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:
Jul. 27, 1999
Filed:
Dec. 11, 1997
Applicant:
Inventors:
Kou-Su Chen, Fremont, CA (US);
David K Liu, Fremont, CA (US);
Assignee:
AMIC Technology, Inc., Santa Clara, CA (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G11C / ; G11C / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
36518529 ; 3651853 ; 36518533 ; 365218 ;
Abstract
A circuit and method for achieving compressed distributions of erased cell threshold voltages in an EEPROM array is disclosed. The invention, when used to condition flash memory cell arrays, results in increased endurance of such arrays, and eliminates the need for pre-programming operations before a bulk erase can take place. By eliminating the need to pre-program the memory array before each erasure, the process provides a signicant improvement for low power applications, because battery life is extended and write cycle time is enhanced.