Non-volatile memory cell circuit with programming through band-to-band tunneling and impact ionization gate current

Abstract

Electronic circuitry is described having a first transistor having a first gate dielectric located between an electrically floating gate and a semiconductor substrate. The first injection current flows through the first gate dielectric to establish a first amount of electrical charge on the gate electrode. The electronic circuitry also includes a second transistor having a second gate dielectric located between the gate electrode and the semiconductor substrate. A band-to-band tunneling current flows between valence and conduction bands of the second transistor to create a second injection current that flows through the second gate dielectric to establish the first amount of electrical charge on the gate electrode. Non-volatile memory cell circuits having the above described circuitry are also described.