Systems utilizing a single chip microcontroller having non-volatile memory devices and power devices

• US 5,642,295 A
• Filed: 07/01/1994
• Issued: 06/24/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Smayling, Michael C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Voeltz, Emanuel T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wachsman, Hal D.
• Application Number:
  US08/270,081
• Time in Patent Office: 1,089 Days
• Field of Search: 365/185, 364/551.01, 364/424.01-0.05, 395/905, 395/913, 395/430, 395/493, 257/321, 257/319
• US Class Current: 702/182
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/105 including field-effect components
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 29/7883 charging by tunnelling of carriers, e.g. Fowler-Nordheim tunnelling

Abstract

An embodiment of the instant invention is a system for displaying information related to the performance of an automobile, the system comprising: a power supply; a display means, the display means includes gauges; a plurality of sensors for providing data; and a microcontroller for receiving the data from the plurality of sensors and for driving the display means based on receipt of the data from the plurality of sensors, the microcontroller fabricated on a singular semiconductor chip and comprising: a voltage regulator, the voltage regulator comprising high power transistors; a gauge driver for driving the display means, the gauge driver comprising high power transistors; a program memory array for storing program instructions; and a random access memory array for storing the data provided by the plurality of sensors.

Claims

1. A system for displaying information related to the performance of an automobile, said system comprising:

a power supply;

a display means, said display means includes gauges;

a plurality of sensors for providing data; and

a microcontroller for receiving said data from said plurality of sensors and for driving said display means based on receipt of said data from said plurality of sensors, said microcontroller fabricated on a singular semiconductor chip and comprising;

a voltage regulator, said voltage regulator comprising high power transistors;

a gauge driver for driving said display means, said gauge driver comprising high power transistors;

a program memory array for storing program instructions; and

a random access memory array for storing said data provided by said plurality of sensors.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said read-only memory is formed at a face of a layer of semiconductor of a first conductivity type and includes:

first and second heavily doped regions formed in said face to be of a second conductivity type opposite said first conductivity type, said first and second heavily doped regions spaced by a first channel to form a select transistor;

a gate conductor formed insulatively overlying said first channel for selectively controlling the conductance of said first channel;

a third heavily doped region formed in said face to be of said second conductivity type, said third heavily doped region spaced from said second heavily doped region by a second channel to form a programming transistor;

a thin oxide tunneling window formed overlying said second channel;

a fourth heavily doped region formed in said face to be of said second conductivity type, said fourth heavily doped region spaced from said third heavily doped region by a third channel to form a sense transistor;

a control capacitor lightly doped diffused region formed in said face to be of said second conductivity type, said control capacitor lightly doped diffused region spaced on said face from said programming, sense and select transistors;

a floating gate conductor formed adjacent to said thin oxide tunneling window and insulatively adjacent said third channel and said control capacitor lightly doped diffused region; and

a fifth heavily doped region for connecting said control capacitor lightly doped diffused region with a control capacitor lightly doped diffused region of another memory cell.

3. An electrical system for use in an automobile, said electrical system comprising:

a plurality of sensors for providing data based on a sensed event;

a power supply; and

a microcontroller for receiving said data from said plurality of sensors and controlling a portion of said automobile based on receiving said data, said microcontroller fabricated on a singular semiconductor chip and including;

a voltage regulator which includes high power transistors;

a driver circuit for providing an electrical signal to control a portion of said automobile in response to receipt of said data;

a program memory array for storing program instructions; and

a random access memory array for storing said data provided by said plurality of sensors.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said read-only memory is formed at a face of a layer of semiconductor of a first conductivity type and includes:

first and second heavily doped regions formed in said face to be of a second conductivity type opposite said first conductivity type, said first and second heavily doped regions spaced by a first channel to form a select transistor;

a gate conductor formed insulatively overlying said first channel for selectively controlling the conductance of said first channel;

a third heavily doped region formed in said face to be of said second conductivity type, said third heavily doped region spaced from said second heavily doped region by a second channel to form a programming transistor;

a thin oxide tunneling window formed overlying said second channel;

a fourth heavily doped region formed in said face to be of said second conductivity type, said fourth heavily doped region spaced from said third heavily doped region by a third channel to form a sense transistor;

a control capacitor lightly doped diffused region formed in said face to be of said second conductivity type, said control capacitor lightly doped diffused region spaced on said face from said programming, sense and select transistors;

a floating gate conductor formed adjacent to said thin oxide tunneling window and insulatively adjacent said third channel and said control capacitor lightly doped diffused region; and

a fifth heavily doped region for connecting said control capacitor lightly doped diffused region with a control capacitor lightly doped diffused region of another memory cell.