Patent · US Expired

Two-phase programming of a flash memory

US7177200B2 · kind B2 · utility

78Cited by
5References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 2, 2004
Grant dateFeb 13, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 8, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG11C16/3468
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A datum is stored in a memory by placing a memory cell in a first state that is indicative of the datum, and later placing the same or a different cell in a second state that is indicative of the same datum. If a different cell is placed in the second state, both cells are programmed to store the same number of bits, and then preferably the first cell is erased. Preferably, the first cell is placed in the first state by the application thereto of a first train of voltage pulses until the cell's threshold voltage exceeds a first reference voltage, and the first or second cell is placed in the second state by the application thereto of a second train of voltage pulses until the cell's threshold voltage exceeds a second reference voltage.

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