Patents by Inventor Mervyn Wong

Mervyn Wong 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: 6818491
    Abstract: In the present invention a method is shown that uses three concurrent word line voltages in memory cell operations of an a NOR type EEPROM flash memory array. A first concurrent word line voltage controls the operation on a selected word line within a selected memory block. The second concurrent word line voltage inhibits cells on non selected word lines in the selected memory block, and the third concurrent word line voltage inhibits non-selected cells in non-selected blocks from disturb conditions. In addition the three consecutive word line voltages allow a block to be erased, pages within the block to be verified as erased, and pages within the block to be inhibited from further erasure. The three consecutive voltages also allow for the detection of over erasure of cells, correction on a page basis, and verification that the threshold voltage of the corrected cells are above an over erase value but below an erased value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Aplvs Flash Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter W. Lee, Hsing-Ya Tsao, Fu-Chang Hsu, Mervyn Wong
  • Patent number: 6777292
    Abstract: In the present invention a method is shown that uses three concurrent word line voltages in memory cell operations of an a NOR type EEPROM flash memory array. A first concurrent word line voltage controls the operation on a selected word line within a selected memory block. The second concurrent word line voltage inhibits cells on non selected word lines in the selected memory block, and the third concurrent word line voltage inhibits non-selected cells in non-selected blocks from disturb conditions. In addition the three consecutive word line voltages allow a block to be erased, pages within the block to be verified as erased, and pages within the block to be inhibited from further erasure. The three consecutive voltages also allow for the detection of over erasure of cells, correction on a page basis, and verification that the threshold voltage of the corrected cells are above an over erase value but below an erased value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Aplus Flash Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter W. Lee, Hsing-Ya Tsao, Fu-Chang Hsu, Mervyn Wong
  • Publication number: 20040029335
    Abstract: In the present invention a method is shown that uses three concurrent word line voltages in memory cell operations of an a NOR type EEPROM flash memory array. A first concurrent word line voltage controls the operation on a selected word line within a selected memory block. The second concurrent word line voltage inhibits cells on non selected word lines in the selected memory block, and the third concurrent word line voltage inhibits non-selected cells in non-selected blocks from disturb conditions. In addition the three consecutive word line voltages allow a block to be erased, pages within the block to be verified as erased, and pages within the block to be inhibited from further erasure. The three consecutive voltages also allow for the detection of over erasure of cells, correction on a page basis, and verification that the threshold voltage of the corrected cells are above an over erase value but below an erased value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Applicant: APLUS FLASH TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Peter W. Lee, Hsing-Ya Tsao, Fu-Chang Hsu, Mervyn Wong
  • Publication number: 20040027894
    Abstract: In the present invention a method is shown that uses three concurrent word line voltages in memory cell operations of an a NOR type EEPROM flash memory array. A first concurrent word line voltage controls the operation on a selected word line within a selected memory block. The second concurrent word line voltage inhibits cells on non selected word lines in the selected memory block, and the third concurrent word line voltage inhibits non-selected cells in non-selected blocks from disturb conditions. In addition the three consecutive word line voltages allow a block to be erased, pages within the block to be verified as erased, and pages within the block to be inhibited from further erasure. The three consecutive voltages also allow for the detection of over erasure of cells, correction on a page basis, and verification that the threshold voltage of the corrected cells are above an over erase value but below an erased value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Applicant: APLUS FLASH TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Peter W. Lee, Hsing-Ya Tsao, Fu-Chang Hsu, Mervyn Wong
  • Patent number: 6620682
    Abstract: In the present invention a method is shown that uses three concurrent word line voltages in memory cell operations of an a NOR type EEPROM flash memory array. A first concurrent word line voltage controls the operation on a selected word line within a selected memory block. The second concurrent word line voltage inhibits cells on non selected word lines in the selected memory block, and the third concurrent word line voltage inhibits non-selected cells in non-selected blocks from disturb conditions. In addition the three consecutive word line voltages allow a block to be erased, pages within the block to be verified as erased, and pages within the block to be inhibited from further erasure. The three consecutive voltages also allow for the detection of over erasure of cells, correction on a page basis, and verification that the threshold voltage of the corrected cells are above an over erase value but below an erased value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Aplus Flash Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter W. Lee, Hsing-Ya Tsao, Fu-Chang Hsu, Mervyn Wong
  • Patent number: 6556481
    Abstract: In the present invention a three step write of a nonvolatile single transistor cell is disclosed. The three steps comprise erasing, reverse programming and programming which can be applied to a plurality of cell types to produce a symmetrical design and allowing shrinkage of the cell beyond that which is possible with other cells designed to use a two step write procedure. The methodology can be applied to either N-channel or P-channel devices and can be used on various type memory cells such as “ETOX”, “NOR” type, “AND” type, and “OR” type. Erasing and programming steps increase the Vt of the cell transistor, whereas reverse programming decreases the Vt of the cell transistor. Over-erase problems are eliminated using the three step write procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Aplus Flash Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Fu-Chang Hsu, Hsing-Ya Tsao, Peter W. Lee, Mervyn Wong