Write protection method and apparatus for an EEPROM

• US 5,047,982 A
• Filed: 04/12/1990
• Issued: 09/10/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Smith, Vernon R., Stahl, Alan L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Popek, Joseph A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lane, Jack A.
• Application Number:
  US07/567,809
• Time in Patent Office: 516 Days
• Field of Search: 365/175, 365/185, 365/210, 365/230.02, 365/226, 380/3, 380/4
• US Class Current: 365/185.01
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 16/08 Address circuits; Decoders; Word-line control circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 16/10 Programming or data input circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 16/22 Safety or protection circuits preventing unauthorised or accidental access to memory cells
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 16/32 Timing circuits

Abstract

The subject invention provides an apparatus for controllably programming an EEPROM, thereby reducing the likelihood of an inadvertent EEPROM write. The apparatus includes a first circuit which repeatedly produces a pseudo address signal at a preselected frequency. A second circuit receives the pseudo address signal and deliveries a write-enable signal to the EEPROM in response to receiving the pseudo address signal a preselected number of times. A third circuit delivers an address signal and a corresponding data signal to the EEPROM during at least a portion of the production of the write-enable signal. The address signal is indicative of an address location in said EEPROM and the data signal corresponds to the data to be stored in the EEPROM address location.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controllably programming a nonvolatile electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), said EEPROM being of the type which requires a write-enable signal during programming, comprising:

a microprocessor adapted to repeatedly produce a pseudo address signal at a preselected frequency, said pseudo address signal corresponding to an unused memory address code;

second means for receiving said pseudo address signal and delivering a write-enable signal to said EEPROM in response to receiving said pseudo address signal a preselected number of times; and

third means for delivering an address signal and a corresponding data signal to said EEPROM while said write-enable signal is produced, said address signal being indicative of an address location in said EEPROM and said data signal corresponding to the data to be stored in said EEPROM address location.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second means produces said write-enable signal in response to receiving said pseudo address signal a predetermined number of times within a preselected time period.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said second means includes an integrator means.

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second means includes a counter means.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second means includes:

a decoder/demultiplexer for receiving said pseudo address signal and producing a charging signal in response thereto;

fourth means for receiving said charging signal and producing a first signal which varies between first and second thresholds in response thereto; and

switch means for receiving said first signal and producing said write-enable signal in response to said first signal reaching a preselected magnitude.

6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said decoder/demultiplexer repeatedly produces said charging signal at a frequency responsive to the frequency of production of said pseudo address signal.

7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein the magnitude of said first signal is responsive to the frequency of said charging signal.

8. The apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said fourth means includes an R-C circuit having an input terminal connected to said decoder/demultiplexer and being adapted to receive said charging signal, an output terminal adapted to produce said first signal, a capacitor having a first terminal connected to said R-C circuit input and output terminals and a second terminal connected to a source of low electrical potential, and a resistor having a first terminal connected to said R-C circuit input and output terminals and a second terminal connected to said low electrical potential source.

9. An apparatus for controllably programming a nonvolatile electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), said EEPROM being of the type which requires a write-enable signal during programming, comprising:

a microprocessor adapted to repeatedly produce a pseudo address signal at a preselected frequency, said pseudo address signal corresponding to an unused memory address location;

decoder/demultiplexer for receiving said pseudo address signal and producing a charging signal at a frequency responsive to said pseudo address signal;

an R-C circuit having an input terminal connected to said decoder/demultiplexer and being adapted to receive said charging signal, an output terminal adapted to produce a first signal, a capacitor having a first terminal connected to said R-C circuit input and output terminals and a second terminal connected to a source of low electrical potential, a resistor having a first terminal connected to said R-C circuit input and output terminals and a second terminal connected to said low electrical potential source, and wherein said first signal corresponds to a voltage potential developed across said capacitor in response to said charging signal;

switch means for for receiving said first signal and producing said write-enable signal in response to said first signal reaching a preselected magnitude;

third means for delivering an address signal and a corresponding data signal to said EEPROM while said write-enable signal is produced, said address signal being indicative of an address location in said EEPROM and said data signal corresponding to the data to be stored in said EEPROM address location.

10. A method for controllably programming a nonvolatile electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), said EEPROM being of the type which requires a write-enable signal during programming, comprising:

repeatedly producing a pseudo address signal at a preselected frequency;

delivering a write-enable signal to said EEPROM in response to said pseudo address signal being produced a predetermined number of times; and

delivering an address signal and a corresponding data signal to said EEPROM during at least a portion of the time said write-enable signal is produced, said address signal being indicative of an address location in said EEPROM and said data signal corresponding to the data to be stored in said EEPROM address location.

11. The method as set forth in claim 10 wherein said write-enable signal is produced in response to said pseudo address signal being produced a predetermined number of times within a preselected time period.

12. The method as set forth in claim 11 wherein the step of producing said write-enable signal includes integrating said pseudo address signal.

13. The method as set forth in claim 10 wherein the step of producing said write-enable signal includes counting said pseudo address signal.

14. The method as set forth in claim 10 wherein the step of producing said write-enable signal includes the steps of:

producing a charging signal having a preselected magnitude and a frequency responsive to the frequency of production of said pseudo address signal;

producing a first signal which varies between first and second voltage thresholds in response to the frequency of said charging signal; and

producing said write-enable signal in response to said first signal reaching a preselected magnitude.