An electrically-erasable, electrically-programmable read-only memory cell with a selectable threshold voltage and methods for its use.

摘要

A field effect transistor memory cell having a selectable threshold voltage is formed in a semiconductor layer (18). An n-channel electrically-erasable, electrically-programmable read-only memory cell (12) is formed and includes a source (14) and a drain (16) separated by a channel (20), a tunneling window (22) adjacent drain (16), a floating gate (24) and a control gate (26) capacitively coupled to channel (20). N-channel memory cell (12) is operable to charge and discharge floating gate (24) by Fowler-Nordheim tunneling upon the application of voltages to control gate (26) and drain (16). A p-channel field effect transistor (30) is formed and includes a source (34) in a drain (36) spaced by a channel (38). Floating gate (24) is insulatively disposed adjacent channel (38) such that the conductance of channel (38) is controlled by floating gate (24). A threshold control circuit (76) is provided for biasing channel (38) of p-channel field effect transistor (30) in relationship to control gate (26). A monitoring circuit (90) controls the application of voltage to control gate (26) in response to conduction between source (34) and drain (36) of p-channel field effect transistor (30). <IMAGE>