Patents Assigned to Programmable Microelectronics Corporation
  • Patent number: 5706227
    Abstract: A P-channel MOS memory cell has P+ source and drain regions formed in an N-well. A thin tunnel oxide is provided between the well surface and an overlying floating gate. In one embodiment, the thin tunnel oxide extends over a substantial portion of the active region and the device. An overlying select and control gate is insulated from the floating gate by an insulating layer. The select and control gate including an elongated extension portion for preventing overprogramming of the circuit. The device is programmed via hot electron injection from the drain end of the channel region to the floating gate, without avalanche breakdown, which allows the cell to be bit-selectable during programming. Erasing is accomplished by electron tunneling from the floating gate to the N-well with the source, drain, and N-well regions equally biased. Since there is no high drain/well junction bias voltage, the channel length of the cell may be reduced without incurring and destructive junction stress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignee: Programmable Microelectronics Corporation
    Inventors: Shang-De Ted Chang, Jayson Trinh
  • Patent number: 5691939
    Abstract: A P-channel MOS memory cell has P+ source and drain regions formed in an N-well. A thin runnel oxide is provided between the well surface and an overlying floating gate. In one embodiment, the thin tunnel oxide extends over a substantial portion of the active region and the device. An overlying control gate is insulated from the floating gate by a first insulating layer. An overlying select gate is insulated from the control gate by an insulating layer. The select gate includes an elongated extension portion for preventing overprogramming of the circuit. The device is programmed via hot electron injection from the drain end of the channel region to the floating gate, without avalanche breakdown, which allows the cell to be bit-selectable during programming. Erasing is accomplished by electron tunneling from the floating gate to the N-well with the source, drain, and N-well regions equally biased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: Programmable Microelectronics Corporation
    Inventors: Shang-De Ted Chang, Jayson Trinh
  • Patent number: 5687118
    Abstract: A P-channel MOS memory cell has P+ source and drain regions formed in an N-well. A thin tunnel oxide is provided between the well surface and an overlying floating gate. In one embodiment, the thin tunnel oxide extends over a substantial portion of the active region and the device. An overlying control gate is insulated from the floating gate by an insulating layer. The device is programmed via hot electron injection from the drain end of the channel region to the floating gate, without avalanche breakdown, which allows the cell to be bit-selectable during programming. Erasing is accomplished by electron tunneling from the floating gate to the N-well with the source, drain, and N-well regions equally biased. Since there is no high drain/well junction bias voltage, the channel length of the cell may be reduced without incurring and destructive junction stress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: Programmable Microelectronics Corporation
    Inventor: Shang-De Ted Chang
  • Patent number: 5666307
    Abstract: A P-channel flash EEPROM cell has P+ source and P+ drain regions, and a channel extending therebetween, formed in an N-type well. A thin layer of tunnel oxide is provided over the channel. A poly-silicon floating gate and poly-silicon control gate, separated by a dielectric layer, overlie the tunnel oxide. Programming is accomplished via hot electron injection while erasing is realized by electron tunneling. The threshold voltage of the cell may be precisely controlled by the magnitude of voltage coupled to the floating gate during programming. Since the injection of hot electrons into the floating gate is independent of variations in the thickness of the tunnel oxide layer and the coupling ratio between the floating gate and the control gate, programming operations and data retention are not affected by process variations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Assignee: Programmable Microelectronics Corporation
    Inventor: Shang-De Ted Chang