US6587381B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Programming method for non-volatile semiconductor memory device
Assignee: Seiko Epson Corp
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Filing: 2001-09-19
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Granted: 2003-07-01
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Expires: 2021-09-19
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.
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