Non volatile memory with detection of short circuits between word lines
US6307778A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 8, 2000 |
| Grant date | Oct 23, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 8, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01R31/3004
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The non volatile memory device integrates, in one and the same chip, the array of memory cells, a voltage regulator which supplies a regulated operating voltage to a selected word line, and a short circuit detecting circuit. The short circuit detecting circuit detects the output voltage of the voltage regulator, which is correlated to the current for biasing the cells of the word line selected. Once settled to the steady state condition, the output current assumes one first value in the absence of short circuits, and one second value in the presence of a short circuit between the word line selected and one or more adjacent word lines. The short circuit detecting circuit compares the output current of the voltage regulator with a reference value and generates at output a short circuit digital signal which indicates the presence or otherwise of a short circuit.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.