Patent · US Expired

Threshold voltage convergence

US6728140B2 · kind B2 · utility

1Cited by
12References
51Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 5, 2001
Grant dateApr 27, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 16, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG11C16/3404
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A convergence signal includes a series of voltage pulses used to perform a convergence procedure in one or more flash EEPROM memory cells (transistors). In one instance subsequent voltage pulses in the convergence signal each have a higher voltage than the preceding pulse. In another instance, subsequent voltage pulses in the convergence signal each have a longer duration than the preceding pulse. An integrated circuit includes an array of memory cells and an erase control unit which controls the application of the convergence signal to one or more memory cells. The integrated circuit may be either serial or parallel flash EEPROM in which bulk, sector, or page mode erasing is used.

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