Tunable circuit for detection of negative voltages
US6593779B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 9, 2002 |
| Grant date | Jul 15, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 9, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01R19/0084
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The present invention provides a tunable circuit for quickly optimizing an electrical field generated by the F-N tunneling operation. To optimize this electrical field, the charging of a positive charge pump is begun after the charging of a negative charge pump. The tunable circuit of the present invention provides a means to detect the optimal negative voltage at which pumping of the positive voltage should begin. The tunable circuit includes a resistor chain coupled between a first reference voltage and a negative voltage from the negative charge pump. When charging of the negative charge pump begins, a comparator compares the voltage at a node within the resistor chain to a second reference voltage. In accordance with the present invention, the node voltage within the resistor chain is equal to the second reference voltage when the negative voltage is equal to the voltage to be detected. Thus, the comparator generates a trigger signal when the voltage at the node decreases to the second reference voltage. This output signal triggers the pumping of the positive charge pump. By changing the resistance within the resistor chain, the positive charge pumping may be initiated at varyi…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.