Four state programmable interconnect device for bus line and I/O pad
US6545504B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 1, 2001 |
| Grant date | Apr 8, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 1, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03K19/1778
- WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A one transistor, non-volatile programmable switch having four operating states for connection between circuit elements and passive elements including bus lines and input/output pads. The four states include a first unidirectional state in which the cell allows signal flow in a first direction, a second unidirectional state in which the cell allows signal flow in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, a third state in which the cell allows bi-directional signal flow, and a fourth state resenting high impedance in which signal flow is blocked (the switch is open). A non-volatile programmable transistor having a drain coupled to one of the first node and second node, a source coupled to the other of the first node and second node, a gate coupled to an energizing conductor, and a data storage structure constitute the programmable switch. The non-volatile programmable transistor used in the switch is a charge programmable device (e.g. SONOS cell), in which the data storage structure comprises a nitride layer, or other charge tapping layer, between oxides or other insulators.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.