Patent · US Active

Variable resistance switch suitable for supplying high voltage to drive load

US8537593B2 · kind B2 · utility

3Cited by
45References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 28, 2011
Grant dateSep 17, 2013
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 19, 2032

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG11C16/12
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A circuit for supplying a high voltage to load is described. An example of such a circuit could be used in the peripheral circuitry of a non-volatile memory device for supplying a program voltage from a charge pump to a selected word line. The circuit includes a charge pump that generates the high voltage and decoding circuitry that is connected to receive this high voltage and selectively apply it to a load. The decoding circuitry receives the high voltage through a switch, where the switch is of a variable resistance that progressively passes the high voltage in response to a control signal. In a particular example, the switch includes a transistor connected between the charge pump and the decoding circuitry, where the control gate of the transistor is connected to the output of a second charge pump that is connected to receive the high voltage and a settable clock signal as its inputs.

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