Patent · US Expired

Method of dual cell memory device operation for improved end-of-life read margin

US6778442B1 · kind B1 · utility

16Cited by
13References
28Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 24, 2003
Grant dateAug 17, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 24, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG11C16/3454
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method of programming a dual cell memory device having a first charge storing cell and a second charge storing cell. According to one aspect of the method, the method can include over-erasing the first and second charge storing cells to shift an erase state threshold voltage of the memory device to be lower than a natural state threshold voltage. According to another aspect of the method, the method can include programming the first and second charge storing cells to the same data state and verifying that the second programmed charge storing cell stores charge corresponding to the data state. If the verification fails, both charge storing cells can be re-pulsed.

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