Patents Examined by A. Zarabim
  • Patent number: 5978265
    Abstract: An electrically erasable programmable read-only memory is disclosed which has programmable memory cells connected to parallel bit lines provided above a semiconductor substrate. The memory cells include NAND cell blocks each of which has a series array of memory cell transistors. Parallel word lines are connected to the control gates of the memory cell transistors, respectively. In a data write mode, a selection transistor in a certain NAND cell block including a selected memory cell is rendered conductive to connect the certain cell block to a corresponding bit line associated therewith. Under such a condition, electrons are tunnel-injected into a floating gate of the selected memory cell transistor, and the threshold value of the certain transistor is increased to be a positive value. A logical data is thus written in the selected memory cell transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Ryouhei Kirisawa, Riichiro Shirota, Ryozo Nakayama, Seiichi Aritome, Masaki Momodomi, Yasuo Itoh, Fujio Masuoka