IP Library Granted Patent US 7,286,407
Granted Patent B2
US 7,286,407 · App. 11/261,743 · Granted Oct 23, 2007

Semiconductor device and method for controlling the same

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,286,407
App. No.
11/261,743
Granted
Oct 23, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

A semiconductor device includes a program voltage supply circuit that supplies a drain of a memory cell with a program voltage, and a pull-down circuit that pulls down a potential of an output of the program voltage supply circuit in accordance with a current that flows in a data bus line connected to the memory cell. The semiconductor device may include a program voltage restrain circuit that restrains an intensity of supply of the program voltage by the program voltage supply circuit.

Claims (20)

1. A semiconductor device comprising:

a program voltage supply circuit that supplies a drain of a memory cell with a program voltage; and

a pull-down circuit that pulls down a potential of an output of the program voltage supply circuit in accordance with a current that flows in a data bus line connected to the memory cell, further comprising a program voltage restrain circuit that restrains an intensity of supply of the program voltage by the program voltage supply circuit.

2. The semiconductor device claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

a resistive element interposed between the output of the program voltage supply circuit and the data bus line; and

a comparator circuit that determines that a potential difference across the resistive element becomes lower than a reference voltage.

3. The semiconductor device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the program voltage supply circuit comprises a transistor that outputs the program voltage.

4. The semiconductor device as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

a resistive element interposed between the output of the program voltage supply circuit and the data bus line; and

a comparator circuit that determines that a potential difference across the resistive element becomes lower than a reference voltage,

the pull-down circuit being controlled by an output signal of the comparator circuit.

5. The semiconductor device as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

a resistive element interposed between the output of the program voltage supply circuit and the data bus line; and

a comparator circuit that determines that a potential difference across the resistive element becomes lower than a reference voltage,

the program voltage restrain circuit being controlled by an output signal of the comparator circuit.

6. The semiconductor device as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the transistor of the program voltage supply circuit has a gate controlled by an output signal of the comparator circuit.

7. The semiconductor device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the resistive element comprises a transistor.

8. The semiconductor device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the resistive element comprises a resistor of polysilicon.

9. The semiconductor device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the pull-down circuit comprises a transistor connected between the output of the program voltage supply circuit and ground.

10. The semiconductor device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the memory cell is a non-volatile memory having a charge storage layer.

Assignments (8)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE 8647899 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 035240 FRAME 0429. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTERST. Recorded Nov 3, 2020
From: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION; SPANSION LLC
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 058002/0470 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 14, 2016
From: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
To: MONTEREY RESEARCH, LLC
Reel/Frame 040911/0238 →
PARTIAL RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Aug 11, 2016
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION; SPANSION LLC
Reel/Frame 039708/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 30, 2015
From: SPANSION, LLC
To: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 036036/0738 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 21, 2015
From: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION; SPANSION LLC
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 035240/0429 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 13, 2015
From: BARCLAYS BANK PLC
To: SPANSION LLC; SPANSION INC.; SPANSION TECHNOLOGY LLC
Reel/Frame 035201/0159 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 4, 2010
From: SPANSION LLC; SPANSION INC.; SPANSION TECHNOLOGY INC.; SPANSION TECHNOLOGY LLC
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC
Reel/Frame 024522/0338 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 28, 2005
From: NAKAI, TSUTOMU; KUROSAKI, KAZUHIDE
To: SPANSION LLC
Reel/Frame 017165/0725 →