Atmel Corporation

Sai Kai Tsang

Steven J Schumann

Fai Ching

Philip S Ng

Vikram Kowshik

Jinshu Son

Liqi Wang

Jason Guo

Kris Li

Yolanda Yuan

A method for preventing snap-back in a circuit including at least one MOS transistor having a parasitic bipolar transistor associated with it includes coupling a circuit node including at least one source/drain node of the at least one MOS transistor to a bias-voltage circuit and enabling the bias-voltage circuit to supply a potential to the at least one source/drain node of the at least on MOS transistor, the potential having a magnitude selected to prevent the parasitic bipolar transistor from turning on.

Apparatus and method for preventing snap back in integrated circuits

A decoding system for multi-plane memories routes address information corresponding to distinct memory access operations to the designated planes. The system includes an array of functional registers dedicated to random access read, burst read, program, erase, and erase-suspend program operations. Plane selector blocks for each plane receive the address outputs from all of the registers and plane function select logic controls the routing in accord with memory access commands for specified planes. Simultaneous operations of different type in different planes and nested operations in the same plane are possible.

Functional register decoding system for multiple plane operation

Group erasing system for flash array with multiple sectors

A nonvolatile memory device includes two floating-gate-type memory arrays, e.g. a flash memory intended to be used as a relatively permanent program memory and an E.sup.2 PROM intended to be used as a more frequently updated data memory. A single set of address lines and a single set of data lines are used for both read and write operations for both memory arrays. Address decoding means for accessing an addressed location of a selected memory array includes separate column decoders and data latches for each array, but also includes a shared row decoder common to both arrays. Row address latching circuitry associated with at least the data memory holds a decoded row address for that memory array during a write operation so as to free the shared row decoder for use on one or more concurrent read operations for the other memory array, e.g. the program memory. Data I/O buffer circuitry and sense amplifiers are also shared by both arrays. Control logic, responsive to input control signals selecting one of the memory arrays and selecting a read or write operation, controls the various elements of the device, including address and data latches and select/driver circuitry, to carry out the desired operations.

Combined program and data nonvolatile memory with concurrent

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Union City, CA, United States of America

Sai Kai Tsang