Flash memory device

Claim 2

A flash memory, comprising: an array of memory cells having sources, drains, floating gates and control gates, the array including a conductive plate formed over the memory cells for capacitively coupling the memory cells to the conductive plate; a first voltage source coupled to the control gate of a selected one of the memory cells for providing a first voltage to the control gate of the selected memory cell; a second voltage source coupled to the conductive plate for providing a second voltage to the conductive plate after the control gate of the selected memory cell reaches a predetermined voltage level; and a switching circus coupled to the first and second voltage sources for respectively providing the first and second voltages to the control gate of the selected memory cell and the conductive plate in response to a first and second control signals; wherein the control gates of the memory cells are in a floating state after the control gate of the selected memory cell reaches the predetermined voltage and before the second voltage is provided to the conductive plate.

Claim 3

The flash memory of claim 1 including a third voltage source coupled to unselected memory cells for providing a third voltage to the control gates of the unselected memory cells responsive to the first control signal.

Claim 4

The flash memory of claim 2 wherein the array of memory cells is divided into a plurality of memory blocks and wherein the control gates of the memory cells are in a floating state after the control gate of the selected memory cell reaches the predetermined voltage level and before the second voltage is provided to the conductive plate.

Claim 5

The flash memory of claim 3 wherein the first control signal drives the control gates to the floating state after the control gates reach the predetermined voltage level and before the second voltage is provided to the conductive plate.

Claim 6

The flash memory of claim 2 wherein the array of memory cells is divided into a plurality of memory blocks, the memory cells being coupled to a plurality of word lines, the flash memory including: a plurality of drive lines connected to the word lines through corresponding transfer transistors therebetween; a block decoder to control the transfer transistors; and a section decoder coupled to the drive lines, the section decoder respectively providing the first, second, and third voltages to a selected one of the plurality of word lines, the conductive plate, and unselected word lines of the plurality of word lines; wherein the second voltage is provided to the conductive plate after the first voltage is transferred to the selected word line.

Claim 7

A flash memory, comprising: an array of memory cells divided into a plurality of memory blocks and having sources, drains, floating gates and control gates, the array including a conductive plate formed over the memory cells for capacitively coupling the memory cells to the conductive plate and the memory cells being coupled to a plurality of word lines; a first voltage source coupled to the control gate of a selected one of the memory cells for providing a first voltage to the control gate of the selected memory cell; a second voltage source coupled to the conductive plate for providing a second voltage to the conductive plate after the control gate of the selected memory cell reaches a predetermined voltage level; a plurality of drive lines corresponding to the conductive plate and the word lines; a switching circuit including a first transfer transistor interposed between a corresponding one of the drive lines and the conductive plate and a plurality of second transfer transistors interposed between corresponding drive lines; a block decoder coupled to gates of the first and second transfer transistors of the switching circuit, a first output of the block decoder being coupled to the gate of the first transfer transistor and a second output of the block decoder being coupled to the gates of the plurality of second transfer transistors; and a section decoder coupled to the plurality drive lines, the section decoder respectively supplying a first voltage, a second voltage, and a third voltage to a selected one of the word lines, the conductive plate, and unselected word lines of the plurality of word lines; wherein the second voltage is applied to the conductive plate in response to the control signal after the first and third voltages are respectively provided to the selected and unselected word lines.

Claim 8

A flash memory, comprising: an array of memory cells divided into a plurality of memory blocks and having sources, drains, floating gates and control gates, the array including a conductive plate formed over the memory cells for capacitively coupling the memory cells to the conductive plate and the memory cells being coupled to a plurality of word lines; a first voltage source coupled to the control gate of a selected one of the memory cells for providing a first voltage to the control gate of the selected memory cell; a second voltage source coupled to the conductive plate for providing a second voltage to the conductive plate after the control gate of the selected memory cell reaches a predetermined voltage level; a plurality of drive lines corresponding to the conductive plate and the word lines; a switching circuit including a first transfer transistor interposed between a corresponding one of the drive lines and the conductive plate and a plurality of second transfer transistors interposed between corresponding drive lines; a block decoder coupled to gates of the first and second transfer transistors of the switching circuit, a first output of the block decoder being coupled to the gate of the first transfer transistor and a second output of the block decoder being coupled to the gates of the plurality of second transfer transistors; and a section decoder coupled to the plurality drive lines, the section decoder respectively supplying a first voltage, a second voltage, and a third voltage to a selected one of the word lines, the conductive plate, and unselected word lines of the plurality of word lines; wherein the second voltage is applied to the conductive plate in response to the control signal after the first and third voltages are respectively provided to the selected and unselected word lines.

Claim 9

A flash memory, comprising: an array of memory cells having sources, drains, floating gates, and control gates; a booster plate formed over the array of memory cells; a program voltage means for providing a program voltage to a control gate of a selected memory cell; a booster plate voltage means for providing a booster plate voltage to the booster plate after the control gate of the selected memory cell reaches a predetermined voltage level; a pass voltage means for providing a pass voltage to control gates of unselected memory cells; and a switching means interposed between the program, the booster plate, and the pass voltage means; wherein the memory cells transfer the program voltage to the selected memory cell responsive to a first control signal, the booster plate voltage to the booster plate responsive to a second control signal, and the pass voltage to the unselected memory cells responsive to the first control signal.

Claim 10

A flash memory, comprising: an array of memory cells having sources, drains, floating gates, and control gates; a booster plate formed over the array of memory cells; a program voltage means for providing a program voltage to a control gate of a selected memory cell; a booster plate voltage means for providing a booster plate voltage to the booster plate after the control gate of the selected memory cell reaches a predetermined voltage level; a pass voltage means for providing a pass voltage to control gates of unselected memory cells; and a switching means interposed between the program, the booster plate, and the pass voltage means; wherein the memory cells transfer the program voltage to the selected memory cell responsive to a first control signal, the booster plate voltage to the booster plate responsive to a second control signal, and the pass voltage to the unselected memory cells responsive to the first control signal.

Claim 11

The flash memory of claim 7 wherein the first and second control signals are one control signal.

Claim 12

The flash memory of claim 7 wherein the switching means includes a plurality of transfer transistors, each transfer transistor connected to a corresponding memory cell.

Claim 13

The flash memory of claim 7 including: a block decoder coupled to the switching means for generating the first and second control signals; and a section decoder interposed between the program and pass voltage means and the switching means for generating the program, booster plate, and the pass voltages.

Claim 16

The method for reducing the capacitive coupling of claim 11 including setting the control gate of the selected memory cell and the control gates of unselected memory cells to a floating state after the control gate of the selected memory cell reaches the predetermined voltage and before the booster plate voltage is provided to the booster plate.