Patent US5661685A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5661685A
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US
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Programmable logic device with configurable power supply
Assignee: Xilinx Inc
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Filing: 1995-09-25
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Granted: 1997-08-26
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Expires: 2015-09-25
Abstract
Abstract An integrated programmable logic device (PLD) includes flash EPROM storage transistors. The PLD includes a multiplexor that selectively provides program, erase, or verify voltages to the storage transistors. The program, erase, and verify voltages may be supplied using external power supplies or may be generated internally by on-chip charge-pump generators. A configurable memory on the PLD is used to adjust the output voltages from each of the on-chip charge-pump generators.
Inventors
- 👤 Napoleon W. Lee
- 👤 Derek R. Curd
- 👤 Sholeh Diba
- 👤 Prasad Sastry
- 👤 Mihai G. Statovici
- 👤 Kameswara K. Rao
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 12:45
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03K; H03K19/00; H03K19/02; H03K19/173; H03K19/177; H03K19/1778; H03K19/17784; G; G06; G06F; G06F30/00; G06F30/30; G06F30/34; H03K19/17704
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
165 words
A programmable logic device (PLD) comprising: a flash storage transistor having a control gate, a source terminal, and a drain terminal, the storage transistor having a programmable threshold voltage; a programming voltage supply providing a programming voltage to the storage transistor, the programming voltage supply including a programming voltage generator; a configurable verify-voltage generator providing a verify voltage to the control gate of the storage transistor, wherein the verify-voltage generator further comprises a plurality of memory elements, wherein the memory elements are programmable to select one of a plurality of verify voltage levels; a switch coupled to the programming voltage supply, the verify-voltage generator, and the control gate, the switch for providing either of the programming voltage or the verify voltage to the control gate; and a verify sense amplifier coupled to the source and drain terminals of the storage transistor, the sense amplifier indicating whether current passes through the storage transistor when the verify voltage is applied to the gate of the storage transistor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
165 words
A programmable logic device (PLD) comprising: a flash storage transistor having a control gate, a source terminal, and a drain terminal, the storage transistor having a programmable threshold voltage; a programming voltage supply providing a programming voltage to the storage transistor, the programming voltage supply including a programming voltage generator; a configurable verify-voltage generator providing a verify voltage to the control gate of the storage transistor, wherein the verify-voltage generator further comprises a plurality of memory elements, wherein the memory elements are programmable to select one of a plurality of verify voltage levels; a switch coupled to the programming voltage supply, the verify-voltage generator, and the control gate, the switch for providing either of the programming voltage or the verify voltage to the control gate; and a verify sense amplifier coupled to the source and drain terminals of the storage transistor, the sense amplifier indicating whether current passes through the storage transistor when the verify voltage is applied to the gate of the storage transistor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
73 words
An integrated circuit comprising: a memory cell having a control gate, a source terminal, and a drain terminal, the memory cell having a programmable threshold voltage; a programming voltage supply for providing a programing voltage to the control gate; and a configurable verify-voltage generator for providing a verify voltage to the control gate, wherein the verify-voltage generator is capable of providing a plurality of voltage levels for testing whether the cell is programmed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
73 words
An integrated circuit comprising: a memory cell having a control gate, a source terminal, and a drain terminal, the memory cell having a programmable threshold voltage; a programming voltage supply for providing a programing voltage to the control gate; and a configurable verify-voltage generator for providing a verify voltage to the control gate, wherein the verify-voltage generator is capable of providing a plurality of voltage levels for testing whether the cell is programmed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The circuit of claim 2, further comprising a switch coupled to the programming voltage supply, the verify-voltage generator, and the control gate, the switch for providing either of the programming voltage or the verify voltage to the control gate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The circuit of claim 2, further comprising a verify sense amplifier coupled to the source and drain terminals.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The circuit of claim 2, wherein the programming voltage supply comprises a programming voltage generator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The circuit of claim 5, wherein the programming voltage generator is capable of providing a plurality of programming voltage levels.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The circuit of claim 6, wherein the programming-voltage generator further comprises a plurality of programmable memory elements, wherein the elements are programmable to select one of the plurality of programming voltage levels.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The circuit of claim 7, wherein the memory elements are flash memory cells.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The circuit of claim 2, wherein the programming voltage supply comprises a pin, wherein the programming voltage is supplied to the integrated circuit through the pin by an external power supply.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
The circuit of claim 2, wherein the verify-voltage generator further comprises a plurality of programmable memory elements, wherein the elements are programmable to select one of the plurality of voltage levels for testing whether the cell is programmed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
61 words
The circuit of claim 3, wherein the programming voltage supply comprises: a voltage selector connected to the switch; a pin coupled to the switch, wherein an external voltage is supplied to the integrated circuit through the pin by an external power supply; and a high-voltage detector coupled between the pin and the voltage selector, the high-voltage detector having a high-voltage threshold.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The circuit of claim 11, wherein if the external voltage is less than the high-voltage threshold, the voltage selector selects the external voltage as a verify voltage.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The circuit of claim 11, wherein if the external voltage is greater than the high-voltage threshold, the voltage selector selects the verify-voltage generator to provide a verify voltage.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The circuit of claim 2, wherein the verify-voltage generator is capable of providing a plurality of voltage levels for testing whether the cell is erased.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
The circuit of claim 11, wherein the verify-voltage generator further comprises a plurality of programmable memory elements that may be programmed to select one of a plurality of erase-verify voltage levels for testing whether the cell is erased.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The circuit of claim 2, wherein the threshold voltage is higher when the cell is programmed than when the cell is erased.
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) | 2000-08-25 | 2001-02-24 | 2001-08-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-08-25 | 2005-02-24 | 2005-08-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-08-25 | 2009-02-24 | 2009-08-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |