Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for pre-conditioning flash memory devices

US6233178A · kind A · utility

5Cited by
10References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 14, 1999
Grant dateMay 15, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 14, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG11C16/16
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Pre-conditioning method and apparatus for mitigating erase-induced stress within flash memory devices are disclosed. The pre-condition method includes subjecting flash memory cell to a short write process to at least partially discharge the cells. The pre-condition process is applied to an entire sector at one time, and is performed immediately prior to erasing (charging) the cells within the sector.

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