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US6587381B2 Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Programming method for non-volatile semiconductor memory device

Assignee: Seiko Epson Corp
•
Filing: 2001-09-19
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Granted: 2003-07-01
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Expires: 2021-09-19
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Abstract

Abstract A method is provided for programming data for a memory element of a twin memory cell (i). The word line WL1 is set to a programming word line selection voltage, the control gate CG[i+1] is set to a programming control gate voltage, and the control gate CG[i] is set to an over-ride voltage. The bit line BL[i+1] is set to a programming bit line voltage, and the bit line BL[i+2] is set to Vdd, but not to 0 V.

Inventors

  • 👤 Masahiro Kanai
  • 👤 Teruhiko Kamei

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-27 06:15
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11C; G11C16/00; G11C16/02; G11C16/04; G11C16/0408; G11C16/0441; G11C16/0458; G11C16/0466; G11C16/0475; G11C16/06; G11C16/10; G11C16/12

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 203 words
A programming method for a non-volatile semiconductor memory device in which a plurality of twin memory cells, each having one word gate and first and second non-volatile memory elements controlled by first and second control gates, are arranged and, from among three adjacent twin memory cells (i−1), (i), and (i+1) whose word gates are connected to one word line, data for the second non-volatile memory element of the twin memory cell (i) is programmed, said method comprising: setting the word line to a programming word line selection voltage; setting the second control gate of the twin memory cell (i) and the first control gate of the twin memory cell (i+1) to a programming control gate voltage; setting the second control gate of the twin memory cell (i−1) and the first control gate of the twin memory cell (i) to an over-ride voltage; setting a bit line commonly connected to the second non-volatile memory element of the twin memory cell (i) and the first non-volatile memory element of the twin memory cell (i+1) to a programming bit line voltage; and setting a bit line connected to the second non-volatile memory element of the twin memory cell (i+1) to a voltage higher than 0 V.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 203 words
A programming method for a non-volatile semiconductor memory device in which a plurality of twin memory cells, each having one word gate and first and second non-volatile memory elements controlled by first and second control gates, are arranged and, from among three adjacent twin memory cells (i−1), (i), and (i+1) whose word gates are connected to one word line, data for the second non-volatile memory element of the twin memory cell (i) is programmed, said method comprising: setting the word line to a programming word line selection voltage; setting the second control gate of the twin memory cell (i) and the first control gate of the twin memory cell (i+1) to a programming control gate voltage; setting the second control gate of the twin memory cell (i−1) and the first control gate of the twin memory cell (i) to an over-ride voltage; setting a bit line commonly connected to the second non-volatile memory element of the twin memory cell (i) and the first non-volatile memory element of the twin memory cell (i+1) to a programming bit line voltage; and setting a bit line connected to the second non-volatile memory element of the twin memory cell (i+1) to a voltage higher than 0 V.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 47 words
The programming method for a non-volatile semiconductor memory device according to claim 1 , wherein the bit line connected to the second non-volatile memory element of the twin memory cell (i+1) is set to a voltage equal to or greater than the programming word line selection voltage.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 51 words
The programming method for a non-volatile semiconductor memory device according to claim 1 , wherein the bit line commonly connected to the second non-volatile memory element of the twin memory cell (i−1) and the first non-volatile memory element of the twin memory cell (i) is connected to a constant current source.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 68 words
The programming method for a non-volatile semiconductor memory device according to claim 3 , wherein the programming word line selection voltage is set to a voltage that is high enough to be able to cause a current greater than a current provided by the constant current source to flow between a source and a drain of the twin memory cell including the non-volatile memory element to be programmed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 56 words
The programming method for a non-volatile semiconductor memory device according to claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second non-volatile memory elements includes an ONO film formed from an oxide film (O), a nitride film (N), and an oxide film (O) as a charge trap site, wherein data is programmed at the trap site.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 203 words
A programming method for a non-volatile semiconductor memory device in which a plurality of twin memory cells, each having one word gate and first and second non-volatile memory elements controlled by first and second control gates, are arranged and, from among three adjacent twin memory cells (i−1), (i) and (i+1) whose word gates are connected to one word line, data for the first non-volatile memory element of the twin memory cell (i) is programmed, said method comprising: setting the word line to a programming word line selection voltage; setting the second control gate of the twin memory cell (i−1) and the first control gate of the twin memory cell (i) to a programming control gate voltage; setting the second control gate of the twin memory cell (i) and the first control gate of the twin memory cell (i+1) to an over-ride voltage; setting a bit line commonly connected to the second non-volatile memory element of the twin memory cell (i−1) and the first non-volatile memory element of the twin memory cell (i) to a programming bit line voltage; and setting a bit line connected to the first non-volatile memory element of the twin memory cell (i−1) to a voltage higher than 0 V.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 203 words
A programming method for a non-volatile semiconductor memory device in which a plurality of twin memory cells, each having one word gate and first and second non-volatile memory elements controlled by first and second control gates, are arranged and, from among three adjacent twin memory cells (i−1), (i) and (i+1) whose word gates are connected to one word line, data for the first non-volatile memory element of the twin memory cell (i) is programmed, said method comprising: setting the word line to a programming word line selection voltage; setting the second control gate of the twin memory cell (i−1) and the first control gate of the twin memory cell (i) to a programming control gate voltage; setting the second control gate of the twin memory cell (i) and the first control gate of the twin memory cell (i+1) to an over-ride voltage; setting a bit line commonly connected to the second non-volatile memory element of the twin memory cell (i−1) and the first non-volatile memory element of the twin memory cell (i) to a programming bit line voltage; and setting a bit line connected to the first non-volatile memory element of the twin memory cell (i−1) to a voltage higher than 0 V.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 47 words
The programming method for a non-volatile semiconductor memory device according to claim 6 , wherein the bit line connected to the first nonvolatile memory element of the twin memory cell (i−1) is set to a voltage equal to or greater than the programming word line selection voltage.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 51 words
The programming method for a non-volatile semiconductor memory device according to claim 6 , wherein the bit line commonly connected to the second non-volatile memory element of the twin memory cell (i) and the first non-volatile memory element of the twin memory cell (i+1) is connected to a constant current source.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 68 words
The programming method for a non-volatile semiconductor memory device according to claim 6 , wherein the programming word line selection voltage is set to a voltage that is high enough to be able to cause a current greater than a current provided by the constant current source to flow between a source and a drain of the twin memory cell including the non-volatile memory element to be programmed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 56 words
The programming method for a non-volatile semiconductor memory device according to claim 6 , wherein each of the first and second non-volatile memory elements includes an ONO film formed from an oxide film (O), a nitride film (N), and an oxide film (O) as a charge trap site, wherein data is programmed at the trap site.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2006-06-30 2006-12-30 2007-07-01 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2010-06-30 2010-12-30 2011-07-01 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2014-06-30 2014-12-30 2015-07-01 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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