IP Library Granted Patent US 7,889,568
Granted Patent B2
US 7,889,568 · App. 12/502,592 · Granted Feb 15, 2011

Memory, memory operating method, and memory system

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,889,568
App. No.
12/502,592
Granted
Feb 15, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A memory includes a plurality of memory cells each of which includes a memory transistor and a selection transistor; a control gate line; a selection gate line; a source line; a bit line; a first driver that sets the control gate line and the selection gate line at a first voltage in a program operation; a second driver that sets the source line at a second voltage in the program operation, and sets the source line at a third voltage higher than the second voltage while the control gate line and the selection gate line are set at the first voltage; and a third driver that sets the bit line at a fourth voltage after the source line is set at the second voltage, the bit line being coupled to a memory cell being programmed.

Claims (38)

1. A memory comprising:

a plurality of memory cells each of which includes a memory transistor and a selection transistor coupled to the memory transistor;

a control gate line commonly coupled to gates of the memory transistors;

a selection gate line commonly coupled to gates of the selection transistors;

a source line commonly coupled to the memory cells;

a bit line coupled to each of the memory cells;

a first driver that sets the control gate line and the selection gate line at a first voltage in a program operation of the memory cell;

a second driver that sets the source line at a second voltage in the program operation, and sets the source line at a third voltage higher than the second voltage while the control gate line and the selection gate line are set at the first voltage; and

a third driver that sets the bit line at a fourth voltage after the source line is set at the second voltage, the bit line being coupled to a memory cell being programmed.

2. The memory according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a precharge circuit that is disposed between the bit line and a precharge voltage line and turns on while a common precharge signal is activated; and

a precharge control circuit that activates the common precharge signal before the source line is set at the second voltage.

3. The memory according to claim 2 , wherein the precharge circuit sets the bit line at a precharge voltage, and

wherein the precharge voltage is substantially equal to or higher than a voltage obtained by subtracting a threshold voltage of the selection transistor from the first voltage.

4. The memory according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a column switch that is disposed between the third driver and the bit line and couples the third driver to one of the bit lines in response to an address signal.

5. The memory according to claim 1 , wherein the second voltage is substantially the same as the first voltage.

6. The memory according to claim 1 , wherein the first voltage, the second voltage, and the third voltage are a voltage on a high voltage side, and

wherein the fourth voltage is a voltage on a low voltage side.

7. A memory operating method comprising:

setting, in a program operation of a memory that includes a plurality of memory cells each of which includes a memory transistor and a selection transistor coupled to the memory transistor, a control gate line commonly coupled to gates of the memory transistors, a selection gate line commonly coupled to gates of the selection transistors, a source line commonly coupled to the memory cells, and a bit line coupled to each of the memory cells, the control gate line and the selection gate line at a first voltage;

setting the source line at a second voltage;

setting the source line at a third voltage higher than the second voltage while the control gate line and the selection gate line are set at the first voltage; and

setting the bit line at a fourth voltage after the source line is set at the second voltage, wherein the bit line is coupled to a memory cell being programmed.

8. The memory operating method according to claim 7 , further comprising:

turning on a precharge circuit disposed between the bit line and a precharge voltage line before at least the source line is set at the first voltage.

9. A memory system comprising:

a memory; and

a controller that accesses the memory,

wherein the memory includes:

a plurality of memory cells each of which includes a memory transistor and a selection transistor coupled to the memory transistor;

a control gate line commonly coupled to gates of the memory transistors;

a selection gate line commonly coupled to gates of the selection transistors;

a source line commonly coupled to the memory cells;

a bit line coupled to each of the memory cells;

a first driver that sets the control gate line and the selection gate line at a first voltage in a program operation of the memory cell;

a second driver that sets the source line at a second voltage in the program operation, and sets the source line at a third voltage higher than the second voltage while the control gate line and the selection gate line are set at the first voltage; and

a third driver that sets the bit line at a fourth voltage after the source line is set at the second voltage, the bit line being coupled to a memory cell being programmed.

Assignments (9)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 15, 2022
From: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
To: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES LLC
Reel/Frame 059721/0467 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 16, 2022
From: MUFG UNION BANK, N.A.
To: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION; SPANSION LLC
Reel/Frame 059410/0438 →
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 AND ASSUMPTION OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Recorded Oct 28, 2019
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: MUFG UNION BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 050896/0366 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 1, 2015
From: SPANSION, LLC
To: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 036050/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 21, 2015
From: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION; SPANSION LLC
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 035240/0429 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 11, 2013
From: FUJITSU SEMICONDUCTOR LIMITED
To: SPANSION LLC
Reel/Frame 031205/0461 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 22, 2010
From: FUJITSU MICROELECTRONICS LIMITED
To: FUJITSU SEMICONDUCTOR LIMITED
Reel/Frame 024748/0328 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 15, 2009
From: WATANABE, KEISUKE
To: FUJITSU MICROELECTRONICS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 022958/0236 →