Patent · US Expired

Programming method for a multilevel memory cell

US6667903B2 · kind B2 · utility

6Cited by
7References
22Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 14, 2001
Grant dateDec 23, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 11, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG11C17/146
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

It is described a programming method for a multilevel memory cell able to store a plurality of bits in a plurality of levels. The method comprises the phases of: initially programming a cell threshold value to a first set of levels [0;(m−1)] being m a submultiple of the plurality of levels of the multilevel cell; reprogramming without erasing another set of levels [m;(2m−1)] containing the same number m of levels as the first set; reiterating the reprogramming without erasing phase until the levels of the multilevel cell are exhausted. It is also described a multilevel memory device of the type comprising a plurality of multilevel memory cells organized into sectors, the sectors being themselves split into a plurality of data units wherein a data updating operation is performed in parallel, the data units being programmed by means of the programming method.

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