Patent ID: 6122199
Filing Date: 2000-09-19
Classification: G11C

Abstract:
A semiconductor storage device capable of being operated in at least three operating states for the programmable storage of data contents, a first operating state assigned to erasing data contents, a second operating state assigned to maintaining data contents, and a third operating state assigned to programming, reading, and maintaining data contents, the device comprising:a semiconductor substrate;a plurality of storage cells arranged on the substrate;a selection circuit for selecting an associated group of storage cells from the plurality of storage cells;one drive circuit with a drive line coupled to all storage cells of the associated group of storage cells, the drive circuit assigned in common to the associated group of storage cells for selective application of an erase voltage and a reference voltage along the drive line to the associated group of storage cells for erasing and maintaining, respectively, data contents of the associated group of storage cells, the drive circuit including one pump circuit acting as a function of a selection signal in actively switching the erase voltage and the reference voltage as desired onto the drive line; anda programming-voltage generation circuit coupled to the drive circuit via a switching device, the generation circuit supplying the drive circuit with a programming voltage for programming a storage cell wherein the programming voltage has an opposite sign to the erase voltage and exceeds the voltage of a supply voltage, the switching device being controlled by a state selection line wherein the switching device selectively outputs to the drive circuit a programming voltage, a read voltage and the reference voltage.