Semiconductor integrated circuit protected from element breakdown by reducing the electric field between the gate and drain or source of a field effect transistor

摘要

A semiconductor integrated circuit which is protected from element breakdown includes a memory cell, series-connected first and second program load transistors arranged between the memory cell and the program power source, a boosting circuit for outputting a board voltage higher than the voltage of a program power source, and a controller. The controller applies the boosted voltage to the gates of the first and second program load transistors when program data is set at a first logic level. The controller applies a voltage of about 0 V to the gate of the first program load transistor and an intermediate voltage lower than the voltage of the program power source and higher than 0 V to the gate of the second load transistor when the program data is set at a second logic level.