Patent · US Expired

Programming flash memory using strict ordering of states

US5677869A · kind A · utility

104Cited by
25References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 14, 1995
Grant dateOct 14, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 14, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG11C2211/5647
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method for programming an array of memory cells wherein each cell may be placed in more than two states. The method comprises the steps of 1) selecting a plurality of different programming voltage levels wherein each programming voltage level is associated with a corresponding one of a plurality of states, and 2) applying a plurality of programming pulses to selected subsets of the array of memory cells, wherein each programming pulse has one of the programming voltage levels and one of a corresponding plurality of pulse widths such that each of the memory cells of a corresponding one of the selected subsets are programmed directly to a corresponding one of the plurality of states by a corresponding programming pulse.

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