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US4996668A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Erasable programmable memory

Assignee: Texas Instruments Inc
•
Filing: 1990-02-20
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Granted: 1991-02-26
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Expires: 2010-02-20
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Abstract

Abstract EEPROM memories with crosspoint cells using buried source and drain lines plus merged floating gate transistors with floating gate coupling to control gate over the buried line insulator for high packing plus low voltage operation.

Inventors

  • 👤 James L. Paterson
  • 👤 Michael C. Smayling

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-02 15:39
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11C; G11C16/00; G11C16/02; G11C16/04; G11C16/0491; H; H10; H10B; H10B69/00

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim 135 words
A nonvolatile memory cell, comprising: a first field insulating region on a first portion of the surface of said substrate; a first doped region in said substrate beneath said first field insulating regions, said first doped region providing a bit line connectable to other cells in a column; a second field insulating region in a second portion of said substrate, said second field insulating region being separated from said first insulating region by a channel region; a second doped region under said second field insulating region; a gate insulator on said channel region; a floating gate extending over said first field insulating region and onto said gate insulator; an interlevel insulating layer on said floating gate; and a control gate on said interlevel insulator, said control gate being connectable to other cells in a row.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 135 words
A nonvolatile memory cell, comprising: a first field insulating region on a first portion of the surface of said substrate; a first doped region in said substrate beneath said first field insulating regions, said first doped region providing a bit line connectable to other cells in a column; a second field insulating region in a second portion of said substrate, said second field insulating region being separated from said first insulating region by a channel region; a second doped region under said second field insulating region; a gate insulator on said channel region; a floating gate extending over said first field insulating region and onto said gate insulator; an interlevel insulating layer on said floating gate; and a control gate on said interlevel insulator, said control gate being connectable to other cells in a row.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 19 words
A nonvolatile memory cell as in claim 1 wherein said first, and second field insulating layers comprise silicon dioxide.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 25 words
A nonvolatile memory cell as in claim 1 wherein said first and second doped regions are N type regions and said substrate is P type.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 19 words
A nonvolatile memory cell as in claim 1 wherein said floating gate and said control gate comprise polycrystalline silicon.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 152 words
An array of nonvolatile memory cells, each cell comprising: a first field insulating region on a first portion of the surface of a substrate extending the length of said array, said substrate having a first conductivity type; a first doped region in said substrate beneath said first field insulating regions extending the length of said array; a second field insulating region in a second portion of said substrate extending the; length of said array, said second field insulating region being separated from said first field insulating region by a channel region; a second doped region under said third field insulating region extending the length of said array; a gate insulator on said channel region; a floating gate extending over said first field insulating region and onto said gate insulator; an interlevel insulating layer on said floating gate; and a control gate extending the width of said array formed on said interlevel insulator.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 152 words
An array of nonvolatile memory cells, each cell comprising: a first field insulating region on a first portion of the surface of a substrate extending the length of said array, said substrate having a first conductivity type; a first doped region in said substrate beneath said first field insulating regions extending the length of said array; a second field insulating region in a second portion of said substrate extending the; length of said array, said second field insulating region being separated from said first field insulating region by a channel region; a second doped region under said third field insulating region extending the length of said array; a gate insulator on said channel region; a floating gate extending over said first field insulating region and onto said gate insulator; an interlevel insulating layer on said floating gate; and a control gate extending the width of said array formed on said interlevel insulator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 19 words
A nonvolatile memory cell as in claim 5 wherein said first, and second field insulating layers comprise silicon dioxide.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 25 words
A nonvolatile memory cell as in claim 5 wherein said first and second doped regions are N type regions and said substrate is P type.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 19 words
A nonvolatile memory cell as in claim 5 wherein said floating gate and said control gate comprise polycrystalline silicon.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4561004A Cited
US4405995A Cited
US4590504A Cited
US4750024A Cited
US4912676A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1994-02-25 1994-08-27 1995-02-26 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1998-02-25 1998-08-27 1999-02-26 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2002-02-25 2002-08-27 2003-02-26 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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