The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 13, 1998
Filed:
Aug. 26, 1997
Steven V Krzentz, Dallas, TX (US);
Texas Instruments Incorporated, Dallas, TX (US);
Abstract
A circuit (10, 40) and method for autotrim of an embedded threshold voltage reference bit are provided. A FAMOS cell (12, 42) in an integrated circuit chip provides the embedded threshold voltage reference bit. The FAMOS cell (12, 42) is first programmed to a threshold voltage above a desired threshold voltage. The FAMOS cell (12, 42) is then erased to lower the threshold voltage. After erasing, the FAMOS cell (12, 42) is tested to determine whether the threshold voltage is at a desired voltage level. The erasing and testing are accomplished automatically as an on-chip process in an integrated circuit chip. The testing can be based upon a comparison with an output of an internal reference circuit (50) that is responsive to the embedded threshold voltage reference bit. The testing can also be based upon a comparison to an external voltage input or an internal voltage reference.