IP Library Granted Patent US 7,286,411
Granted Patent B2
US 7,286,411 · App. 11/167,984 · Granted Oct 23, 2007

Row decoder circuit for use in non-volatile memory device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,286,411
App. No.
11/167,984
Granted
Oct 23, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention disclosed herein is a non-volatile memory device. The non-volatile memory device comprises: a first transistor connected between a first voltage and a control node, and controlled by a second voltage; a second transistor connected between the first voltage and the control node, and controlled by a third voltage, and a word line driver for driving a word line in responsive to a voltage of the control node. The second voltage is set to a ground voltage during an erase operation. The third voltage is set to a power voltage during the erase operation.

Claims (35)

1. A row decoder circuit for use in a non-volatile memory device capable of operating in read, program, and erase modes, comprising:

a first transistor connected between a first voltage and a control node, and controlled by a second voltage;

a second transistor connected between the first voltage and the control node, and controlled by a third voltage; and

a word line driver for driving a word line responsive to a voltage of the control node,

wherein during an erase operation, the second voltage is set to a ground voltage and the third voltage is set to a power voltage.

2. The row decoder circuit of claim 1 , wherein the third voltage is set to the ground voltage during residual operations except the erase operation.

3. The row decoder circuit of claim 1 , further comprising a switch for connecting the control node to one of the ground voltage and the power voltage responsive to selection signals during read and program operations.

4. The row decoder circuit of claim 3 , wherein the switch comprises a first switch transistor connected in series with a second switch transistor.

5. The row decoder circuit of claim 1 , wherein the first transistor is a PMOS transistor, and the second transistor is a NMOS transistor.

6. The row decoder circuit of claim 1 , wherein the first voltage is set to a ground voltage, 10V, and 5V during the erase operation, the program operation, and the read operation, respectively.

7. The row decoder circuit of claim 1 , wherein the second voltage is set to a ground voltage during the read operation, and wherein the second voltage is set to a voltage lower than the first voltage during the program operation.

8. A method of operating a row decoder circuit for use in a non-volatile memory device, comprising:

controlling a first transistor, the first transistor connected between a first voltage and a control node, by a second voltage;

controlling a second transistor, the second connected between the first voltage and the control node, by a third voltage;

driving a word line responsive to a voltage of the control node;

setting the second voltage to a ground voltage during a read operation; and

setting the second voltage to a voltage lower than the first voltage during a program operation.

9. The method of claim 8 , during an erase operation, comprising:

setting the second voltage to a ground voltage; and

setting the third voltage to a power voltage.

10. The method of claim 8 , during read and program operations, comprising:

connecting the control node to one of the ground voltage and the power voltage responsive to selection signals.

11. The method of claim 8 , comprising:

setting the third voltage to the ground voltage during residual operations except the erase operation.

12. The method of claim 8 , comprising setting the first voltage to a ground voltage, 10V, and 5V during an erase operation, a program operation, and a read operation, respectively.

13. A row decoder circuit for use in a non-volatile memory device capable of operating in read, program, and erase modes, comprising:

a first PMOS transistor connected between a first voltage and a control node, and controlled by a second voltage;

a second NMOS transistor connected between the first voltage and the control node, and controlled by a third voltage; and

a word line driver for driving a word line responsive to a voltage of the control node.

14. The row decoder circuit of claim 13 , wherein during an erase operation, the second voltage is set to a ground voltage and the third voltage is set to a power voltage.

15. The row decoder circuit of claim 13 , wherein the third voltage is set to the ground voltage during residual operations except the erase operation.

16. The row decoder circuit of claim 13 , further comprising a switch for connecting the control node to one of the ground voltage and the power voltage responsive to selection signals during read and program operations.

17. The row decoder circuit of claim 16 , wherein the switch comprises a first switch transistor connected in series with a second switch transistor.

18. The row decoder circuit of claim 13 , wherein the first voltage is set to a ground voltage, 10V, and 5V during the erase operation, the program operation, and the read operation, respectively.

19. The row decoder circuit of claim 13 , wherein the second voltage is set to a ground voltage during the read operation, and wherein the second voltage is set to a voltage lower than the first voltage during the program operation.

Assignments (9)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNEE NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 053654 FRAME: 0254. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Nov 15, 2021
From: STARBOARD VALUE INTERMEDIATE FUND LP, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: UNIFICATION TECHNOLOGIES LLC
Reel/Frame 058134/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNOR NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 052853 FRAME: 0153. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT. Recorded Nov 15, 2021
From: UNIFICATION TECHNOLOGIES LLC
To: STARBOARD VALUE INTERMEDIATE FUND LP, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 058223/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Jul 8, 2020
From: STARBOARD VALUE INTERMEDIATE FUND LP
To: ACACIA RESEARCH GROUP LLC; AMERICAN VEHICULAR SCIENCES LLC; BONUTTI SKELETAL INNOVATIONS LLC; CELLULAR COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT LLC; INNOVATIVE DISPLAY TECHNOLOGIES LLC; LIFEPORT SCIENCES LLC; LIMESTONE MEMORY SYSTEMS LLC; MOBILE ENHANCEMENT SOLUTIONS LLC; MONARCH NETWORKING SOLUTIONS LLC; NEXUS DISPLAY TECHNOLOGIES LLC; PARTHENON UNIFIED MEMORY ARCHITECTURE LLC; R2 SOLUTIONS LLC; SAINT LAWRENCE COMMUNICATIONS LLC; STINGRAY IP SOLUTIONS LLC; SUPER INTERCONNECT TECHNOLOGIES LLC; TELECONFERENCE SYSTEMS LLC; UNIFICATION TECHNOLOGIES LLC
Reel/Frame 053654/0254 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 5, 2020
From: ACACIA RESEARCH GROUP LLC; AMERICAN VEHICULAR SCIENCES LLC; BONUTTI SKELETAL INNOVATIONS LLC; CELLULAR COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT LLC; INNOVATIVE DISPLAY TECHNOLOGIES LLC; LIFEPORT SCIENCES LLC; LIMESTONE MEMORY SYSTEMS LLC; MERTON ACQUISITION HOLDCO LLC; MOBILE ENHANCEMENT SOLUTIONS LLC; MONARCH NETWORKING SOLUTIONS LLC; NEXUS DISPLAY TECHNOLOGIES LLC; PARTHENON UNIFIED MEMORY ARCHITECTURE LLC; R2 SOLUTIONS LLC; SAINT LAWRENCE COMMUNICATIONS LLC; STINGRAY IP SOLUTIONS LLC; SUPER INTERCONNECT TECHNOLOGIES LLC; TELECONFERENCE SYSTEMS LLC; UNIFICATION TECHNOLOGIES LLC
To: STARBOARD VALUE INTERMEDIATE FUND LP, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 052853/0153 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 5, 2020
From: ACACIA RESEARCH GROUP LLC
To: UNIFICATION TECHNOLOGIES LLC
Reel/Frame 052096/0225 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 5, 2020
From: FIO SEMICONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
To: ACACIA RESEARCH GROUP LLC
Reel/Frame 052095/0903 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INCORRECT DOCUMENT ATTACHED PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 047702 FRAME 0815. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Apr 16, 2019
From: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
To: FIO SEMICONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 048917/0927 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 7, 2018
From: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
To: FIO SEMICONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 047702/0815 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 17, 2005
From: PARK, JIN-SUNG; KIM, MYONG-JAE; LEE, SEUNG-KEUN
To: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 016645/0761 →