IP Library Granted Patent US 7,376,019
Granted Patent B2
US 7,376,019 · App. 11/378,248 · Granted May 20, 2008

Nonvolatile semiconductor memory

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,376,019
App. No.
11/378,248
Granted
May 20, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

The nonvolatile semiconductor memory includes a plurality of memory devices for storing data, a write circuit for supplying a high voltage for data writing, a plurality of selectors connected between the write circuit and the plurality of memory devices, for selecting one from the plurality of memory devices; and a control circuit for selecting one from the plurality of selectors, inputting a control voltage to a control terminal of the selected selector, and setting a write voltage for the memory device according to the control voltage.

Claims (17)

1. Nonvolatile semiconductor memory comprising:

a plurality of memory devices for storing data;

a write circuit for supplying a high voltage for data writing;

a plurality of selectors connected between the write circuit and the plurality of memory devices, for selecting one from the plurality of memory devices; and

a control circuit for selecting one from the plurality of selectors, inputting a control voltage to a control terminal of the selected selector, and setting a write voltage for the memory device according to the control voltage.

2. The nonvolatile semiconductor memory according to claim 1 , wherein a drain voltage of the memory device is set according to the control voltage input to the selector and a threshold voltage of the selector.

3. The nonvolatile semiconductor memory according to claim 1 , wherein each selector includes a high order selector connected to the plurality of selectors in a subsequent stage and a low order selector connected to the plurality of memory devices in a subsequent stage.

4. The nonvolatile semiconductor memory according to claim 3 , further comprising a first control circuit for controlling a gate voltage of the high order selector and controlling a flow current into the memory device.

5. The nonvolatile semiconductor memory according to claim 3 , further comprising a second control circuit for controlling a gate voltage of the low order selector and controlling a flow current into the memory device.

6. The nonvolatile semiconductor memory according to claim 1 , further comprising a memory device capable of storing a plurality of pieces of data in one device, in which a flow current is controlled by the control circuit.

7. The nonvolatile semiconductor memory according to claim 1 ,

wherein, in data writing, said control circuit supplies a voltage lower than the write voltage to a control terminal of a selector selected from the plurality of selectors, and the voltage is supplied to a drain of the memory devices through the selected selector so as to select one from the memory devices.

8. The nonvolatile semiconductor memory according to claim 1 ,

wherein said control circuit controls a drain voltage of the selected memory device so as to be constant regardless of a distance between the plurality of memory devices and the write circuit.

9. The nonvolatile semiconductor memory according to claim 1 , wherein the write circuit receives a boost voltage and outputs the high voltage.

10. The nonvolatile semiconductor memory according to claim 1 , wherein the selector includes first and second selectors connected between the write circuit and the plurality of memory devices, from which a plurality of the selectors are selected in data writing so as to select one from the plurality of memory devices.

11. The nonvolatile semiconductor memory according to claim 1 , wherein the write voltage comprises a drain voltage of the selected memory device.

Assignments (4)
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Nov 29, 2017
From: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
To: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 044928/0001 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 4, 2010
From: NEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
To: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 025311/0815 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 20, 2006
From: HASHIMOTO, KIYOKAZU; SUGAWARA, HIROSHI
To: NEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 018032/0037 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 20, 2006
From: HASHIMOTO, KIYOKAZU; SUGAWARA, HIROSHI
To: NEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 017670/0004 →