IP Library Granted Patent US 9,818,484
Granted Patent B2
US 9,818,484 · App. 15/466,593 · Granted Nov 14, 2017

Systems, methods, and apparatus for memory cells with common source lines

Inventors: Xiaojun Yu (Shanghai, CN); Venkatraman Prabhakar (Pleasanton, CA); Igor G. Kouznetsov (San Francisco, CA); Long T Hinh (San Jose, CA); Bo Jin (Cupertino, CA)
Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
G11C16/10G11C16/0466G11C16/08G11C16/14G11C16/26
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,818,484
App. No.
15/466,593
Granted
Nov 14, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatus are disclosed for implementing memory cells having common source lines. The methods may include receiving a first voltage at a first transistor. The first transistor may be coupled to a second transistor and included in a first memory cell. The methods include receiving a second voltage at a third transistor. The third transistor may be coupled to a fourth transistor and included in a second memory cell. The first and second memory cells may be coupled to a common source line. The methods include receiving a third voltage at a gate of the second transistor and a gate of the fourth transistor that may cause them to operate in cutoff mode. The methods may include receiving a fourth voltage at a gate of the first transistor. The fourth voltage may cause a change in a charge storage layer included in the first transistor.

Claims (15)

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a first cell including a first control gate and a first select gate;

a second cell including a second control gate and a second select gate;

a third cell including a third control gate and a third select gate;

a fourth cell including a fourth control gate and a fourth select gate,

wherein,

the first, second, third, and fourth cells share a common source line,

the first and second cells share a first select gate line and a first control gate line,

the third and fourth cells share a second select gate line and a second control gate line,

the first and third cells share a first bit line, and the second and the fourth cells share a second bit lines, and

the first and second select gate lines and control gate lines, and the common source line extend perpendicularly to the first and second bit lines.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first and second select gate lines and control gate lines, and the common source line are disposed on a same level.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first and second bit lines are disposed on a same level, overlying the first and second select gate lines and control gate lines, and the common source line.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the common source line is electrically coupled to the first and third cells, and the second and fourth cells via first and second contacts, respectively.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the first bit line is electrically coupled to the first cell via a first via, a bit line contact region, and a bit line contact, and wherein the bit line contact region is disposed at the same level as the first and second select gate lines and control gate lines, and the common source line.

Assignments (4)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 7, 2019
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION; SPANSION LLC
Reel/Frame 049109/0573 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 4, 2019
From: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
To: LONGITUDE FLASH MEMORY SOLUTIONS LTD.
Reel/Frame 049086/0803 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 27, 2017
From: YU, XIAOJUN; JIN, BO; PRABHAKAR, VENKATRAMAN; KOUZNETSOV, IGOR; HINH, LONG
To: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 042160/0921 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 25, 2017
From: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION; SPANSION LLC
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 042326/0396 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 15271028 · Sep 20, 2016
Continuation 14618815 · Feb 10, 2015
Continuation 14316615 · Jun 26, 2014
Provisional Application 61910764 · Dec 2, 2013
Related Publication 20170278573A1 · Sep 28, 2017