Patent · US Active

Operation sequence and commands for measuring threshold voltage distribution in memory

US7613045B2 · kind B2 · utility

45Cited by
19References
38Claims
0Family size

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Key dates

Filing dateNov 26, 2007
Grant dateNov 3, 2009
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 2, 2028

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG11C2211/5634
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A memory device generates one or more read reference voltages rather than being explicitly supplied with each read reference voltage from an external host controller. The technique involves providing a command to the memory device that causes a reading of a set of storage elements by the memory device using a reference voltage which is different than a reference voltage used in a previous reading, where the new read reference value is not explicitly set outside the memory device. In one implementation, the memory device is provided with an initial reference voltage and a step size for generating additional reference voltages. The technique can be used, e.g., in determining a threshold voltage distribution of a set of storage elements. In this case, a voltage sweep can be applied to a word line associated with the set of storage elements, and data obtained based on the number of conductive storage elements.

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