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:
Apr. 11, 2000
Filed:
Aug. 03, 1999
Applicant:
Inventors:
Assignee:
Texas Instruments Incorporated, Dallas, TX (US);
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G11C / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
36518527 ; 3651852 ; 36518523 ; 36518529 ;
Abstract
Circuits for applying a programming voltage and erase voltage to memory cells in a nonvolatile memory device are disclosed. The reverse breakdown of p-n junctions within the memory cells is prevented by providing a clamping p-n junction in the path used to apply the program or erase voltage to the memory cells. The clamping p-n junction will breakdown before the p-n junctions within the memory cells, protecting the memory cells from the adverse effects of a reverse breakdown condition.