Advanced Micro Devices Corporation

Spansion Llc.

Fasl LLC

Alykhan Madhani

Darlene G Hamilton

Edward Hsia

Kulachet Tanpairoj

Mimi Lee

Yi He

Ed Hsia

Kenneth Yu

Mark W Randolph

Zhizheng Liu

Satoshi Torii

Fatima Bathul

The present invention determines or identifies programming variations for different groups within an array or memory device that properly program memory cells within the respective groups. Then, during programming operations for a given memory cell, programming voltages are applied according to the determined or identified programming variations for the group to which the given memory cell belongs. These adjusted programming variations facilitate successful programming of the particular memory cell.

Method of determining voltage compensation for flash memory devices

The present invention pertains to a technique for erasing bits in a dual bit memory in a manner that maintains complementary bit disturb control of bit-pairs of memory cells wherein each bit of the dual bit memory cell can be programmed to multiple levels. One exemplary method comprises providing a word of memory cells after an initial erasure and programming of the bits of the word to one or more of the higher program levels. A disturb level is determined for each of the bit-pairs of the word. A combined disturb level is then computed that is representative of the individual disturb levels. A pattern of drain voltages is then applied to the word for a number of program passes until a target pattern is stored in the word of memory cells based on the combined disturb level and the unprogrammed bit of the bit-pairs is erased to a single program level. In this manner the present invention compensates for the disturbance level that exists between the complementary bit-pairs of the word, improves the Vt distribution at the program level of the erased state and thereby improves the accuracy of subsequent higher level programming operations and mitigates false or erroneous reads of the states of such program levels.

Quad bit using hot-hole erase for CBD control

A method of erasing a flash electrically erasable read only memory (EEPROM) device composed of a plurality of memory cells includes pre-programming the plurality of memory cells, applying an erase pulse to the plurality of memory cells followed by an erase verification. The erase verification is followed by soft programming any memory cells having a threshold voltage below a predetermined minimum level and applying a positive gate stress to the plurality of memory cells. The erase method prevents overerasing and provides a tightened threshold voltage distribution.

Memory device and method using positive gate stress to recover overerased cell

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.

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

A method of programming and reading a dual cell memory device. The method includes storing a selected program level in each cell and reading one of the cells to determine a single data value stored by the memory device.

Method of programming and reading a dual cell memory device

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Santa Clara, CA, United States of America

Alykhan Madhani