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:
May. 13, 2003
Filed:
Sep. 13, 2001
Joseph A. Thomsen, Gilbert, AZ (US);
Mitchel Obolsky, Phoenix, AZ (US);
Joseph W. Triece, Phoenix, AZ (US);
Microchip Technology Incorporated, Chandler, AZ (US);
Abstract
An electronic circuit includes a non-volatile memory on an integrated circuit that has several memory cells. The cells each have a voltage state and a gate. A gate bias circuit on the integrated circuit is coupled to the gates of the memory cells. The gate bias circuit includes at least a read voltage and a margin voltage. A detection circuit on the integrated circuit is coupled to the cells. The detection circuit includes a comparator and a reference voltage. The reference voltage and the voltage state of one of the cells are coupled to the comparator. The detection circuit includes an output generating a signal corresponding to the comparator output. The integrated circuit includes a monitor circuit. The monitor circuit is coupled to the output of the detection circuit and determines whether the voltage state of the cell transitions between application of the read and margin voltages to the gate.