Patent US4541073A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4541073A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Non-volatile flip-flop with a static resetting
Assignee: POUR L'ETUDE ET LA FABRICATION DE CIRCUITS INTEGRES SPECIAUX - EFCIS Ste
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Filing: 1982-09-28
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Granted: 1985-09-10
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Expires: 2002-09-28
Abstract
Abstract A flip-flop further comprising two branches with MNOS elements serially connected with P channel MOS transistors for permitting a non-volatile storing of the informations comprised in the flip-flop at a chosen storing time. The memorization of the state of the flip-flop can be made in a single cycle by acting on the control signal applied to the gate of the P channel transistors and on the supply voltage of the device. In the same way, the resetting can be made in a single cycle.
Inventors
- 👤 Jean-Michel Brice
- 👤 Patrick Maillart
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 15:32
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03K; H03K3/00; H03K3/02; H03K3/353; H03K3/356; H03K3/356008
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
167 words
A non-volatile storage device comprising: a MOS flip-flop circuit having complementary first and second outputs, a reference terminal and a supply terminal; first and second storage branches each comprising a series circuit of a non-volatile storage element and a switching element, said non-volatile storage element comprising a MOS transistor having an electrically programmable threshold voltage; the storage element of said first storage branch connected at one end of said first storage branch to said first output of said flip-flop circuit and having a control electrode connected to said second output of said flip-flop circuit; the storage element of said second storage branch connected at one end of said second storage branch to said second output of said flip-flop circuit and having a control terminal connected to said first output of said flip-flop circuit; and, said switching elements of said storage branches being connected to said supply terminal at an other end of each said storage branches and having a control electrode for controlling conduction or blocking thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
167 words
A non-volatile storage device comprising: a MOS flip-flop circuit having complementary first and second outputs, a reference terminal and a supply terminal; first and second storage branches each comprising a series circuit of a non-volatile storage element and a switching element, said non-volatile storage element comprising a MOS transistor having an electrically programmable threshold voltage; the storage element of said first storage branch connected at one end of said first storage branch to said first output of said flip-flop circuit and having a control electrode connected to said second output of said flip-flop circuit; the storage element of said second storage branch connected at one end of said second storage branch to said second output of said flip-flop circuit and having a control terminal connected to said first output of said flip-flop circuit; and, said switching elements of said storage branches being connected to said supply terminal at an other end of each said storage branches and having a control electrode for controlling conduction or blocking thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
126 words
A non-volatile storage device according to claim 1, comprising: means for applying during a normal operation of said flip-flop circuit a first supply voltage of said supply terminal and a blocking signal to said control electrodes of said switching elements for blocking said switching elements; means for applying during a writing phase a second supply voltage higher than said first supply voltage to said supply terminal, and a blocking signal to said control electrodes of said switching elements; and, means for applying during a reset phase a conduction signal to said control electrodes of said switching elements for driving said switching elements in a conductive state and a variable voltage, increasing from zero to said first supply voltage, between said reference terminal and said supply terminal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
168 words
A non-volatile storage device comprising: a MOS flip-flop circuit having complementary first and second outputs, a reference terminal and a supply terminal; first and second storage branches each comprising a series circuit of a non-volatile storage element and a switching element, said non-volatile storage element comprising a MOS transistor having an electrically programmable threshold voltage; the storage element of said first storage branch connected at one end of said first storage branch to said first output of said flip-flop circuit and having a control electrode connected to said second output of said flip-flop circuit; the storage element of said second storage branch connected at one end of said second storage branch to said second output of said flip-flop circuit and having a control terminal connected to said first output of said flip-flop circuit; and, said switching elements of said storage branches being connected to a writing line at an other end of each said storage branches and each having a control electrode for controlling conduction or blocking thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
168 words
A non-volatile storage device comprising: a MOS flip-flop circuit having complementary first and second outputs, a reference terminal and a supply terminal; first and second storage branches each comprising a series circuit of a non-volatile storage element and a switching element, said non-volatile storage element comprising a MOS transistor having an electrically programmable threshold voltage; the storage element of said first storage branch connected at one end of said first storage branch to said first output of said flip-flop circuit and having a control electrode connected to said second output of said flip-flop circuit; the storage element of said second storage branch connected at one end of said second storage branch to said second output of said flip-flop circuit and having a control terminal connected to said first output of said flip-flop circuit; and, said switching elements of said storage branches being connected to a writing line at an other end of each said storage branches and each having a control electrode for controlling conduction or blocking thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
163 words
A non-volatile storage device according to claim 3, comprising: means for applying during a normal operation of said flip-flop circuit a first supply voltage to said supply terminal and a blocking signal to said control electrodes of said switching elements for blocking said switching elements; means for applying during a writing phase a second supply voltage higher than said first supply voltage to said supply terminal and to said writing line, and a blocking signal to said control electrodes of said switching elements; and, means for applying during a reset phase a conduction signal to said control electrodes of said switching elements for driving said switching elements into a conductive state, said reset phase having a first part in which said supply terminal is left in a high impedance floating state while the writing line is driven from a zero voltage up to said first supply voltage, and a second part in which said supply terminal is driven to said first supply voltage.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-09-09 | 1989-03-11 | 1989-09-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-09-09 | 1993-03-11 | 1993-09-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-09-09 | 1997-03-11 | 1997-09-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |