Patents by Inventor A. Peter Cosmin

A. Peter Cosmin has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8750041
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory including one or more EEPROM cell pairs. Each EEPROM cell pair includes three transistors and stores two data bits, effectively providing a 1.5 transistor EEPROM cell. An EEPROM cell pair includes a first non-volatile memory transistor connected to a first bit line, a second non-volatile memory transistor connected to a second bit line, and a source access transistor coupled to common source line. The source access transistor includes: a first diffusion region continuous with a source region of the first non-volatile memory transistor and a second diffusion region continuous with a source region of the second non-volatile memory transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Sorin S. Georgescu, A. Peter Cosmin, George Smarandoiu
  • Publication number: 20120140565
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory including one or more EEPROM cell pairs. Each EEPROM cell pair includes three transistors and stores two data bits, effectively providing a 1.5 transistor EEPROM cell. An EEPROM cell pair includes a first non-volatile memory transistor connected to a first bit line, a second non-volatile memory transistor connected to a second bit line, and a source access transistor coupled to common source line. The source access transistor includes: a first diffusion region continuous with a source region of the first non-volatile memory transistor and a second diffusion region continuous with a source region of the second non-volatile memory transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: Semiconductor Components Industries, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Sorin S. Georgescu, A. Peter Cosmin, George Smarandoiu
  • Patent number: 8139408
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory including one or more EEPROM cell pairs. Each EEPROM cell pair includes three transistors and stores two data bits, effectively providing a 1.5 transistor EEPROM cell. An EEPROM cell pair includes a first non-volatile memory transistor, a second non-volatile memory transistor and a source access transistor. The source access transistor includes: a first source region continuous with a source region of the first non-volatile memory transistor; a second source region continuous with a source region of the second non-volatile memory transistor, and a third source region continuous with source regions of other non-volatile memory transistors located in the same row as the EEPROM cell pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Sorin S. Georgescu, Peter Cosmin, George Smarandoiu
  • Patent number: 8093650
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory (NVM) system includes a plurality of NVM cells fabricated in a dual-well structure. Each NVM cell includes an access transistor and an NVM transistor, wherein the access transistor has a drain region that is continuous with a source region of the NVM transistor. The drain regions of each NVM transistor in a column of the array are commonly connected to a corresponding bit line. The control gates of each NVM transistor in a row of the array are commonly connected to a corresponding word line. The source regions of each of the access transistors in the array are commonly coupled. The NVM cells are programmed and erased without having to apply the high programming voltage VPP across the gate dielectric layers of the access transistors. As a result, the NVM cells can be scaled down to sub-0.35 micron geometries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Sorin S. Georgescu, A. Peter Cosmin
  • Patent number: 7920424
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory (NVM) system includes a plurality of NVM cells fabricated in a dual-well structure. Each NVM cell includes an access transistor and an NVM transistor, wherein the access transistor has a drain region that is continuous with a source region of the NVM transistor. The drain regions of each NVM transistor in a column of the array are commonly connected to a corresponding bit line. The control gates of each NVM transistor in a row of the array are commonly connected to a corresponding word line. The source regions of each of the access transistors in the array are commonly coupled. The NVM cells are programmed and erased without having to apply the high programming voltage VPP across the gate dielectric layers of the access transistors. As a result, the NVM cells can be scaled down to sub-0.35 micron geometries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Sorin S. Georgescu, A. Peter Cosmin
  • Patent number: 7830714
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory (NVM) system includes a set of NVM cells, each including: a NVM transistor; an access transistor coupling the NVM transistor to a corresponding bit line; and a source select transistor coupling the NVM transistor to a common source. The NVM cells are written by a two-phase operation that includes an erase phase and a program phase. A common set of bit line voltages are applied to the bit lines during both the erase and programming phases. The access transistors are turned on and the source select transistors are turned off during the erase and programming phases. A first control voltage is applied to the control gates of the NVM transistors during the erase phase, and a second control voltage is applied to the control gates of the NVM transistors during the program phase. Under these conditions, the average required number of Fowler-Nordheim tunneling operations is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, L.L.C.
    Inventors: A. Peter Cosmin, Sorin S. Georgescu, George Smarandoiu, Adrian M. Tache
  • Patent number: 7528436
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory including one or more EEPROM cell pairs. Each EEPROM cell pair includes three transistors and stores two data bits, effectively providing a 1.5 transistor EEPROM cell. An EEPROM cell pair includes a first non-volatile memory transistor, a second non-volatile memory transistor and a source access transistor. The source access transistor includes: a first source region continuous with a source region of the first non-volatile memory transistor; a second source region continuous with a source region of the second non-volatile memory transistor, and a drain region that extends downward through a first well region to contact a second well region. The first, second and third semiconductor regions and the second well region have a first conductivity type, and the first well region has a second conductivity type, opposite the first conductivity type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Catalyst Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Sorin S. Georgescu, Adam Peter Cosmin, George Smarandoiu
  • Publication number: 20090003074
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory (NVM) system includes a plurality of NVM cells fabricated in a dual-well structure. Each NVM cell includes an access transistor and an NVM transistor, wherein the access transistor has a drain region that is continuous with a source region of the NVM transistor. The drain regions of each NVM transistor in a column of the array are commonly connected to a corresponding bit line. The control gates of each NVM transistor in a row of the array are commonly connected to a corresponding word line. The source regions of each of the access transistors in the array are commonly coupled. The NVM cells are programmed and erased without having to apply the high programming voltage VPP across the gate dielectric layers of the access transistors. As a result, the NVM cells can be scaled down to sub-0.35 micron geometries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2008
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: Catalyst Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Sorin S. Georgescu, A. Peter Cosmin
  • Publication number: 20080291729
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory (NVM) system includes a set of NVM cells, each including: a NVM transistor; an access transistor coupling the NVM transistor to a corresponding bit line; and a source select transistor coupling the NVM transistor to a common source. The NVM cells are written by a two-phase operation that includes an erase phase and a program phase. A common set of bit line voltages are applied to the bit lines during both the erase and programming phases. The access transistors are turned on and the source select transistors are turned off during the erase and programming phases. A first control voltage is applied to the control gates of the NVM transistors during the erase phase, and a second control voltage is applied to the control gates of the NVM transistors during the program phase. Under these conditions, the average required number of Fowler-Nordheim tunneling operations is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Applicant: Catalyst Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: A. Peter Cosmin, Sorin S. Georgescu, George Smarandoiu, Adrian M. Tache
  • Publication number: 20080165582
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory including one or more EEPROM cell pairs. Each EEPROM cell pair includes three transistors and stores two data bits, effectively providing a 1.5 transistor EEPROM cell. An EEPROM cell pair includes a first non-volatile memory transistor, a second non-volatile memory transistor and a source access transistor. The source access transistor includes: a first source region continuous with a source region of the first non-volatile memory transistor; a second source region continuous with a source region of the second non-volatile memory transistor, and a third source region continuous with source regions of other non-volatile memory transistors located in the same row as the EEPROM cell pair.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2008
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: CATALYST SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Sorin S. Georgescu, Peter Cosmin, George Smarandoiu
  • Publication number: 20080054336
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory including one or more EEPROM cell pairs. Each EEPROM cell pair includes three transistors and stores two data bits, effectively providing a 1.5 transistor EEPROM cell. An EEPROM cell pair includes a first non-volatile memory transistor, a second non-volatile memory transistor and a source access transistor. The source access transistor includes: a first source region continuous with a source region of the first non-volatile memory transistor; a second source region continuous with a source region of the second non-volatile memory transistor, and a drain region that extends downward through a first well region to contact a second well region. The first, second and third semiconductor regions and the second well region have a first conductivity type, and the first well region has a second conductivity type, opposite the first conductivity type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2006
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Inventors: Sorin S. Georgescu, Adam Peter Cosmin, Georga Smarandoiu
  • Patent number: 6865113
    Abstract: Circuitry for programming a non-volatile memory of an integrated circuit is disclosed. The circuitry requires only three pins: a power pin, a ground pin, and a data pin. Programming mode is initiated by coincidentally applying high voltages at the power pin and the data pin. The memory cells may be programmed individually in sequence, or all at once. A clock signal for selecting the memory cells is obtained through serial high voltage pulses applied to the power pin. The clock signal increments a state machine, which in turn causes one or more of the memory cells to be selected. Binary data is provided to the data pin, is stored, and is then provided to the memory cells. A high voltage pulse subsequently received at the data pin is passed to the memory cells, and causes the stored data to be programmed into the selected memory cell(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Catalyst Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Gelu Voicu, Carmen M. Stangu, Adam Peter Cosmin