Apparatus and method of direct current sensing from source side in a virtual ground array
US6272043A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 23, 2000 |
| Grant date | Aug 7, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 23, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11C16/26
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A virtual ground array based flash memory device includes a virtual ground array containing individual memory elements with supporting input/output circuitry. The input/output circuitry contains circuitry for addressing the memory elements as well as transferring data to and from the array, reference circuitry, and comparison circuitry. During sensing, the drains of selected memory elements in the virtual ground array are set to a specific voltage level while the sources of the selected memory elements are used as the sense outputs. The direct current output of one of the selected memory elements is transformed into a voltage and compared to a reference voltage. The direct current from the memory element is then determined by the output of the comparator. The present arrangement and method of sensing from the source side of selected memory elements in the virtual ground array both saves time and conserves power. Further, by using direct current from selected memory elements, a safe and efficient means of sensing is achieved.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.