IP Library Granted Patent US 7,355,893
Granted Patent B2
US 7,355,893 · App. 11/135,560 · Granted Apr 8, 2008

Semiconductor memory device and method for writing to semiconductor memory device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,355,893
App. No.
11/135,560
Granted
Apr 8, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

The semiconductor memory device comprising: an n-channel memory cell transistor including: a first diffused region and a second diffused region formed in a semiconductor substrate; a charge storage layer formed over the semiconductor substrate between the first diffused region and the second diffused region; and a gate electrode formed over the charge storage layer; a power supply circuit formed on the semiconductor substrate, the power supply circuit being connectable to the first diffused region, pumping a voltage supplied from an outside power supply and outputting the pumped voltage; and writing means which, upon writing to the n-channel memory cell transistor, applies a reference voltage to the second diffused region, and applies a negative voltage with respective to the reference voltage supplied from the power supply circuit to the first diffused region to thereby flow current between the first diffused region and the second diffused region and to store charges in the charge storage layer.

Claims (54)

1. A semiconductor memory device comprising:

an n-channel memory cell transistor including: a first diffused region and a second diffused region formed in a semiconductor substrate; a charge storage layer formed over the semiconductor substrate between the first diffused region and the second diffused region; and a gate electrode formed over the charge storage layer;

a power supply circuit formed on the semiconductor substrate and connected to the first diffused region, the power supply circuit, pumping a voltage supplied from an outside power supply and outputting the pumped voltage; and

writing means which, upon writing to the n-channel memory cell transistor, applies a ground voltage to the second diffused region, and applies a negative voltage supplied from the power supply circuit to the first diffused region to thereby flow current between the first diffused region and the second diffused region and to store charges in the charge storage layer.

2. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1 , wherein

the power supply circuit is connected to the gate electrode.

3. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1 , wherein

the first diffused region is connected to the power supply circuit via a bit line, and

the second diffused region is connected to the ground voltage via a source line.

4. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 1 , wherein,

the first diffused region is connected to the power supply circuit via a source line, and

the second diffused region is connected to the ground voltage via a bit line.

5. A method for writing to a semiconductor memory device comprising an n-channel memory cell transistor including a first diffused region and a second diffused region formed in a semiconductor substrate, a charge storage layer formed over the semiconductor substrate between the first diffused region and the second diffused region, and a gate electrode formed over the charge storage layer; and a power supply circuit formed on the semiconductor substrate, the power supply circuit being connected to the first diffused region, pumping a voltage supplied from an outside power supply and outputting the pumped voltage, comprising:

applying a ground voltage to the second diffused region, supplying a negative voltage from the power supply circuit, and applying the negative voltage to the first diffused region, whereby current is flowed between the first diffused region and the second diffused region, and charges are stored in the charge storage layer.

6. The method for writing to a semiconductor memory device according to claim 5 , wherein

a negative voltage is applied to the gate electrode to thereby execute a write-back programming in the n-channel memory cell transistor.

7. The method for writing to a semiconductor memory device according to claim 6 , wherein

the negative voltage supplied from the power supply circuit is applied to the gate electrode.

8. The method for writing to a semiconductor memory device according to claim 5 , wherein

a positive voltage is applied to the gate electrode to thereby write a memory information in the n-channel memory cell transistor.

9. The method for writing to a semiconductor memory device according to claim 5 , wherein

the negative voltage is applied to the first diffused region via a bit line, and

the ground voltage is applied to the second diffused region via a source line.

10. The method for writing to the semiconductor memory device according to claim 5 , wherein

the negative voltage is applied to the first diffused region via a source line, and

the ground voltage is applied to the second diffused region via a bit line.

11. The method for writing to a semiconductor memory device according to claim 5 , wherein

the n-channel memory cell transistor is formed in a p-well formed in an n-well formed in the semiconductor substrate, and

a negative voltage supplied from another power supply circuit which is different from said the power supply circuit is applied to the p-well.

12. A semiconductor memory device comprising:

a p-channel memory cell transistor including: a first diffused region and a second diffused region formed in a semiconductor substrate; a charge storage layer formed over the semiconductor substrate between the first diffused region and the second diffused region; and a gate electrode formed over the charge storage layer;

a power supply circuit formed on the semiconductor substrate and connected to the first diffused region, the power supply circuit pumping a voltage supplied from an outside power supply and outputting the pumped voltage; and

writing means which, upon writing to the p-channel memory cell transistor, applies a ground voltage to the second diffused region, and applies a positive voltage supplied from the power supply circuit to the first diffused region to thereby flow current between the first diffused region and the second diffused region and to store charges in the charge storage layer.

13. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 12 , wherein the power supply circuit is connected to the gate electrode.

14. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 12 , wherein the first diffused region is connected to the power supply circuit via a bit line, and the second diffused region is connected to the ground voltage via a source line.

15. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 12 , wherein,

the first diffused region is connected to the power supply circuit via a source line, and

the second diffused region is connected to the ground voltage via a bit line.

16. A method for writing to a semiconductor memory device comprising a p-channel memory cell transistor including a first diffused region and a second diffused region formed in a semiconductor substrate, a charge storage layer formed over the semiconductor substrate between the first diffused region and the second diffused region, and a gate electrode formed over the charge storage layer; and a power supply circuit formed on the semiconductor substrate, the power supply circuit being connected to the first diffused region, pumping a voltage supplied from an outside power supply and outputting the pumped voltage, comprising:

applying a ground voltage to the second diffused region, supplying a positive voltage from the power supply circuit, and applying the positive voltage to the first diffused region, whereby current is flowed between the first diffused region and the second diffused region, and charges are stored in the charge storage layer.

17. The method for writing to a semiconductor memory device according to claim 16 , wherein

a positive voltage is applied to the gate electrode to thereby execute a write-back programming in the p-channel memory cell transistor.

18. The method for writing to a semiconductor memory device according to claim 17 , wherein

the positive voltage supplied from the power supply circuit is applied to the gate electrode.

19. The method for writing to a semiconductor memory device according to claim 16 , wherein

the positive voltage is applied to the first diffused region via a bit line, and the ground voltage is applied to the second diffused region via a source line.

20. The method for writing to the semiconductor memory device according to claim 16 , wherein

the positive voltage is applied to the first diffused region via a source line, and

the ground voltage is applied to the second diffused region via a bit line.

21. The method for writing to a semiconductor memory device according to claim 16 , wherein

the p-channel memory cell transistor is formed in a n-well formed in an p-well formed in the semiconductor substrate, and

a positive voltage supplied from another power supply circuit which is different from said the power supply circuit is applied to the n-well.

22. The method for writing to a semiconductor memory device according to claim 16 , wherein

a negative voltage is applied to the gate electrode to thereby write a memory information in the p-channel memory cell transistor.

Assignments (9)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 17, 2025
From: FUJITSU LIMITED
To: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
Reel/Frame 073964/0516 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 27, 2024
From: FUJITSU LIMITED
To: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
Reel/Frame 069454/0333 →
MERGER Recorded May 24, 2023
From: FUJITSU SEMICONDUCTOR LIMITED
To: FUJITSU LIMITED
Reel/Frame 064221/0545 →
CHANGE OF NAME AND CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Jul 16, 2020
From: AIZU FUJITSU SEMICONDUCTOR LIMITED
To: FUJITSU SEMICONDUCTOR LIMITED
Reel/Frame 053481/0962 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 14, 2020
From: FUJITSU SEMICONDUCTOR LIMITED
To: AIZU FUJITSU SEMICONDUCTOR LIMITED
Reel/Frame 053209/0468 →
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Dec 23, 2016
From: FUJITSU SEMICONDUCTOR LIMITED
To: FUJITSU SEMICONDUCTOR LIMITED
Reel/Frame 041188/0401 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 9, 2010
From: FUJITSU MICROELECTRONICS LIMITED
To: FUJITSU SEMICONDUCTOR LIMITED
Reel/Frame 024651/0744 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 9, 2008
From: FUJITSU LIMITED
To: FUJITSU MICROELECTRONICS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 021976/0089 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 24, 2005
From: EMA, TAIJI
To: FUJITSU LIMITED
Reel/Frame 016600/0316 →