US 6,285,592 B1 · Data storage device having superior data retention characteristic and method

Abstract

A data storage device such as a flash memory device and the like, and a method and device for storing data in a data memory means. The data storage device comprises: a plurality of data memory means such as floating gate MOS transistors; data charge injecting means which selectively injects electric charges into said floating gate of each of the data memory means to write data to the data memory means. The data storage device also comprises a trap dissolving means which injects additional electric charges into the floating gates of at least a part of the plurality of data memory means to compensate for deterioration of a threshold voltage of each of the data memory means caused by the movement of electric charges from the floating gate to trap sites in the tunnel oxide film a predetermined time, after the data charge injecting means injects electric charges into the floating gates to write the data to the data memory means.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A data storage device comprising:

a plurality of data memory means each of which comprises at least a floating gate and a tunnel oxide;
data charge injecting means which selectively inject s electric charges into said floating gate of each of said data memory means to write data to said data memory means;
and
trap dissolving means which injects additional electric charges into said floating gates of at least a part of said plurality of data memory means to compensate for deterioration of a threshold voltage of each of said data memory means caused by the movement of electric charges from said floating gate to trap sites in said tunnel oxide film a predetermined time after said data charge injecting means injects electric charges into said floating gates to write said data to said data memory means.

1 more element

A method of storing data in a data memory means which comprises at least a floating gate and a tunnel oxide film by storing electric charges in said floating gate, said method comprising:

injecting electric charges into said floating gate to write said data to said data memory means;
and
injecting additional electric charges into said floating gate to compensate for deterioration of a threshold voltage of said data memory means caused by the movement of electric charges from said floating gate to trap sites in said tunnel oxide film a predetermined time after electric charges are injected into said floating gate to write said data to said data memory means and after said data written to said data memory means becomes retrievable.

A device for storing data in a data memory means which comprises at least a floating gate and a tunnel oxide film by storing electric charges in said floating gate, said device comprising:

data charge injecting means which injects electric charges into said floating gate to write said data to said data memory means;
and
trap dissolving means which injects additional electric charges into said floating gates to compensate for deterioration of a threshold voltage of said data memory means caused by the movement of electric charges from said floating gate to trap sites in said tunnel oxide film a predetermined time after said data charge injecting means injects electric charges into said floating gate to write said data to said data memory means and after said data written to said data memory means becomes retrievable.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Data storage device having superior data retention characteristic and method

Life of this patent

Data storage device having superior data retention characteristic and method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20