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. 09, 2002
Filed:
Jan. 24, 2001
Jong-jun Kim, Yongin, KR;
Abstract
A word line driver having a divided bias line in a non-volatile memory (NVM) device and method includes a row decoder for decoding a row address outputting a word line select signal to select a word line in response to the decoded result, and a bias supply unit for generating a first voltage includes a plurality of level shift circuits for shifting the first voltage in response to an externally applied program/erase signal during a first mode of operation and for outputting the shifted first voltage to the word line selected by the word line select signal, and a plurality of switching devices, which are switched in response to the program/erase signal, for transferring the word line select signal having a second voltage during a second mode of operation to the word line. This reduces the layout size of the NVM device by varying a voltage bias path and can improve an access speed during a data read mode of operation by minimizing word line delay.