Patent · US Active

Flash memory device with improved erase operation

US7499325B2 · kind B2 · utility

11Cited by
1References
28Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 21, 2006
Grant dateMar 3, 2009
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 31, 2027

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG11C16/16
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Some embodiments include a device having memory cells coupled to a well of a semiconductor substrate, and a select transistor coupled between the memory cells and a bit line of the device. The device may have a first circuit to raise a well voltage of the well from a first well voltage level to a second well voltage level during an erase operation. The first circuit may hold the well at the second well voltage level for a time interval during the erase operation. The device may have a second circuit to raise a voltage of the gate of the select transistor from a first gate voltage level to a second gate voltage level, which may be lower than the second well voltage level. The second circuit may hold the gate at the second gate voltage level for a time interval during the erase operation. Other embodiments including additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.

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