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. 10, 2007
Filed:
Sep. 28, 2005
Ignazio Martines, Tremestieri Etneo, IT;
Michele LA Placa, Cefalu′, IT;
Ignazio Martines, Tremestieri Etneo, IT;
Michele La Placa, Cefalu′, IT;
STMicroelectronics S.R.L., , IT;
Abstract
Described herein is a reading circuit for a nonvolatile memory device, wherein the currents flowing through an array memory cell to be read, and a reference memory cell with known contents, are converted into an array voltage and, respectively, into a reference voltage, which are compared to determine the contents of the array memory cell. The method envisages reducing the electrical stress to which the reference memory cell is subjected during reading, by generating and holding a sample of the reference voltage, then deselecting the reference memory cell, and then continuing reading using the sample of the reference voltage.