Patent · US Active

Non-volatile memory and method for power efficient read or verify using lockout control

US10460814B2 · kind B2 · utility

3Cited by
3References
24Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 12, 2017
Grant dateOct 29, 2019
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 12, 2037

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG11C2211/5648
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to non-volatile memory devices, such as flash memory, and sensing operation methods including locking out high conduction current memory cells of the memory devices. In one embodiment, a method of sensing a plurality of memory cells in an array includes conducting a lower page read of one or more demarcation threshold voltages. Each memory cell is programmable to a threshold voltage corresponding to one of multiple memory states. A middle page read of one or more demarcation threshold voltages is conducted. Memory cells identified from the lower page read are selectively locked out during the middle page read. An upper page read of one or more demarcation threshold voltages is conducted. Memory cells identified from a prior page read are selectively locked out during the upper page read.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.