摘要:
A nonvolatile memory cell is constructed using a floating-gate pFET readout transistor having its source tied to a power source (Vdd) and its drain providing a current, which can be sensed to determine the state of the cell. The gate of the pFET readout transistor provides for charge storage, which can be used to represent information such as binary bits. A control capacitor coupled between a first voltage source and the floating gate and a tunneling capacitor between a second voltage source and the floating gate are fabricated so that the control capacitor has much more capacitance than the tunneling capacitor. Manipulation of the voltages applied to the first voltage source and second voltage source controls an electric field across the capacitor structure and pFET dielectrics and thus Fowler-Nordheim tunneling of electrons on and off the floating gate, controlling the charge on the floating gate and the information stored thereon.
摘要:
An RFID tag has a fuse that is adapted to store configuration data in a way that survives loss of power. The fuse can be one time programmable or many times programmable, and be implemented with a non-volatile memory. The configuration data becomes available to an operational component of the tag, such as at power up, controlling its performance.
摘要:
A nonvolatile memory cell is constructed using a floating-gate pFET readout transistor having its source tied to a power source (Vdd) and its drain providing a current, which can be sensed to determine the state of the cell. The gate of the pFET readout transistor provides for charge storage, which can be used to represent information such as binary bits. A control capacitor coupled between a first voltage source and the floating gate and a tunneling capacitor between a second voltage source and the floating gate are fabricated so that the control capacitor has much more capacitance than the tunneling capacitor. Manipulation of the voltages applied to the first voltage source and second voltage source controls an electric field across the capacitor structure and pFET dielectrics and thus Fowler-Nordheim tunneling of electrons on and off the floating gate, controlling the charge on the floating gate and the information stored thereon.
摘要:
A nonvolatile memory cell is constructed using a floating-gate pFET readout transistor having its source tied to a power source (Vdd) and its drain providing a current, which can be sensed to determine the state of the cell. The gate of the pFET readout transistor provides for charge storage, which can be used to represent information such as binary bits. A control capacitor coupled between a first voltage source and the floating gate and a tunneling capacitor between a second voltage source and the floating gate are fabricated so that the control capacitor has much more capacitance than the tunneling capacitor. Manipulation of the voltages applied to the first voltage source and second voltage source controls an electric field across the capacitor structure and pFET dielectrics and thus Fowler-Nordheim tunneling of electrons on and off the floating gate, controlling the charge on the floating gate and the information stored thereon.
摘要:
Feasibility of a requested action by a reader is predetermined in an RFID tag based on an available tag power level. A pretest that is designed to consume artificially high levels of power is performed and the power level monitored to determine if a preset condition is met. The pretest may include activation of selected components such as a memory and associated support circuitry. If the preset condition is not met, the requested action is aborted and an error message transmitted to the reader.
摘要:
A nonvolatile memory cell is constructed using a floating-gate (FG) pFET Readout Transistor (RT) having its source tied to a power source (Vdd) and its drain providing a current which can be sensed to determine a cell state. The gate of the RT provides for charge/information storage. A control capacitor structure (CCS) having terminals coupled to a first voltage source and the FG and a tunneling capacitor structure (TCS) having terminals coupled to a second voltage source and the FG are utilized in each embodiment. The CCS has much more capacitance than the TCS. Manipulation of the voltages applied to the first voltage source and second voltage source (and Vdd) controls an electric field across the CCS and pFET dielectrics and thus Fowler-Nordheim tunneling of electrons onto and off of the FG, thus controlling the charge on the FG and the information stored thereon.
摘要:
A non-volatile memory integrated circuit includes multiple memory cells, each memory cell including a first MOS transistor, a first control capacitor, and a first floating gate coupled to the first MOS transistor and the first control capacitor. A first read/write control signal is provided having at least a first state and a second state and coupled the first MOS transistor. When the control signal is in the first state, the memory cell is configured for readout, and when the control signal is in the second state, the memory cell is configured for writing. Both single-ended and differential memory cells are described. Arrays of such nonvolatile memory cells are also described.
摘要:
An RFID tag has a fuse that is adapted to store configuration data in a way that survives loss of power. The fuse can be one time programmable or many times programmable, and be implemented with a non-volatile memory. The configuration data becomes available to an operational component of the tag, such as at power up, controlling its performance.
摘要:
A nonvolatile memory cell is constructed using a floating-gate pFET readout transistor having its source tied to a power source (Vdd) and its drain providing a current which can be sensed to determine the state of the cell. The gate of the pFET readout transistor provides for charge storage which can be used to represent information such as binary bits. A control capacitor structure having its first terminal coupled to a first voltage source and its second terminal coupled to the floating gate and a tunneling capacitor structure having its first terminal coupled to a second voltage source and its second terminal coupled to the floating gate are utilized in each embodiment. The control capacitor structure is fabricated so that it has much more capacitance than does the tunneling capacitor structure (and assorted stray capacitance between the floating gate and various other nodes of the cell). Manipulation of the voltages applied to the first voltage source and second voltage source (and Vdd) controls an electric field across the capacitor structure and pFET dielectrics and thus Fowler-Nordheim tunneling of electrons onto and off of the floating gate, thus controlling the charge on the floating gate and the information value stored thereon.