conductor line has a substantially smaller time constant than in a first VPXG conductor line operatively connected between an output of a boosting circuit and the sector wordlines of the "far" sector. As a consequence, the reference wordline voltage associated with the reference cell mini-array will track closely the sector wordline voltage during the read operation regardless of the location of the selected sector.

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